Beautiful People: My Thirteen Truths About Disability by Melissa Blake (English)

Description: FREE SHIPPING UK WIDE Beautiful People by Melissa Blake Well-known disability activist and social media influencer, Melissa Blake, offers a frank and illuminating memoir a frank, illuminating memoir and a call to action for disabled people and allies. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Well-known disability activist and social media influencer, Melissa Blake, offers a frank, illuminating memoir and a call to action for disabled people and allies.In the summer of 2019, journalist Melissa Blake penned an op-ed for CNN Opinion. A conservative pundit caught wind of it, mentioning Blakes work in a YouTube video. What happened next is equal parts a searing view into society, how we collectively view and treat disabled people, and the making of an advocate. After a troll said that Blake should be banned from posting pictures of herself, she took to Twitter and defiantly posted three smiling selfies, all taken during a lovely vacation in the Big Apple:I wanted desperately to clap back at these vile trolls in a way that would make a statement, not only about how our society views disabilities, but also about the toxicity of our strict and unrealistic beauty standards. Of course I knew that posting those selfies wasnt going to erase the nasty names Id been called and, the chances were, they would never even see my tweet, but that didnt matter. I wasnt doing it for them; I was doing it for me and every single disabled person who has been bullied before, online and in real life. When people mock how I look, theyre not just insulting me. Theyre insulting all disabled people. Were constantly told that were repulsive and ugly and not good enough to be seen. This was me pushing back against that toxic, ableist narrative.For the first time, I felt like I was doing something empowering, taking back my power and changing the story.Her tweet went viral, attracting worldwide media attention and interviews with the BBC, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, PEOPLE magazine, Good Morning America and E! News.Now, in her manifesto, Beautiful People, Blake shares her truths about disability, writing about (among other things):- the language we use to describe disabled people- ableism, microaggressions, and their pernicious effects- what its like to live in a society that not only isnt designed for you, but actively operates to render you invisible- her struggles with self-image and self-acceptance- the absence of disabled people in popular culture- why disabled people arent tragic heroes Blake also tells the stories of some of the heroes of the disability rights movement in America, in doing so rescuing their incredible achievements from near total obscurity. Highlighting other disabled activists and influencers, Blakes work is the calling card of a powerful voice-one that has sparked new, different, better conversations about disability. Author Biography MELISSA BLAKE is an American writer, journalist, disability activist and high-profile social media influencer. She was born in 1981 with Freeman-Sheldon syndrome, a genetic bone and muscular disorder, and has had more than 26 surgeries, including surgeries on her knees, hands, hips and spine. She credits much of her independence to her parents, who taught her to use her voice and to advocate for herself. Growing up, writing was a way for Blake to express herself and explore the world beyond her disability. After graduating from Northern Illinois University with a journalism degree in 2005, she began a career as a freelance writer. She wrote a weekly newspaper column for nearly five years, covering everything from family and musings on life to pop culture. Her writing on disabilities, relationships and pop culture has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN Opinion, Health, Good Housekeeping, Glamour and Cosmopolitan, among others. Blake lives in DeKalb, Illinois. Review "As a disability public speaker and advocate, I found myself nodding in agreement, feeling seen and validated, and cheering Melissa on as she shared her self-love journey and her process of contending with internalized ableism. A triumph and a recommended read for all!"--Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, CPACC, Public Speaker, DEIA Consultant, Content Creator @BlindishLatina"There arent enough good things I could say about this book. Melissa Blake deftly melds personal narrative and disability rights with a dash of humor central to her personality. She challenges long-held assumptions about disabled people and answers questions you may have been afraid to ask. Blake asserts shes neither your charity case nor your hero; shes just the girl next door with the same hopes and fears as anyone. While Blakes experience is unique, readers will see iterations of their own struggles in the pages, further exemplifying our shared humanity."--Shannon Luders-Manuel, Black Prince: A Father-Daughter Story in Black and White"Abraham Lincoln. Susan B. Anthony. Mark Twain. Ta-Nehisi Coates. Melissa Blakes name belongs beside these weavers of words. Her courage and realness, sweetness and humor, and groundbreaking journalism will make you laugh, cry and want to learn more. Put simply, this honest book will change the world. Someday we will forget disability justice needed Blakes voice...because it will be etched in stone forever."--Laura Carney, author of My Fathers List: How Living My Dads Dreams Set Me Free"I love this book. Melissa Blake takes us with her on her journey as a disabled person through an ableist society that seeks to erase the experiences of her community with inaccessibility, exclusion, pity, sentimentality, and, yes, cruelty. Melissas clarity, rigorous honesty, humanity, and delightful humor deliver her story in full. It is not only an invaluable document in the ongoing battle for disability rights, but a joy to read. Brava!"--Bradley Whitford, actor"In prose that is clear, warm, and always laced with humor, Melissa draws you in, making you a part of her world. With her trademark wit, pop culture references, and ability to tackle challenging topics with seeming effortlessness, Beautiful People is a book with heart and is an absolute delight to read."--Erin Khar, author of Strung Out"Melissa Blake offers a delightful explanation of disability in a voice that is both sparkling and knowledgeable. Newcomers to disability studies will find Melissas book an accessible resource to our culture and history. Disabled readers will recognize their experiences reflected in her authentic musings on everything from social media and dating to transportation and building a career as a disabled professional. No matter what kind of body we move through the world in, Melissas warmth is a welcome invitation to join her in recognizing the beauty we each possess."--Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp, authors of Dateable: Swiping Right, Hooking Up, and Settling Down While Chronically Ill and Disabled"Melissas willingness to share her unfiltered self opens minds to the experiences of people living with physical disabilities. Her story helps us all unlearn stereotypes that we are conditioned to believe about people with disabilities, and that the media has been guilty of reinforcing."--Nicholas Ferroni, teacher and educator"Not only does Beautiful People inform me on how to fight for disability justice, it lets me view the world through a disabled persons lens. Spoiler alert: Its not at all what you thought. With compelling, thoughtful, illuminating prose, Melissa Blake empowers every reader to live life on their own terms."--Lauren DePino, essayist for The New York Times and The Washington Post Details ISBN0306830426 Author Melissa Blake Pages 272 Year 2024 ISBN-13 9780306830426 Format Hardcover Audience General Language English ISBN-10 0306830426 Publication Date 2024-04-04 Subtitle My Thirteen Truths About Disability UK Release Date 2024-04-04 Publisher Hachette Books Imprint Da Capo Press Inc Country of Publication United States US Release Date 2024-04-04 DEWEY 362.4092 NZ Release Date 2024-07-08 AU Release Date 2024-07-08 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! 30 DAY RETURN POLICY No questions asked, 30 day returns! FREE DELIVERY No matter where you are in the UK, delivery is free. 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