Editorial Reviews
Review
It is always wonderful when people are allowed to tell their own story. Reading Kala’s book felt like sitting with friends, who are invited – finally – to share their personal experiences of being autistic. ‘Autistic and Black’ is a wonderful read.–Neurodiversity Society at the University of Oxford
Kala’s book ‘Autistic and Black’ paints a diverse and enriching picture of lived experiences. I was transported across continents through the pages of the book and the lens of the neurodivergent. The message of the book was thus conveyed so artistically, making it a must-read for any and everyone!–Dr. Bolu Ikwunne, Rhodes Scholar at University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry
Those of us who are both Black and autistic have stories to tell, and the moment to share them is now. This is an important work that weaves together a tapestry of lived experiences that have historically remained obscured. For those who seek to deepen their understanding of Black autistic experiences and foster an environment of empathy and change, this book is a must-have for the bookshelf.–Morgan Harper Nichols, Autistic Author and Artist
In ‘Autistic and Black’, Kala Allen Omeiza masterfully weaves together 20 poignant voices, creating an impressive tapestry charting diverse journeys with autism across global landscapes. A transformative exploration of identity, love, and advocacy, this book is a testament to resilience and the vibrant tapestry of the Black autistic experience.–Montreece Payton-Hardy Accessibility and Disability Inclusion Specialist Writer and Speaker Disabled Babes Book Club Member
Stacy Badon –
As an avid reader of Autistic voices, I am not new to this author; I read her first book, Afrotistic. However, I must say that I am impressed by the author’s ability to go from fiction to nonfiction without compromising her writing talent.Reading this book was an “experience”; I felt as if I was at a social event where the author was introducing me to all of these amazing neurodivergent human beings. I have actually started re-reading parts of the book, just to have the experience repeated!The Autism Sage
Kindle Customer –
This book should be required reading for anyone interested intersectional autism lived experience. I could not put the book down.
Gyasi Burks-Abbott –
Though I was born both Black and Autistic, the latter was not officially recognized until I was 17. I would have loved reading this book when I was first diagnosed Autistic 30 + years ago, and I very much enjoyed reading it now. I’m glad it’s available for the current and future generations.
Kindle Customer –
I really enjoyed this book, and hearing from the multiple perspectives of different people sharing similar identities. I thought it was powerful that it was a collection of interviews, rather than just facts/statistics, since the experience is something personal that can’t be defined by numbers. It is well written and I would recommend.I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
B. May –
Kala Allen Omezia has graciously, and permanently, pushed the door wide open with her Book “Autistic and Black,” revealing the Emotional Tax and lack of Accessibility across all marginalized voices, including the Intersectionality of Disability/Accessibility. She does this with fiercely compassionate action and Authentic Inclusion. Highly recommend! B. May
Dancing Chestnut –
What’s better than one person’s well-thought-out perspective on being autistic and Black? Over 10 well-thought-out perspectives on the subject! Kala Allen Omeiza has done it again; this time in the non-fiction realm. The deeply personal experiences depicted in this book provide a deeper understanding of what it’s like to be autistic and Black. Well done!
Amazon Customer –
This well-written book takes us into the lives of 20 Black and autistic individuals. I appreciated that we met folks from UK , US and also from the global south.Their stories are sometimes heartbreaking and other times inspiring. I liked how throughout this book, we learned of the author’s journey as well.Great book!
Client d’Amazon –
Essential book!
This book should be mandatory for everyone studying autism. It’s interesting, it’s useful, it’s full of knowledge and it’s well written. I’m so glad to have read it. I feel less lonely as an autistic, too. This book is about my people, even if I’m not Black. They’re part of who I am.
Kate, London –
A wonderful account of real life autistic experiences
What I love about this book is that it tells the real life stories of Autism and how being autistic affects the lives of different people from different backgrounds, and living in different parts of the world.So many books on neurodivergence lean too heavily on abstract statistics and academic research about the experiences of Autistic adults and children (more often the latter).This one allows the reader to get it straight from the minds of those who are most impacted by Autism.The common thread is being Black.’As an undiagnosed autistic, James had a reputation for speaking bluntly to authority, whether it was by correcting poor grammar, or standing up for someone who was bullied or abused. As one could imagine, it got him in trouble when James approached the police. As James watched some police officers harass his fellow Black citizens in Detroit, James would shout at them and notify them of all the rights they were violating.
NT in A ND World –
Intersectional representation matters.
Book review – AUTISTIC and BLACK Our experiences of growth, progress, and empowerment by Kala Allen OmeizaIf you follow my reviews you might have noticed, I sometimes find it confusing if the author uses a mixture of Identity first and person first language.There are many nuances and I respect peoples choice. From reading this book I’ve come to realise that perhaps my view has been somewhat tainted by privilege.You may have seen me mention mantras I try to live by “It shouldn’t have to happen to you to matter to you” and “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”It is books like this that help me to know better. I have never read a book to capture intersectionality as well as this does. It captures many cultural differences and how they influence Black Autistic lived experience.Most books I’ve read about Autism mainly reflect the experience of white Autistic people. So I feel this is an important book that everyone can learn from.The author does a great job of portraying and accommodating different communication styles throughout the book. I found myself thoroughly engaged throughout, so much so I finished reading it in less than 24 hours. I didn’t want to put it down!I’ve also learned how varied peoples understanding and experiences are across the globe. More than I had even begun to understand. This reminds me how important it is to stop, think, listen to, learn and respect peoples views through a more intersectional lens.“Intersectionality is about recognising the necessity to acknowledge everything about an identity that marginalises a person”.I would reccomend this book to anyone looking to further understand Autism, intersectionality and Black Autistic lived experience.