Gary N. Gray
The Disabled Leadership Lacks Color
In
1970 the city council of Berkeley stated that it would make its already
famous city "disabled-friendly" by the year 1976-77. This was the first
small step in the disabled independent movement. This movement lacks people of color.
The question should be asked: how and why this has happened?
The disabled revolution was birthed in 1973-1974 in Berkeley, known to some as The Republic of Berkeley because of its
independent stances on issues. Some mockingly call it Berzerkeley, with
its tie-dye shirts and Grateful Dead music. Whatever it’s named, it
became the birthplace of the last wave of American freedom fighters: The
Disabled Americans.
People in wheelchairs, people with canes,
people with animal companions, and disabled folk walking with the aid of
walkers blocked federal buildings all over the country. For the very first time, disabled folk throughout this
land were using the Rev. Jackson’s famous Civil Rights cheer: I am
somebody! This
powerful action made national news. One of the main topics was "disabled Americans and
how America could help them."
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson called this new movement Chrome Power. He also used
this during his campaign. Chrome Power had come of age, and Berkeley
would be the spotlight. Berkeley would be the magnet for most disabled
folk around the United States. Berkeley would become the West Coast Mecca
for the disabled.
During that same time period, disabled youths wanted to attend
universities. Four young disabled male students enrolled at UC Berkeley. But their enrollment was different than most
students. They were housed in Cowell Hall,
which happened to be the university’s student hospital. Because
of their special needs and medical attention,
the University assigned them to Cowell Hall.
Being the first disabled students at the university turned into a
four-year battle just for them to go to class. Even then, some of the buildings were
inaccessible. Either the teachers had to change the class to other rooms
or these students had to drop
their courses. Times were changing but not for the disabled of color.
Their fight was getting out of special schools. Their fight also happened
to be getting correct information and policies for their different
disabilities.
Times were about to change and change America forever. Four years passed
and these young disabled adventurers had made it through Berkeley’s
rough standards. They were going to graduate.
Each of these young men needed attendants. They also needed housing that
was wheelchair accessible. Each of these individuals also needed an
accessible job. These
gentleman started brainstorming on how to truly become independent. They
set up their own attendant referral service, interviewing and hiring
attendants. They set up a list of attendants available for their times and
their needs. This was a new thing, a first, which allowed or provided the
ability for disabled persons to take control of their lives.
Continuing to brainstorm, they acquired a list of apartments and houses
that were accessible for people in wheelchairs. They roamed Berkeley trying to find housing, thus creating a housing referral unit.
This housing unit was the first in the country to help people with
disabilities.
Lastly, they created a disabled legal referral service.
These new and innovative pioneers would forge the way for new
disabled services in the United States. The only thing missing in all of
these accomplishments were people of color; you see, all of these four
brilliant men were white. These young men were thinking about their own
independence, their own lives, and their own dreams just like any other
22-23 year old person does. I
don’t fault them. Can you
remember what you were like at 22-23 years old? The world revolved around
you and your immediate friends and family.
As the result of their persistence to become
independent, these four young disabled males created the very first (ILP)
Independent Living Project in Berkeley.
This also spawned the birth of many "babies", and those babies would
definitely look like the parent--White and male.
The creation of Independent Living Centers sprang up all over California in
the middle 70’s, following the model of Berkeley. All of these young
disabled men from the University took high positions in the Berkeley
Disabled Independence Movement, i.e. director, assistant director, unit
coordinator, and advisor to the mayor of Berkeley. They informed Berkeley
City council and Washington D.C., about disabled politics and their
special needs. These young men did not think of young disabled minority
folk. So they were excluded from the movement and from the disabled
political power struggle.
People of color remained on the fringe of the disabled political
discussion. In 1981, “The Year of The Disabled” people of color were
absent from this celebration. Why? Because disabled minorities
were not invited. Again, like parent, like child. You only know what
you have been taught, and the disabled movement so far had been white and
predominantly male.
Something was missing. People of color did not make the grade in the
ILPs and still don’t. Out
of thousands of centers across this country, only a few people of color
have been become leaders, directors, or teachers.
Enter the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson and the 1984 Presidential
Elections.
The Rev. Jackson from Chicago had entered the political battle for
President of the United States. He wanted to be the first Black male to
enter the White House as President. To accomplish this he had to include
people who had little or no political power. That meant disabled
minorities.
Enter Black Disabled Politics for the first time. Rev. Jackson introduced
America to the political power of the Disabled American. He introduced the
political mind of the disabled. He introduced America to the political
heart and soul of the disabled.
But the question still remains the same: are we the disabled minority a
part of this movement, or not? Rev. Jesse L. Jackson also exposed the
political racism that exists in the Disabled political camp. He also
exposed the class-ism that exists in the disabled family.
The cover was finally off and America could and would see the invisible
divide. The four white young disabled males finally got the message
because Jesse rammed it home. The Rainbow Coalition meant EVERYBODY!
Only one of the four pioneers really understood what Jesse was saying. Phil Draper, the second elder of the Disabled Movement, proceeded with a diversity program for the Berkeley Independent Living Program. Phil hired and trained young disabled minorities. That ended at his death in the middle 90s. Nobody else in the modern Disabled Movement seemed to be interested or want to continue the programs. The youth program, the mentor program, and the independent training program for minorities came to a screeching halt. The reason stated to the public was that funding sources had dried up. Which may have been true. But the movement also lacked commitment for our minority brothers and sisters of color.
These independent living programs are needed more now then ever because we
have an influx of disabled minorities in the Bay Area. I write this today
because I would want the world to know that Phil Draper had the right
idea; now it’s our responsibility to finish the job that he started 30
years ago. []