Neurodiverse Connection launches a Black and Autistic support group
“I have never felt comfortable sharing my experiences of living at the intersection of anti-Blackness, sexism and disability, I never had a safe space with other Black people who intimately understood my embodied experience…”
—Warda Farah (speaking about the lack of spaces)
What I’m writing about and advocating for may seem controversial to some and for others like myself it’s about time we talked about. The need for Black only spaces has recently become a debate due to the The Theatre Royal Stratford East has come under criticism after it asked all non-black customers not to attend a performance of the play ‘Tambo and Bones’.
On their website, the theatre stated that one performance will be dedicated to an “all-black audience” to enjoy the play “free from the white gaze”. Some white people they may feel/think or interpret this as exclusionary but for Black women like me, the need for these private spaces is long overdue.
Especially if you are Black and autistic, we need spaces for us to share how anti-Blackness, ableism and even misogynoir come together to create a concatenation of oppression, psychological violence and a state of always feeling unsafe.
At times I have found difficulty in painting the picture of the totality of my unfiltered experiences, and as one of a handful of Neuordivergent Black people who are often operating in white Neurodivergent spaces/groups I can never holistically heal or share my whole story.
This is why we need spaces where we can be in community with others who know what it is to be Black and autistic. It’s a unique experience in the UK and often we never feel safe enough to share our trauma, even if white people are supportive and empathetic it’s just not the same.
Black people need their own spaces. We need places in which we can gather and be free from the mainstream stereotypes and marginalisation that permeate every other societal space we occupy.
We yearn for spaces where our true selves can flourish, unfettered by the judgement and insecurity that sometimes stifles our expression in the presence of white individuals. In these spaces, we simply want to exist without the constant treadmill of making white individuals comfortable. It's time to acknowledge our weariness.
Supporting and safeguarding spaces for Black people goes beyond a mere act of kindness by white individuals. It is a vital pillar in the fight against oppression. When Black people come together, healing takes place. We rediscover parts of ourselves that were suppressed, redefine our identities, and offer unwavering support to each other in our journey of self-acceptance.
However, integrated spaces often fall into the predictable traps of white dominance. These patterns persist even when white individuals diligently examine their privilege and when facilitators strive to model more inclusive ways of coexisting. We shouldn't have to navigate these situations when we can have something for us and by us.
