Barbara Smith Interview

This week we read an interview with Barbara Smith where she talked about the struggle and discrimination she faced as an African American woman. Her experience was different than that of white women, which she touched on when she reflected on how she didn’t realize white women could experience certain problems as well. I think this is reflected in many other movements that are white dominated or have a large white contingency within it. I think this is also the case of my movement, the disability rights movement, which affects people of all races. Disabled people of color are not at the fore front of the movement, even though their experiences are often more difficult and better understood through intersectionality. People of color, especially women of color, are disproportionally under classified as having disabilities, as well as being diagnosed for mental disabilities. Its important to understand how people’s experiences are not cancelled out when they are a minority in multiple ways, and that things such as race, gender, and disability all influence and intersect with each other as lived experience and discrimination. This is important for the disabled community to consider given not all disabled people receive the same accommodation, support, or representation.