NAMED Advocates

Sanction our Scars A binding belief and an authoritative framework that allows us to see value MORE than we see defect. Speak up for every part of yourself, the melanin, the curves, and the scars.

Boldly Give to the world boldly. Give to the world freely. Give to the world unashamed of who you are.  What is your message?  What is your art?  Who are you and what do you stand for?  In our youth, who we are is constantly evolving. But if we do not define ourselves then others will take that privilege. Don’t…

The National Alliance of Multicultural Disabled Advocates (NAMD) is a group led by disabled Black Indigenous People of Color (B.I.P.O.C.) who came together and conducted a demonstration during the NCIL 2019 conference. Our purpose was to address the ongoing issues of racism, xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, colonialism, and ableism in the broader disability rights movement. It is past time for…

Organizing takes a radical execution of self love and love for others.  If you take a close look, that mark you see on my belly is not my belly button. It's actually a scar from a feeding tube I had as a kid (due to cancer) that I often cover up.  I made a lot of decisions growing up around…

One necessity in my dreams of liberation is the ability to earn respect and opportunities. My skins boils when I think of the doors slammed in our faces without the person even hearing us out.  I think of my students and the stories they’ve told me about the moments they knew they wouldn’t get the job or they would not…

Sometimes I find a good spot and just dream about a transformative society. I dream about office spaces filled with afros, dreadlocks, real talk, street talk, hip hop as elevator music, naturally loud voices, and aggression that’s not violent but confidence. I think of my students and their inculpable aspirations to be great.  But I always remember that our hopes…

I’m constantly thinking about the dream. Dreams that are bold enough to envision our communities and businesses to be inclusive of ALL people. A dream that still calls for us to examine the content of our character and skillset rather than have preconceived notions about our melanin, curves, and crip walks.  In this year, I hope we bring back the…

On the job, must I hide my curves and my fro and my prosthetic scars? Can I bring the melanin of my culture AND the slower limp in my walk to work? Though not discussed enough, these are questions that young professionals ask every time they have a job interview or when they move to elevate their careers.  How much…

We will encounter evidence at an early age that supports our insecurities- ie ableism at the intersections of racism & sexism. But still, I began to imagine a place and people that saw my Black disabled womanhood as magic. I began to explore the beauty of my body, my thoughts and experiences instead of hide them.  Build your confidence up.…

When organizing for concepts like freedom and inclusion your opponents will use every scare tactic possible to silence your bravery. I had to make a conscious decision that I believe in the power and beauty of Black people more than becoming submissive to the struggles.

Just a reminder to be bold and confident in everything you do. Show us who you are and what you stand for.  Me personally- I stand for young professionals that hustle for better days and profitable opportunities. I stand for folks that have physical and emotional #scars all along their bodies but they’re unafraid to turn their experiences into testimonies…

Nah sis. Love your body every day of the week. Love it when it's bloated. Love it when it gives you pain. Love it as grows. Love it because it is yours.

Keri’s Scars Show this to every Black girl and woman you know. They need to see me. They need to see this level of representation so there is some example of pride.  So they know our fros, our curves, and our scars all exist simultaneously.  So they can made confident decision in who they are.  So they can believe in…

When I was first starting out as a student in college, I joined every organization that sounded even remotely interesting. I didn’t exactly know my value, but I was hungry to give and to be a part of something great. What I didn’t realize was that I was engaging in one of the first essential components of organizing, and that’s…

In your work, you will be expected to make tough decisions on how to proceed. You’ll be asked, what should we do next? Is this working? Who on your team is not pulling their weight? But what happens when you see your colleagues going in the wrong direction and your perspective has not been requested? In fact, you doubt they…