FOR ALL
Black Disabled History
To map a path towards liberation, we must ground ourselves in the lineages of resistance to which we belong. From Fannie Lou Hamer to Brad Lomax, Audre Lorde, and Harriet Tubman, Black disabled organizers have, for centuries, helped us arrive to more loving, equitable, and just futures. Here, we’re proud to share resources that uplift the history of Black disabled activism.
We Were There Too
Anita Cameron
First and foremost, we’re honored to share the labor put forward by Black Disabled Liberation Project grantee partner Anita Cameron, whose resource hub, We Were There Too, preserves the overlooked stories of Black disabled activists in the disability rights movement. The hub was born out of a need to highlight the significant contributions of Black individuals who played a crucial role in the fight for disability rights, particularly in securing the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Despite their sacrifices, these activists have often been left out of mainstream disability history. We Were There Too collects and shares the personal stories, experiences, and voices of Black disabled leaders, ensuring their place in history is recognized. Through interviews, podcasts, and future projects like a historical docuseries, the organization aims to educate the public and create a more inclusive narrative around the disability rights movement.
“One of the hidden aspects of the Black Panther Party in the California Bay Area was its contributions to the nascent disability rights movement in the 1970s. In 1977, the Party famously supported a 26-day occupation of a federal building in San Francisco during the nationwide “504 Movement” demanding the passage of legislation to outlaw ability-based discrimination in federally-financed programs. This conversation at UC Berkeley around the intersectionalities of Disability and Blackness included former Panthers and disability rights activists who provided background on the roots of the Party and Black activism in the disability rights movement.”
Black Power & The Disability Rights Movement
Stanford University
“The 1977 504 sit-in was a powerful occupation of a federal building in San Francisco and one of the foundational activist efforts of the Disability Rights Movement. It would not have been possible without the efforts of Black people with disabilities and the support of groups like the Black Panthers.”
From Access to Liberation
Disability Lead
“How can the history of race and racism in the civil rights movement inform our work in disability rights, and how can our work in antiracism be informed by the work that people are doing in the disability rights community?”