What Abelism Looks Like For A Black Disabled Woman In America
When I get upset I am “mentally unstable” or “an angry Black woman”
When you get upset, you have a right to be
When I experience a hardship I “need to get my life together”
When you experience hardship you are a human in need, and those needs are met
When I set a boundary and call you out on crossing it I am “playing the victim” or “playing the race card”
When you set a boundary (appropriate or otherwise) you demand compliance and there are no exceptions to this rule
When I experience trauma then I “bring it on myself” or I have a “victim mentality”
When you experience trauma you are at a disadvantage and in need of services, which by law you are entitled to
When I have a need that a service can meet I am “scamming the system”
When you have a need that a service can meet you “used services to help yourself”
When I express myself I am “delusional”
When you express yourself you are articulating your opinions which you are entitled to do
When I ask for help I am “a taker”
When you ask for help you are “a good person who fell on hard times”
When I complain about human rights violations I am “divisive”
When you take action against me because you don’t like the fact that I complain about my human rights being violated you are exercising your rights
When do my rights ever come into play?
On a daily basis, we are forced to navigate an oppressive system that powerful leaders in our government say doesn’t exist. We have to get around bias, algorithms, extremist attacks, brutality, predatory behaviors, economic attacks, sexual assaults, and divestment in every area of life and it’s our own fault for not being able to overcome the obstacles intentionally thrown at us, constantly. How is this a Democracy? Where is the equality? In 46 years I have yet to experience one single act of accountability for the extreme human rights violations that I continue to experience on a daily basis, but I’m not supposed to be angry. I’m not supposed to fight it. I’m not supposed to talk about it. I’m supposed to take it. The problem (they say) is that I have a victim mentality, not that constantly violating my human rights is abusive and debilitating.
This will never be acceptable. I have a right to fight for my life just like any human does, whether you like it or not.
