IRAWAN GANI

Just when I thought I knew everything about diversity, along came a podcast episode that redefined that for me. And just when I thought that as a Muslim that my community has been criticized and somewhat unfairly treated by society, someone comes along and proves to me that is not quite true.

 

That someone is Alice Wong, my new hero.

 

Despite all of Trump’s fascist rhetoric, I recently came to realise that being brown and Muslim is not the worst thing that could have happen to me. As a Muslim, I am still quite visible. Very visible. For the disabled, you are invisible and that is much worse.

 

Imagine this. What if no one even cares about you. Or worse still ignored. This is what the disabled community have been experiencing through the centuries if not since the beginning of time. So much for taking of the sick and the poor. I have to thank Alice Wong for this realization.

 

I was made aware of Alice Wong through my favorite podcast Denzel Washington is the Greatest Actor of All Time Period. Captained by comedians W. Kamau Bell and Kevin Avery, the podcast reviews every film Denzel is in. At the same time, they also review the issues that surrounds them. And while they review those issues, they speak to guests who have strong opinions about the topic at hand. Through those guests, Kamau and Kevin navigate many social issues with comedy.

 

One of those recurring themes is diversity. Therefore, this episode came at an opportune time when the Oscar season was in the bloom: #OscarSoWhite. I have no close affiliations towards the Oscars other than for its mere entertainment value. However, this episode brought forth some strong feelings and opinions about diversity. Little did I know that my definition of diversity is quite limited because it does not include disabled people. I have to thank Alice Wong for this tiny paradigm shift.

 

If, like me, you do not know Alice Wong (or people like her), you may just as well quit and pack your bags. Seriously, pack your bags now. But if you want to atone for your disability sins, go and find out more about her on her website, Divisibility Visibility. Alright, unpack your bags again and hear me out.

 

At some point in time, in your life, we enables will encounter someone, a sibling, parent, relative, neighbour, classmate, workmate who is sick or disabled. I will give you a minute to think about it.

 

Done?

 

So if it happens more frequently than it should then why are we ignoring them? In other words, I am quite ashamed of myself for not even considering them when I think about people who are less fortunate than me.

 

I know Alice probably would give me the side-eye as I said ‘less fortunate’. Sorry Alice. Let me get back to your good side, if I ever was on it to begin with.

 

Through that episode I get the feeling that she does not want to be thought of anything other than just another person. I get the feeling that she thinks she would like her community to be visible and not invisible. A disabled facility in all building types should not be an afterthought but as part of the norm.

 

Hence, Denzel acting as a disabled in The Bone Collector gave us the opportunity to learn about what the disabled actually thinks about it. Is it accurate? Is it a true narrative? Is it a good film? I shall not give away the details (GO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST) but it is safe to say that she was hilarious while giving stinging criticisms. Very enticing right? There is nothing in this world that makes a discussion more interesting than honest, humorous and painful speaker.

 

Speaking of stinging criticism, Alice was quite miffed about how the disabled was portrayed in the film especially in the beginning. Firstly, Denzel’s character, Lincoln Rhyme should not have felt suicidal at all. He is the top one percent of all handicapped. He has the top notch equipment that money can buy. Nurse Queen Latifah is at his beck and call, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Mr Rhyme lives in a large New York City Manhattan apartment. I repeat. A large New York City Manhattan apartment.

 

He. Should. Not. Feel. Suicidal.

 

If you think that by merely being disabled gives you the strong tendency to be suicidal, you are dead wrong. Alice has proven to us abled people that, that is not how they think at all. In fact, their lives is full of hope and optimism. So shame on me then.

 

That shame piled even higher as I skim through Alice Wong’s recent accomplishments in her activism. It is safe to say that I am embarrassed by how much she has contributed for the betterment of the world. However, I am not surprised that she has done so much.

 

In the face of adversity, people have shown the best of themselves time and again. Alice Wong is just another reminder for all of us that this is a fact, just as the Blizzard of 2016 is evidence that Climate Change. Of course, Alice is no different from any of us if not a better person. We probably have to thank her family and community for that for making her what she has become. Nevertheless, I am quite sure it is her steadfast character that was the driving force to face that adversity head on.

 

It is a fun and funny podcast to listen to while giving us a lot to digest and think about. If anything were to come out of this episode, it enables me to see the world from a perspective that I have not seen and felt before. This will happen every time I read or watch about Professor X or the Daredevil. Other than that, adversity is never or should ever be an excuse to give up on life. And that diversity means a lot more than just the mere color mine and anyone else’s skin. But most important of them all, I will continue to listen to Denzel Washington is the Greatest Actor of All Time Period (DWITGAOATP - see below) for it is truly the Greatest Podcast of All Time Period.

Again, thank you Alice Wong.