SPECTRUM SPOTLIGHT - SPECIAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH EDITION: featuring African American that lived with Special Needs
As a part of The Answer Inc’s Commitment to de-stigmatizing society’s opinion of persons with Autism & Other Developmental Differences, our Spectrum Spotlight Series was created to shine a light on exceptional Children & Young Adults everywhere - who… in-spite of obvious limitations, are ever committed to living their best life.
Today, in the spirit of black history month, we are bringing a special edition of our Spectrum Spotlight Series, and shining a light on several African Americans who you may or may not know. These historical figures — who in-spite of their obvious limitation — were also committed to living their best life, and were able to reach heights that most could only dream of.
Harriet Tubman (1822–1913). Tubman is an abolitionist known for her work on the Underground Railroad, a remarkable effort to help runaway slaves to flee to safer areas. Less well known is that Ms. Tubman suffered from epilepsy as a result of a severe head injury she sustained when she was beaten by her master at age 12. Even though she needed to take many rest breaks, Tubman ventured into the depths of slave country multiple times, saving many lives.
“Blind Tom” Wiggins (1849–1908). Born blind, as an infant Tom Wiggins was sold into slavery, along with the rest of his family. He also survived being killed, as he had no economic value to his owners. However, Tom had access to a piano, and his talent for perceiving, remembering, and reproducing sounds was immediately apparent. Many historians also believe that Tom was on the autism spectrum, which could explain his extraordinary memory. He would go on to perform at concerts throughout the Americas and Europe. His extraordinary music has inspired lovers of music worldwide, including Elton John, who composed a song in his honor.
Fannie Lou Hamer (1917–1977). Ms. Hamer was a civil rights activist who was important in efforts to help African Americans register to vote. She suffered kidney damage after having been beaten, a condition that was the source of her famous words, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
Maya Angelou (1928–2014). Those who know of Ms. Angelou know she wrote a great deal of poetry, along with her memoirs, starting with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Those who have read her work know that her childhood was a traumatic one. At the age of eight, Maya was sexually abused and raped by her mother’s boyfriend; as a result of her trauma, she became mute for five years. (This condition is known as selective mutism.)
Wilma Rudolph (1940–1994). The “fastest woman in the world” wasn’t always fleet on foot. Wilma survived premature birth but endured several early-childhood illnesses. Recovery from infantile paralysis and a loss of strength to her left leg and foot was long and arduous. After being homeschooled for many years, when she was in high school, Wilma tried out for several sports teams; her coach was astonished by her speed. Although she was defeated at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, she became a legend four years later, at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, earning her admiration worldwide.
Harry Belafonte (b. 1927). In 1956, Belafonte was a sensation for his album Calypso and “Banana Boat Song.” Over his musical and drama career, he would go on to four Grammys, a Tony, and an Emmy. What most of his fans do not know is that Harry’s dyslexia became such a source of frustration that he dropped out of high school. However, he has used his cultivated eloquence not only in the arts, but also as a political and social activist, along with his advocacy at Understood.org, an organization dedicated to supporting parents of children with learning disabilities.
