When I think of Black History Month, I think of celebrating the achievements and wonderful contributions made by Black Americans and could easily list and write about them in a post of its own. Among my favorite, influential people, of course, are Dr. Martin Luther King (I can still listen to his speeches with awe), Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Tyler Perry, Michelle Obama, just to name a few!
Mostly, I am reminded of how the civil rights movement paved the way for the disability community and beyond. During the time of the civil rights movement, Black Americans were just advocating for getting their fair shake in community living. They wanted their kids to go to the school they were zoned for, they wanted to sit anywhere they pleased while using public transportation, they wanted to be equally integrated into the society that they meaningfully contributed to - just as their fellow community members had.
Then I think about how the disability rights movement was so deeply intertwined with the civil rights movement, and how these brilliant and brave Black leaders played such important roles in this grand achievement. I wonder if they ever imagined that their fight would continue to serve the many diverse populations still fighting the same fight so many decades later? I don’t imagine they focused on things so far ahead. They were fighting to survive each day during very turbulent times.
Unbeknownst to these heroes, The Civil Rights Movement laid the groundwork for the Disability Rights Movement, Women’s Rights Movement, Gay Rights Movement, Indigenous Rights Movement, Latinx Movement, and countless more, in several monumental ways:
- Legal Precedents: The Civil Rights Movement challenged and overturned discriminatory laws, setting legal precedents that later helped disability rights activists. For example, the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, which ended legal segregation in public schools, paved the way for similar challenges to discriminatory practices against people with disabilities.
- Activism and Organizing: Disability and Women’s Rights activists adopted and successfully used sit-ins, marches, and created awareness campaigns used by civil rights activists. The 504 Sit-in in 1977, where disability rights activists occupied a federal building to demand the enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, was directly inspired by civil rights protests.
- Intersectionality: The Latinx Community is now taking center stage in highlighting and recognizing how Latinos, Individuals with disabilities, Native Americans, and other communities from marginalized racial and ethnic backgrounds, should be recognized, included, and well represented across legislation, social justice, education, and in Hollywood. Proving that lacking in representation of all communities is also a form of oppression.
- Public Awareness: The Civil Rights Movement raised public awareness about the injustices faced by marginalized groups, creating the framework and outline for the Disability Rights Movement and other movements facing similar discriminating situations. The visibility of civil rights issues helped to break down societal barriers and foster empathy for other marginalized groups.
- Legislative Impact: The Civil Rights Movement led to the passage of key legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which provided a framework for future anti-discrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Native Americans used the Civil Rights Movement as their model for fighting for their rights for land and against discrimination.
Many of today’s movement groups are built on the foundations of the same truth that supported the civil rights movement. The undeniable fact is that we are all created equally by God and we are all entitle to be treated fairly and equally.
The synergy between these movements demonstrates the power of collective action and the importance of solidarity in the fight for civil rights and social justice.
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