The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Reflection & Expression
Anne H. Berry (Managing Editor), Kelly Walters (Creative Director), Jennifer Rittner (Development Editor), Lesley-Ann Noel, Penina Laker, and Kareem Collie.

So honored to announce that I contributed to the book: The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Reflection & Expression with a piece titled “From the “Black Anti-Ableist Diary: A Tribute to My Black Disabled Son from a Black Disabled Mother”

In this essay, I talk about forming honest relationships with our kids, dealing with internalized Ableism as a parent, trying to combat that Ableism, and how My Little Pony and zines have helped us along the way.

Visit Book Website Here: The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Reflection & Expression 

Released on February 01, 2022 and Published by Allworth Press, The Black Experience in Design: Identity, Reflection & Expression presents writings by 70 designers, artists, curators, educators, students, and researchers who represent a cross-section of Black diasporic identities and multi-disciplinary practices. Forewords by Emory Douglas and Ruha Benjamin frame the book in a historical and socio-political context, and Afterword by Eddie Opara offers an intimate, spiritual coda.

Editorial team: Anne H. Berry (Managing Editor), Kelly Walters (Creative Director), Jennifer Rittner (Development Editor), Lesley-Ann Noel, Penina Laker, and Kareem Collie. With book design by Renald Louissaint and copyediting by Jamie McGhee.

In “From the Black Anti-Ableist Diary: A Tribute to My Black Disabled Son from a Black Disabled Mother,” Jennifer White-Johnson shares with us her joys, fears, and insights as a mother holding space for her son “to celebrate and embrace his differences.” This story will inspire, reminding us of the power of imagination, play, and the boundless nature of a child’s mind and spirit. White-Johnson draws on these lessons to amplify the voices of disabled and marginalized communities through art and design activism.

Complete contributors list

Michele Washington, June Grant, Woodrow Winchester, III, Lonny J Avi Brooks, Adah Parris, Alicia O. Ajayi, Audrey Bennett, Cheryl D. Holmes Miller, John Jennings, adrienne maree brown, Lauren Williams, Malene Barnett, Maurice Cherry, Nii Kommey Botchway, Rick Griffith, Schessa Garbutt, Terrence Moline, Quinlin B Messenger, Colette Gaiter, Steve Jones, Christopher Rudd, Kaleena Sales, Sloan Leo, Jennifer White-Johnson, Liz Ogbu, Folayemi Wilson, Forest Young, Michelle Joan Wilkinson, Ari Melenciano, Dorothy Hayes, Vann Graves, Jon Key, Darhil Crooks, Ian Spalter, Dantley Davis, Annika Hansteen-Izore, Terresa Moses, David Pilgrim, Amos Kennedy, Raja Schaar, Yocasta LaChapelle, Sabine Maxine Lopez, Nontsikelelo Mutiti, Cey Adams, Mimi Onuoha, Romi Morrison and Rhea L Combs, Mugendi K. M’Rithaa, Sylvia Harris, Steven Heller, Ruha Benjamin, Eddie Opara,  Maurice Woods,

Student List

Brian Bishop, Terrayne Brown, Eden Elam, Kgothatso Lephoko, Asha McClendon, Janel Rose Mitchell, Staicy Wairimu Ngongu, Jecori Owens-Schuler, Unique Patton, Ajay Revels, Brandon Juan Surtain, Joshua Wall, Kyra Wells, Brandon Wilburn.

Image Descriptions: Various spreads of my included 4-page essay, From The Black Anti-Ableist Diary: A Tribute to My Black Disabled Son from a Black Disabled Mother.  

I gave my all in this essay to be vulnerable and free. Thanks to my editor Kareen Collie for holding space for my ADHD mama shenanigans. And to the one and only Amos Kennedy @kennedyprints thanks for the beautifully pressed poster! Motherhood As An Act of Resistance! I’m in my feels! Please pick up a copy!