Black Disabled Art History 101

by Leroy Moore Jr

Black disabled and Deaf artists have always existed. They were on street corners down South singing the Blues, spray-painting on New York subways, and bringing sign language to the big screen. Today, young Black disabled artists are finding their own way to the stage and studio. As a Black disabled youth in the 1970s and 1980s, I wished that there was a book like the one you are holding now. No more wishing—the book is here!

Genres: Disability, Nonfiction, Disability Studies, Art, Picture Books

126 pages, Paperback

Published February 2, 2017

Reviews

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is stellar work. I learned a lot from it, but I can easily see children as young as seven or eight falling in love with the biographies, rhythms, illustrations, and photographs. It's also just beautiful--the text layout and visual art are gorgeous. I don't know of another book that compiles this history, which is divided into four main sections: visual artists, musicians, dancers, and actors and actresses. Instead of floundering some more while I try to do justice to this vital, own-voices treasure, I'll just add a link to the title poem in Poor Magazine.

[Kathleen O'Neal · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wasn't sure who the audience for this book was supposed to be. It didn't seem to contain basic information geared at either an audience of younger people nor at an audience of adults. Black disabled art history is an important subject and I was looking forward to this hopefully being a good resource but it really wasn't.

[Liz Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to have in every classroom and home. A strongly designed work with many photos and artworks to accompany the stories. It could be used as a picture book in an elementary classroom but people of all ages would love this. Leroy Moore Jr has collected the stories of Black, disabled artists: from painters to musicians, to dancers to poets. I don't have the book in front of me but I see the pages as vivid and faces as clear, as when I first read them. I love referring back to this and gave it out as Xmas presents to fellow educators, although it certainly deserves a wider audience.
The review below lays out the strengths of this work in a much more articulate manner than I can so please read it, and pick up the book!

https://geekygimp.com/black-disabled-...

[Mills College Library]

305.90808 M8229 2017