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To Be a Problem

A Black Woman's Survival in the Racist Disability Rights Movement

Author: Dara Baldwin Foreword by: Keith P. Jones

A searing critique of the disability rights movement from within, and a call for collective liberation that is pro-Black and centers disabled people of color

For over 20 years, Dara Baldwin has often been the only person of color in the room when significant disability policy decisions are made. Disenfranchisement of people of color and multi-marginalized communities within the disability rights community is not new and has left many inside the community feeling frustrated and erased.

In To Be a Problem, Baldwin candidly shares her journey to becoming a disability activist and policymaker in DC while critiquing the disability rights community. She reveals the reality of erasure for many Black people and people of color in the disability community and argues that, in turn, many white disabled people center themselves within the movement without addressing their own white privilege.

Disability rights groups have been centering white, straight, cisgender people while racial justice groups often fail to center disabled people, leading many Black and Brown disabled people to start their own Disability Justice organizations. Drawing from her unique vantage point, Baldwin calls readers to understand the shortcomings of the disability rights movement while inspiring us to push all movements towards a more inclusive and authentic liberation.

“To Be a Problem is an essential guide to how race and gender intersect with disabilities. Readers who admire the works of bell hooks, Audre Lorde, Angela Davis, and Alice Wong will appreciate the issues that Baldwin unravels here.”
—Booklist

“Will leave you inspired to champion a more inclusive and equitable world.”
—Brittany K. Barnett, author of A Knock. at Midnight

“Dara Baldwin is courageous, committed, the definition of intersectional, and a fierce movement builder. We can learn much from her.”
—V (formerly Eve Ensler), author of The Vagina Monologues and Reckoning

“A badly needed intervention in our times of overlapping and intersecting crises.”
—Naomi Klein, author of Doppelganger

“To read a book so rooted in our collective humanity is an absolute gift.”
—Dave Zirin, author of The Kaepernick Effect

“Read this book.”
—Zach Norris, author of Defund Fear

“Dara’s voice, and this book, is so unique and critical?in this moment.”
—Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage

“This book reads like a freedom song for these overlooked segments of the disability rights movement(s), with Dara Baldwin crafting lyrics that speak hope and courage to readers.”
—Khaled A. Beydoun, author of Islamophobia

“A tireless disrupter who wears her scars proudly, she knows that movements steeped in whiteness will not get us where we need to go.”
—Laura Flanders, author and host of The Laura Flanders Show

“Will hopefully lead to reflection and transformation, not only in that movement but in all of our movements that continue to be plagued by elitism and white privilege.”
—Medea Benjamin, peace activist and cofounder of CODEPINK

“A testament to Baldwin’s family, faith, courage, and the many times she has brought race into necessary rooms.”
—Sunu P. Chandy, author of My Dear Comrades

“An incisive book.”
—Thenmozhi Soundararajan, author of The Trauma of Caste

“Uncovers the problem and points to its resolution: BIPOC disabled people need to be at the heart of disability?justice.”
—Zillah Eisenstein, author of Abolitionist Socialist Feminist

“Dara Baldwin is a movement warrior for justice.”
—Heather Booth, American civil rights activist

Foreword

Introduction

CHAPTER 1
Building an Activist

CHAPTER 2
Creating a Policy Maker

CHAPTER 3
Knowledge Is Power

CHAPTER 4
Direct with Great Force

CHAPTER 5
Disability in the Beltway

Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Notes