My ADA Story

Leroy Franklin Moore, Jr.
_______________

Leroy F. Moore, Jr.

On July 26th it will be the 17th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, (ADA); in 1990 George Bush, Sr., was forced to signed into law. Today there is a campaign to restore teeth to the ADA. Attacks on it have occurred from the courts and both Republican and Democrat administrations. The legislation is called H.R. 6258 the Americans with Disabilities Act Restoration of 2006; it was introduced back in October 2, 2006. 

This is no surprise for people of color and poor people with disabilities.  Back in the late 90’s Gary N. Gray and the now dissolved Disability Advocates of Minorities Organization, DAMO along with our allies held a rally for three years at this time of the year.  We called the rally, The Other Side of The ADA expressing how people of color, houseless people, people in poverty and immigrants with disabilities were not benefiting from the ADA and didn’t have the chance to voice their opinions.   It is funny that our story has come full circle, but why did it take so long?  People of color and people in poverty are always add on so the question is are we going to be at the table of H.R. 6258 the Americans with Disabilities Act Restoration of 2006? 

This poem was written for The Other Side Rally back in the late 90’s.  It is sad that it is still true today in 2007.  This poem will be in my upcoming book, Black Disabled Man with a Big Mouth & High I.Q. on Gibbs Press due out by November 2007

My ADA Story 

Another anniversary
Let's get down and dirty
I've an ADA Story

Been unemployed for a century
Buildings not accessible in my community
Disabled brothers and sisters are in the penitentiary

I can't sleep
My disabled brothers and sisters are living on the streets
The ADA has done nothing for me

Listen to my life

Got raped in the shelter
Got pop, pop shot on the streets
Three strikes and now I'm in prison for the life

Time to educate
Always need to advocate
But there is no time to celebrate

We have the highest unemployment rate
What's going to happen to our fate
Our leaders are not awake

Does anybody care
Disabled youth abuse in foster care
Segregated in schools and now I'm on welfare

Don't want to stray
From the old ways
No wonder our youth can't relate

Another year and another ADA celebration
Here we are telling you our ADA story
There you go playing down our contributions

The movement need an earthquake
While we blow out the candles on the cake
For God sake tell the truth for the youth sake

It's time to debate the stories behind the movement that created the ADA

 
Leroy F. Moore Jr.    
www.leroymoore.com
7/23/07
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