Kim E. Nielsen

American history examined sensitively and skillfully from the bottom up, grounded in the often shabby and sometimes exemplary treatment of disabled individuals.

Nielsen’s (History and Women’s Studies/Univ. of Wisconsin, Green Bay; The Radical Lives of Helen Keller, 2004, etc.) interest in the treatment of the disabled began with research into the political activism of Helen Keller, perhaps the most famous of severely disabled Americans. The author organizes the book chronologically, show more beginning with the handling of disabled women and men by Native Americans. The disability spectrum within indigenous North American cultures expanded in unwelcome ways as European settlers spread disease among the Indians. Nielsen then moves on to the stories of newly arrived immigrants from Europe and Africa who were not fully functional physically or mentally. "Disability" has always been an elastic term; Nielsen explains how the definitions solidified in the legal and social sense in the 19th and 20th centuries. The definitions would deprive many individuals of full citizenship rights as institutionalization became a trend. That institutionalization fell disproportionately on the enslaved (usually but not always because of skin color), women and those individuals sometimes inaccurately characterized as lunatics or idiots. In a slightly more upbeat chapter, Nielsen explains how those marked as disabled slowly banded together to fight for their civil rights. Slowly, individuals with potential, despite being branded, began to receive educational and vocational opportunities. The final chapter marks the year 1968 as the beginning of improved understanding and enlightened policies. Individuals previously kept out of sight and mind began to enter the mainstream culture.

A lively historical record that fills a gap in the literature.

-Kirkus Review show less

It's been an enjoyable read. Thought-provoking, as well. I think I need to find a biography of her now, because I want to know more of the context of her writings. The book is a good mix of excerpts from her books, journals, speeches and letters covering all sorts of subjects. Considering my knowledge of her used to end where The Miracle Worker did, it's been all sorts of new. She was a socialist, and her comments about capitalism are still unfortunately relevant. I love her use of language, show more and her ability to create pictures in my mind. She has a way with a phrase. show less

(3.5)

Very brief overview of the disability and disability justice history of the United States (and precolonial United States). I really appreciate the research gone into different indigenous American views of body difference and what we now consider mental illness. I wasn't so happy with the depiction of inspiration porn as a solely positive thing, though. And once the book hit the 1900s the pace became so rapid that movements and events were barely mentioned before the author moved on to show more the next point. But it's an extremely good introduction. show less

Four stars for being good, scholarly historical work; the fifth star for being interesting, thought-provoking material that broadened my mind and worldview. Be aware that some of the material in here is kind of harsh (eugenics, forced sterilization, murder and abuse of enslaved people, decimation of the Native population).