For me, Labor Day is what marks the beginning of Fall. School is back in full swing, and we have begun to get back into a routine of things. The dog days of summer are closing in and, if we’re lucky, we can get one or two more trips to the beach in before it gets too cold. But as I popped open my coca cola in celebration, I couldn’t help but wonder where I fit into this story.
The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1892, to honor the American Labor Movement. Things like mandatory safety regulations, minimum wage, and anti-discrimination policies are all part of that celebration. As a disabled woman, should I take Labor Day as an opportunity to reflect on the progress made through anti-discrimination laws, which have enabled me to pursue a job I love? Or is it just another way society attempts to overlook the history of disabled folx?
To address these questions, it’s crucial to consider what life was like for people with disabilities in 1892. If you will take a trip back to your middle school history class with me, you might remember that 1892 was a notable year: Thomas Edison received a patent for his two-way telegraph; Ellis Island began receiving immigrants in the United States; the first working escalator was patented; and Homer Plessy was arrested for deliberately sitting on the whites-only car in Louisiana, leading to the landmarks Plessy v Ferguson court case. Although these events may not seem directly connected to the Disability Justice Movement at first glance, they actually are.
The two-way telegraph[1] led us to modern day text messaging, opening huge communication barriers for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. This is a window into the stark reality that during this time many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing people were, at best, very isolated from their families and communities due to a lack of communication. But, most often, sent away to live in institutions. Unfortunately, meaning they were few that had been integrated into the Labor Movement.
The opening of Ellis Island ended up being the onset of layers of ableism and racism that occurred through the U.S. Immigration System. Upon arrival to Ellis Island, immigrants were given a multitude of tests, supposedly not only measuring their ‘intellect’ but also their ‘health fitness.’ Immigrants that were not able to pass the endurance test or were suspected of having an illness were confined to the Contagious Disease hospital next door.[2] If they were determined to be ‘feeble-minded’ they were sent back on the next boat. The idea of being ‘feeble-minded’ had become to take root in society and would lead to Buck v Bell and the sterilization of thousands of people with disabilities.
While interesting to note, the patent of the first working escalator is another indicator of the lives of people with disabilities during this time. As one can imagine, an escalator is not accessible to those who use wheelchairs, but also many other types of disabilities, including other types of mobility disabilities, the blind, and people that struggle with spatial recognition for various reasons. This is just another indicator that disabled folx were not expected to be in spaces that had escalators and likely didn’t even cross the mind of such designers for at least another decade.
The Plessy v. Ferguson[3] court case of 1896, which upheld racial segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine, also holds significant implications for what we can learn about disabled people during this time. While this case primarily addressed racial segregation, its underlying principles of systemic exclusion and inequality resonate with the experiences of many people with disabilities. Just as the decision reinforced racial segregation, it also reflected broader societal tendencies to marginalize and segregate various groups deemed ‘different.’ Unfortunately, deeming someone ‘different than’ was done by cisgender, middle class, nondisabled, white males. The precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson perpetuated a framework of inequality that extended beyond race, also influencing how BIPOC[4] disabled individuals were perceived and treated. If we look at Plessy v. Ferguson through the lens of Disability Justice, we see a broader historical pattern of systemic oppression that have affected marginalized groups. This highlights the ongoing need for advocacy and reform to dismantle these entrenched barriers and promote genuine inclusion and equity.
With that said, this small window into the lives of people with disabilities during this time highlights the very real reality of what life looked like for someone with a disability. On the downside, we find no trace of equality or justice. On the upside, we have come a long way in finding equity and justice for people with disabilities. But just because we have come a long way- doesn’t mean we have reached the finish line. The advancements we celebrate on Labor Day are the result of decades of advocacy and change, but we should also be sure to remember those who fought, and are fighting, for these rights amid a backdrop of widespread discrimination and exclusion.
As I take the day off from work as a disabled woman on Labor Day 2024- I can’t help but be thankful for how far we have come. With the unemployment rate for people with disabilities across all education attainment groups at 7%[5] and the lack of laws banning subminimum wage for people with disabilities, I recognize the bath of privilege I am sitting in. “I remember that ‘No one is equal until we are ALL equal,’ and I recognize that my disabled brothers and sisters need all of us to acknowledge our own contributions to this problem.”
When you can- hire more disabled people. Wherever you can- be more inclusive.
- [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison
- [2] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/october-15-1965-remembering-ellis-island
- [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plessy_v._Ferguson
- [4] BIPOC- Black Indigenous People of Color
- [5] https://www.bls.gov/news.release/disabl.nr0.htm
- [6] Quote by Elizabeth Nyamayaro
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