IEI discusses intersectionality between being Black and disabled

Hofstra’s Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion (IEI) organization reiterates the importance of intersectionality. // Photo courtesy of Disabled and Here.

Hofstra University’s Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion (IEI) program hosted a “Black and Disabled” Zoom presentation on Wednesday, Feb. 15.  

Margo Latty, a junior community health major and IEI peer educator, and Keturah BahT’om, a junior English major and IEI peer educator, discussed the implications of being Black and disabled in society regarding police brutality, eugenics, racism and medical abuse.  

Latty, who struggles with dyslexia, depression, anxiety, speech problems and memory loss, began the presentation discussing their reaction to a quote by Black disabled activist Keith Jones, “Am I the problem, or is society the problem?” 

“A lot of times minorities think that they are the problem and it is sung consistently in their head when they deal with racism, ableism, homophobia, [etc.],” Latty said. “They think it’s their fault, [that] they deserve it or they're the problem. The problem has always been society.” 

BahT’om, who has bipolar disorder and a physical disability, adds that often society is not accepting of people with disabilities. 

“We are the ones with the problems, we are the ones who have to fix ourselves or belittle ourselves to make able-bodied [persons] feel more comfortable,” BahT’om said. 

Latty highlighted that intersectionality plays an important role in impacting the lives of individuals who are both Black and disabled.  

The varying levels of oppression result in limited safe spaces for intersectional individuals, according to Latty.  

“In the Black community, you can deal with ableism, but then in the disability community, you can deal with racism. So you’re consistently in a space … [where] you’ll most likely feel a form of discrimination,”  Latty said.  

The impact of government policies and officials on the lives of people with disabilities also includes police brutality.  

“An atypical reaction to social cues [can be] misinterpreted as disorderly conduct,” Latty said. “Being autistic or deaf [can cause you to use] sign language and [police officers may] think you are making a gang sign.”  

Another aspect that severely impacted how people with disabilities are perceived by society was the deinstitutionalization policy in 1955, which led to the release of individuals in psychiatric facilities from institutional care.  

Deinstitutionalization has contributed to the mental illness crisis, since discharging patients from psychiatric hospitals prevents them from receiving the proper medication and rehabilitation.  

Incarceration has also impacted people with disabilities. “People behind bars in state and federal prisons are nearly three times as likely to report having a disability as the nonincarcerated population, while those in jails are more than four times as likely,” recalled BahT’om, based on the Bureau of Justice statistics from 2016.  

This issue extends to the treatment of people with disabilities in work and academic settings, where their needs are not accommodated. Students at the event reflected on the resources and accommodation Hofstra provides for students with disabilities.   

“Faculty and staff individually can learn to become more considerate of their students' needs before docking them points for late assignments or lack of participation as anything can happen to anyone, no matter the circumstances,” said Radcliffe Edmonds, a junior geography major, who has autism and ADHD. 

Students expressed that Hofstra could gain from increasing accessibility, consistently updating the maintenance of elevators and revising current policies.  

“I would personally love to see Hofstra employ more people in the Student Access Services (SAS) office, as it manages the entire disabled student population and is largely managed by one person,” said Haley Kugler, a senior political science major, who has joint hypermobility, ADHD, depression, OCD and digestive issues. “Hofstra could benefit from improving or eliminating its attendance policy to prevent chronically ill and disabled students from being penalized as a result of their conditions.” 

BahT’om concluded by asking attendees to support Black and disabled individuals.  

“[Students are encouraged] to remain firm in demanding the accommodations they have been provided, stay determined and build relationships with SAS and other support systems on campus,” Kugler said.