Black and Blue: Why #BlackLivesMatter Still Matters

Man, Myth, Mike has been on a bit of a hiatus, however, I wanted to use my writing talk about an important issue. I understand it is a rather controversial subject for some but I believe it is a dialogue worth having. Sometimes in life we need to have those conversations that make us uncomfortable.

#BlackLivesMatter Captain America accessibility logo.

Black Lives Matter; what comes to mind when you hear this phrase? To some, these three words have a very divisive, even negative connotation to them. For many others, this statement is the rally cry for racial equality. Being a social justice concerned person, I feel very strongly about this cause. As a white middle-class male I realize have a certain level of privilege. I may not know what it’s like to be a black person but I can use my position to be an ally. As Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." 

The topic of police brutality carried out against African-Americans, has garnered much heated discussion lately. Social and news media has been flooded with debate following the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of the police. Tensions have only worsened after a gunman in Dallas opened fire on protesters and police, killing 5 officers and injuring several others. Furthermore, with the deadly Baton Rouge police ambush. The feelings of pain and uncertainty are palpable especially within the black and police communities. I believe we all have the capacity to mourn both the police killed and those who are killed by police. I also think we should take the time to truly understand the problem of institutional bigotry.

Racism in the United States is continuum of oppression dotted with hard-fought victories, spanning more than 200 years. The Black Lives movement may have started relatively recently but it’s ideas and goals are certainly nothing new. Civil Rights leaders such as Dr. King and Malcolm X, themselves spoke out against police brutality and the inequities within the criminal justice system. Today, those who are black continue to face disproportionate rates of police violence, higher incarceration levels and harsher prison sentences. So many Americans are still regarded with suspicion simply because of their skin color. My friend and fellow activist, Vilissa Thompson remarked in her powerful blog post, "My soul and heart are so burdened with fears for not only myself, but those I love, and if I become a parent, my future children.”

Despite this documented discrimination, many white casual observers remain skeptical that a problem even exists. The BLM (Black Lives Matter) cause is far too often misconstrued as anti-law enforcement or dismissed as “race baiting”. In regards to these opinions, President Obama very diplomatically said: "When people say black lives matter, that doesn't mean blue lives don't matter, it just means all lives matter but right now, the big concern is the fact that the data shows black folks are more vulnerable to these kinds of incidents.”  Being against police brutality is not anti-police, much like being against food-poisoning does not make one anti-restaurant.

I have a lot of respect for police officers, they have one of the most difficult professions around. However, I don’t believe an organization charged with public protection, funded by taxpayers of all races, should treat certain groups with harsher regard. It is important that all police strive to follow the lead of cops and departments who are doing the right thing. Overall, I believe it’s time that our society re-examined it’s philosophy when it comes to crime and justice. We have to ask ourselves: Why we value punishment more than rehabilitation? Why retribution is more important to us than deescalation? Why it’s easier to justify a death than empathize with a life?

Represented In Toy Land

When it comes to childhood development, one of the most crucial elements beyond the basic necessities is playtime. Besides having fun, which certainly has its own importance, playing helps to spark the imagination, create self-worth and prompt higher cognitive reasoning. This often times underrated activity of our youth profoundly impacts who we grow into as adults and who we are as individuals. Understanding this fact, it is no surprise that the toys we play with can effect how we see the world. You can learn a lot about what a society values based on the playthings of it’s children.

Recently, there have been two toy-related news stories getting some buzz: Mattel’s new Barbie variations and Lego’s first disabled minifigure (click to read articles). These positive developments towards a more inclusive culture reminds us that change is not only necessary but actually possible. Some may dismiss these decisions as so called “political correctness”, however, it is important to realize that representation truly does matter especially for children. In our formative years as adolescents, we begin to develop unconscious bias surrounding things such as race, gender and disability. Allowing all different types of children to be represented works to counter prejudices and raise the self-esteem of children who are considered different.

For me, toys were an integral of my childhood, they helped me to create worlds and explore my imagination. One of my all time favorite toys growing up were Legos—little plastic bricks with endless possibilities. The announcement to include a figure that is a wheelchair user is very exciting to me, it acknowledges that disabled people are indeed an important part of this world. With toys being such a major part of my life, I believe that representation of this nature would have positively influenced my own journey of self acceptance. The idea to make children’s toys more inclusive of disability is a growing movement, supported by grassroots social media campaigns such as Toy Like Me. 

The Barbie doll redesigns are yet another example of positive representation, when it comes to how women and girls are portrayed. Currently, the United States faces a crisis of body image related disorders especially among it’s female youth, a vicious cycle reinforced by a culture of unrealistic beauty standards. The latest Barbie line will introduce 33 unique dolls with a variety of skin tones, hair colors and body types. Amid declining sales numbers, Mattel has decided to address the long standing criticisms of Barbie and take the iconic toy into a new era. Whether this shift represents social change or just a savvy business decision, it is an important step forward.

As times continue to progress, I hope to see more toy companies follow the examples of Lego and Mattel. Children are the future; how they play and in turn how they view the world will deeply affect the course of our society. Inclusion is more than just feeling seen, it is about creating an environment that values diversity instead of simply tolerating it. Representation is not an act of kindness, it is truly equality and justice. 

Not A Prop: Ableism In Celebrity Culture

One of the most puzzling aspects of American life in the 21st century is our outright obsession with all things celebrity related, the odd worship of strangers we presume to know. This bizarre cult of personality that our society supports, mostly remains a sort of benign noise constantly in the background for those uninterested but every once in a while it crosses a serious line. The latest major celebrity faux pas, not related to The Donald, is Kylie Jenner's blatantly offensive photo-shoot for Interview magazine that used a wheelchair as metaphoric prop. This act of painfully obvious ignorance, while terrible unto itself represents a larger problem in the relationship between disability and celebrity culture.

This is not ok...

When Kylie Jenner, a celebrity that requires a flowchart to trace the origins of her fame, donned her rather kinky outfit and sat in a blisteringly tacky manual wheelchair, it sent a clear message of how the industry views the disabled community. More shocking still, the supposedly “artistic” justifications behind this blunder was that it represented the limiting nature of fame. Not only does this turn an essential mobility device, that actually grants freedom, as a strange fetishized accessory but it presents disabled people in an extremely problematic light. Disability is not a metaphor to be used at will, disabled individuals are not some novelty to be imitated for shock value.

Unfortunately, Miss Jenner’s stunt that somehow no one thought was wrong before it went to print, is part of a much larger issue. Across the entertainment industry disabled people are largely excluded; disabled actors and models can get very little work, meanwhile, abled actors are cast in disabled roles and abled models are seen as the default option. The fact that Kylie’s photo-shoot even took place shows just how poorly this industry as well as the general population understands what it means to be disabled. I strongly believe there needs to be a major shift in the public narrative surrounding disability.

Blogger Erin Tatum (left) and You-Tuber Annie Segarra (right).

Fellow disabled blogger Karin Hitselberger’s now viral post, Why We Need to Talk About Kylie Jenner, perfectly sums up the importance of this discussion. As Karin puts it, "We need to talk about Kylie Jenner because this is not really about her. It is about how disability can be considered cool when used as a prop, but so often the lives of actually disabled people are seen as a terrible fate.” The disabled community’s overwhelming backlash to this celebrity blunder has sparked an important dialogue that I truly think everyone should pay attention to. The online response, in the form of blogs and recreated photos with women who are actual wheelchair users, is both empowering and enlightening.

The Kylie Jenner photo fiasco is certainly troubling, however, it does present a unique learning opportunity for the public. Anytime there is a situation in which a   particular minority group is offended by something in the popular media, the phrase “Political Correctness” tends to come up at some point but I disagree with that judgement. I believe when a specific group speaks up it is a chance to better understand those with different lived experiences, in this case disabled individuals. As a disabled person myself, I hope that perceptions will continue change and that our society will begin to see the beauty and complexity of true disability.

The Disabled States of America

History is made by those who challenge the status quo, those who seek change within and far beyond their own lives. Movements for equality are born from the devoted few making the voices of the many singular. When a marginalized group speaks up in the name of freedom and justice it is often an act of necessity; it is not simply that they can be heard, it is that they must be heard. When most think about campaigns of social justice the images that generally come to mind are that of the African-American Civil Rights Movement, Woman’s suffrage or LGBTQ rights, however, one of the more overlooked but equally as important battles is the American Disability Rights Movement.

Throughout history disabled people have largely be excluded from mainstream society. People like myself in the past faced mass institutionalization, abuse, neglect and even death. Progress towards better treatment was painfully slow despite advances in technology and culture, even after the U.S. was lead by a disabled president, Franklin D. Roosevelt for 12 years. Prior to the Disability Rights Movement, being disabled was widely regarded as a purely medical issue and not a matter of social equality. One of the first major concepts presented by disabled rights activists was that accommodation and inclusion were not simply acts of charity but instead basic human rights. 

It is no coincidence that the push for disabled rights came at the heels of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the powerful efforts of black activists such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and Malcolm X. Many disabled individuals felt that the Civil Rights bill, while a major victory on the road to equality, failed to protect against discrimination based on disability. Much like the fight for racial justice, disabled activism set out to change both perception as well as legislation. As Margaret Mead once wrote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” This pivotal campaign for the fair treatment of disabled Americans certainly echoes Mead’s sentiment.

Early on, a crucial milestone of the larger disabled movement was the Independent Living Movement in the 1960’s, where activists such as Ed Roberts from California advocated for equal living, educational and work opportunities for disabled persons. In turn, it began to shift public opinion leading to the first federal legislation. The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 was passed to address the barriers that physically disabled people faced within society. 

Another major turning point was the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, which was further expanded in 1977 due to widespread direct-action protesting lead by people like Frank Bowe and Judith Heumann (currently Special Advisor for International Disability Rights to President Barack Obama). The Rehabilitation Act and specifically it's section 504 provision prevented any organization receiving government funding to discriminate against qualified disabled individuals. 

However, the most important event to date in the history of disabled rights in the U.S. did not occur until 1990, when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed. This sweeping bill was imposed by congress and later signed into law by President George H.W. Bush twenty-five years ago this past July. The ADA, while certainly not perfect, is intended to end discrimination towards a wide array of impairments and illnesses. The groundbreaking law was made possible by a diverse group activists and lawmakers. 

A very notable cross-disability organizer and ADA advocate was Fred Fay, who was able to remotely unite and manage the cause quite literally flat on his back. Dr. Fay was paralyzed at the age of 16 and due to a spinal cyst spent the last 25 years of his life in a laying position, he was a pioneer of disabled rights his entire career able to bring together multiple disability groups under the common theme of stigma and oppression. He once said, “Disability is equal opportunity, anyone can qualify at any moment.’’

The brave men and women of the Disability Movement devoted their lives to the betterment of disabled people everywhere, I owe a personal debt of gratitude to the work of these amazing people. So many things I am able to do with my life today are the direct result of this powerful social justice movement. I am inspired to continue the fight for a better tomorrow each time I learn about the efforts of civil rights activists, they are living proof that our voice matters.

Unwanted Attention

Being different can often be an exercise in self-acceptance, a battle of confidence versus perception. Loving yourself in a world that views you as inherently other often takes a great deal of strength. The ability to go out in public without feeling like a spectacle is a luxury some people take for granted. For many visibly disabled people, one of the biggest lost freedoms is being anonymous, going unnoticed. Many times, blending in is simply not an option.

Throughout my own experience of being disabled in a visually obvious way, I have had my fair share of uncomfortable situations. Just leaving the house can be quite a test of patience from time to time. I believe our culture has certainly become more understanding and accepting but there is still a long way to go. When my brother and I go out in the community it is always a bit of a gamble when it comes to unwanted attention. Odd comments and awkward gazes have a way of following us wherever we go.

Personally, I am fully aware of the reality that my appearance is a little different from most and I do generally give people the benefit of the doubt. I try to be as tolerant as possible, however, this constant feeling of otherness does have an effect on self-esteem. I find that just being stared at can fill me with a bit of uneasiness, it’s something I have to consciously ignore. It is important to note though, that the majority of odd looks we receive often times come from small children which I am quite understanding of. The truly troubling instances come from full grown adults blatantly starting at us, as if we were gorillas at a zoo. 

Most of the adult gawkers tend to stay behind the proverbial glass but, once in a while, some people are bold enough to make a comment or ask a question. Again, I usually attempt to be as polite and accepting as possible, after all, genuine curiosity is only natural. What is difficult about these encounters is the way people choose to go about approaching us. Very rarely will strangers address my brother and I directly, typically they will only speak to the nearest abled person with us, as if we were not even there. Each time this happens I am left feeling a bit self-conscious, frustrated.

These acts of ignorance, while many times well-meaning, can be isolating and upsetting when you just want to live your life. To me, these feeling are more limiting than anything my body could cause and they make that said body much harder to love. As a person who likes to look at the bigger picture, I believe the root cause of how disabled people are treated truly comes from a lack of knowledge. I am a strong advocate of better disabled representation precisely for this reason. I hope for a future where the full, brilliant diversity of humanity is recognized and embraced, where all people can move freely without feeling different.

Live Long And Prosper

As a lifelong Star Trek fan, I was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock in the original series and in subsequent roles across the Star Trek universe. He was, however, so much more than the logical, pointy-eared, half Vulcan Starfleet officer he portrayed, the world lost a wonderful human being. To quote Captain Kirk in the film, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, "Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most human." 

Mr. Nimoy was an actor, director, writer, poet and photographer. He was also a humanitarian, an advocate for science and a strong believer in the importance of art in our culture. Each project, each endeavor he was a part of, was met with an unrelenting enthusiasm and passion. This was truly a man who made an impact; who certainly lived a long and prosperous life.

From a Star Trek perspective, Leonard Nimoy was an integral part of the franchise's multi-generational success. He personally brought to life so much of what makes the character of Mr. Spock memorable. The iconic Vulcan salute, for example, was Mr. Nimoy's own idea, adapted from a Hebrew gesture. He also helped the show's writers create the classic Vulcan nerve pinch that Spock used to non-lethally subdue his foes.

For me, Spock was such an intriguing part of the series. The starship Enterprise's science officer was extremely analytical and reserved but still embodied the spirit of scientific curiosity. Another fascinating aspect of this character was his unique heritage, he was born to a human mother and an alien father—a child of two worlds. The Vulcan civilization had long since decided to suppress their emotions and humanity is very much emotionally motivated, which created conflict within Spock as an individual.

I realize that not everyone is a Star Trek fan like myself, but it was an important television series nonetheless. Despite having it's pilot episode "the Cage" initially rejected by NBC and only being on the air for three seasons, Star Trek was truly groundbreaking. When the show premiered in 1967, our country was in a state of turmoil; from boiling racial tensions, to the war raging in Vietnam and the ominous threat of nuclear annihilation. The show featured a diverse crew on a state-of-the-art starship in a bright future, it showed a grand and united 23rd century where humans and aliens explore the stars together for the betterment of science.

Over the years Star Trek has spawned multiple TV series, several films and millions of devoted fans spanning decades. I myself, am a third generation "Trekkie"; my mom and grandpa fondly recall watching the original series in syndication at their dinner table, to my grandma's chagrin. Star Trek, in all of it's iterations, personally represents hope to me. The franchise shows that no matter the odds, any obstacle can be overcome through science, technology and determination.

As we say goodbye to Leonard Nimoy, we should remember the final words he publicly shared via Twitter, "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory." Rest in peace Mr. Nimoy, as you Face that final frontier. To all of you I give a warm Vulcan salute and say, live long and prosper.

In The Mirror

In this world filled with narrow notions of beauty and success we must learn to dismantle the idea of what is "normal" and try to unconditionally love the person looking back at us in the mirror. I have struggled with personal acceptance for much of my life, with both my physical impairments and certain personality traits of mine. It has been a long road learning to love the person I am and there are miles to go. Self acceptance is a challenge we all face in one form or another throughout our lives; some struggle more than others but we all have things we do not like about ourselves. 

Sometimes the people who seem to have it all together, are actually silently battling personal insecurities on a daily basis. A startling number of young people, typically characterized as self absorbed, struggle to accept who they are. Some of the kindest people, who are filled with so much compassion for others, sometimes do not love themselves. There are times where our greatest enemy can dwell between our own two ears. We can be our own biggest critics, calling to attention every perceived imperfection. Self improvement is important but we must not let it consume us. When we become overcritical of ourselves, it can leave us wishing we were another person. When I personally feel this way I am reminded of the words of Kurt Cobain, "Wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are." We may not always be able control how we feel about ourselves; I do however, believe that each of us can affect certain destructive paths of thought. It is important that we treat ourselves how we would want to be treated. I believe the "Golden rule" should apply to everyone, including ourselves.

I also feel that many of the negative ways people tend to see themselves, are actually internalized expectations set by society. When it comes to things like weight, physical ability, mental capacity, romantic interests, race, gender or economic standing, we are commonly shown a "default" existence, with any differences presented as "extra" or even wrong. The idea of a "normal person" is so limiting and destructive for those who do not fit within its definition. I strongly believe representation is the key; to love ourselves, we must first see ourselves. It is imperative that popular media reflects a wider view of humanity. It breaks my heart knowing that people, many of whom are so young, are sent the message by our culture that they are not wanted. Diversity is not imperfection, it is beauty. I can confidently say, each person who reads my blog is beautiful and important.
For all those who need to be reminded, you matter.
For all those who feel weak, you are powerful.
For all those who feel alone, you are loved.
For everyone out there struggling to feel accepted or accept themselves, I truly believe in you.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This post is dedicated to Mike Conese, who has more Christmas spirit than anyone I know. 

We have reached that time again where the holidays are in full swing and where the best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear. It's a season of lights, mistletoe and magic that comes only once a year. For me the most important part of this merry celebration is the people I spend it with, they are truly the greatest gift. Gathering with friends and family makes this time of year brighter than the biggest of Christmas trees ever could. For anyone who knows my family, they would not be surprised to find that we in fact begin the most wonderful season of all with a party for hosting. 

On the first weekend of December each year, we host the famous Mort family Christmas open house—a masterfully orchestrated holiday extravaganza. Although it is a major undertaking(my mom fully decorated the entire house in just one week), opening up our home to our friends and family is simply something we enjoy doing. From the time of the party till the end of the year we try to spend time with all the people who are important to us. Being surrounded by some of our favorite people seems to put everything into perspective. This time of year especially, reminds us just how much others impact our lives and how much we impact others.

One of the greatest holiday films of all time, It's A Wonderful Life deals with the very subject, if you have never seen this classic I strongly recommend  giving it a watch. In the movie, George Bailey played by James Stewart catches a glimpse of what life would be like if he had never been born. The harsh world in his absence reveals just how important his existence is to everyone around him. The message of the film reflects the idea that we all do indeed make a difference. 

Each person we meet we influence in some form of another and vice versa. I believe the love we put forth into the world alters I the landscape like a freshly fallen snow, softly blanketing all it touches. Every unique snowflake, each act of kindness adds to the greater sum—a better life for all. So as the song says: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. 

I am so grateful for my parents who have given me so much love, who have always made sure I was warm, safe and well fed. I am thankful for my brothers who always have my back. I am so happy for all the amazing friends, family and acquaintances that have changed my life for the better. I am so lucky for all the people that would, if I said the word would throw a lasso around the moon and pull in down for me. No matter who you are, where you are from or what you celebrate, I wish you all the very best this holiday season! 

Faith In Humanity

The world can seem an uncertain and down right scary place especially after the events in Boston or the other acts of brutal violence in recent months but try to hold on to hope. I may be sort of an idealist and a keeper of optimism but lets all take a moment to think from a different point of view; more people in the world are trying to do good than trying to be an asshole, if not the world would be in total anarchy.

In Boston, only a few people wanted to cause harm and mayhem but hundreds rushed in to lend a hand and millions more have voiced there support.
Boston has not been broken, it's spirit has remained strong because of the all incredible people who call it home! It is one of my favorite cities and my heart is with them, I am honored to be visiting Boston this upcoming weekend.
Senseless death and destruction have plagued human society since the very beginning and continues to happen everyday, do not let this truth make you bitter or skeptical toward your fellow person, see it as a lesson to be better than the cowardice that darkness is. Don't let the actions of a few, define the character of all. Your faith in humanity should be based on how you see the average person and ultimately how you see yourself.
I may be somewhat biased because all the fantastic people in my life, but I strongly feel there aren't any people out there that are totally bad, they just do bad things sometimes. People are capable of doing some pretty terrible things, this is a fact, but consider the path it took for someone to go awry, it often is caused by trauma or misdirection; if someone had been there for them, had listened to them, their lives may have turned out completely different. Never underestimate the impact you have on others or the impact they have on you. Personally it really makes me happy to be around people, anytime I can interact with others and be social I just feel better. Social Interactions aren't always easy, they can be quite daunting for some. I definitely have had my my own struggles with talking to people but have slowly learned the value people really have. At times each of us can be a little too concerned about where we are or what we are doing and fail to realize that it's truly about who we are with. I think that it is important to be able to have a good time with many different types of people, I like to view each person I meet as a opportunity to gain a new perspective on life.
Don't reserve your love, your kindness or your understanding to a just few, spread it generously and let It become a catalyst for greatness in this world.

P.S. Olivia Wilde