The TRIdentity of Johnnie Lacy: Disabled Black Woman

Johnnie Lacy
Born 1937
Photo source: http://www.rampyourvoice.com/black-history-month-2017-johnnie-lacy-defiantly-black-disabled/

Lacy’s voice was instrumental on leading conversations on ‘intersectionality’s. This term wasn’t coined until AFTER Lacy’s work, but this certainly the best word to describe Lacy’s ability to educate communities. She educated about race in disabled spaces, and how best to reach those communities. She educated about disability in black spaces and best to offer support for those disabled in black communities.

She was diagnosed with polio at the age of 19. The condition caused headaches, impacted her mobility and her ability to breathe. When applying for assistance she learned and experienced the negligence and discrimination that disabled people face.

Her lived experience was a contrast to those who may have experienced race based oppression, but did not endure ableism; as well as those may have experienced race based oppression, but did not endure ableism; as well as those may have endured ableism, but not racism. Her presence in these spaces revealed just how people cane be simultaneously oppressed but still experiencing some form of privilege.

In an interview, she revealed that pursuing education was interrupted due to an organized act of ableism. As professor, as San Francisco State stopped Lacy from studying in her department due to her disability. She stated that if she had able-bodied privilege, if she her identity was only blackness or womanhood, then such an injustice wouldn’t have occured.

As a black woman, she experienced systemic racism. As a disabled black women she experienced ableism within her own community. She describes this experience as having three disenfranchised identies to navigate through in society.

I believe Johnnie Lacy’s words and work are essential to building better communities for us all. We cannot fully comprehend and address the problems of society, unless we address every manifestation of oppression. There are many disabled activists doing the work to push towards accessibility and dismantle the ableist ideologies rooted in capitalism and over-productivity.

This is a woman of brilliance and courage. Johnnie Lacy, we honor you.

Receipts aka Sources

https://oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030 ktOp30012x/?brand=oac4

https://www.ncld.org/news/honoring -black-history-month-unsung-heroes -of-the-disability-rights-movement/

https://www.innow.org/2021/02/01 /johnnie-lacy/

http://www.rampyourvoice.com/black -history-month-2017-johnnie-lacy -defiantly-black-disabled/

http://uaaaclub.blogspot.com/2012/02 black-disabled-activist-johnnie-lacy .html?m=1

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