Examples of Black and African American College Graduates with Disabilities
It's rare to hear much about people with disabilities in the movies or on TV, unless they are tragically brave, an object of pity, evil, or "supercrips" who try to show the incredible ways they can overcome their disabilities (as if disability is a negative thing - which it's not). Disability is part of our diversity as humans, and these people didn't succeed in spite of their disability - the disability helped make them who they are.
It's even rarer to see Black people with disabilities portrayed in a positive way, and African American people with disabilities are especially likely to be victims of violence and police brutality (see also information on the "Disability 101" page and Black Lives Matter section of this website). You may or may not know all the people listed below, but it's worth noting how many Black disabled college grads have been "out" about their disabilities. And they all attended college while they had their disabilities! Click on any names of people or colleges to learn more about them.
Want to add someone (including yourself) to the list? Just contact us.
It's even rarer to see Black people with disabilities portrayed in a positive way, and African American people with disabilities are especially likely to be victims of violence and police brutality (see also information on the "Disability 101" page and Black Lives Matter section of this website). You may or may not know all the people listed below, but it's worth noting how many Black disabled college grads have been "out" about their disabilities. And they all attended college while they had their disabilities! Click on any names of people or colleges to learn more about them.
Want to add someone (including yourself) to the list? Just contact us.
Chris Bell
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Dwayne Michael Carter ("Lil Wayne")
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George Washington Carver
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Antonio Ellis
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Danny Glover
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Claudia Gordon
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Cheryl Green
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LeDerick Horne
(note that video is not captioned)
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Ayisha Knight
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Audre Lorde
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David Paterson
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Denise Pease
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Vilissa Thompson
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Heather Watkins
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James West
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Britney Wilson
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TyKiah Wright
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