Ben Waber reviewed Black Disability Politics by Sami Schalk
An Excellent Combination of Historical and Philosophical Analyses
4 stars
Schalk has pulled off the rare feat of making a work of philosophy and critical studies both accessible and insightful, using historical analyses of different movements in the US to interrogate the intersection of disability justice and Black liberation. Some of this is definitely more in the weeds than I would like in terms of dissecting the exact meaning of words such as "inspiring," but those quibbles aside this book makes a compelling case for an inextricable link between disability and racism. This intersectional lens has only grown in importance over time, with Schalk's arguments from only a few years ago being repeatedly proven out in the US of 2025. Highly recommend
Schalk has pulled off the rare feat of making a work of philosophy and critical studies both accessible and insightful, using historical analyses of different movements in the US to interrogate the intersection of disability justice and Black liberation. Some of this is definitely more in the weeds than I would like in terms of dissecting the exact meaning of words such as "inspiring," but those quibbles aside this book makes a compelling case for an inextricable link between disability and racism. This intersectional lens has only grown in importance over time, with Schalk's arguments from only a few years ago being repeatedly proven out in the US of 2025. Highly recommend