A review by libraryoflanelle
Autistic and Black: Our Experiences of Growth, Progress and Empowerment by Kala Allen Omeiza

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Trust me when I say, you need to grab a copy of this book immediately. It's an essential read for every human on this planet (and beyond).

The book delves into a range of experiences of black autistic humans across the world, presented in the form of memories, anecdotes and discussions compiled by Kala, with the youngest contributor being only 9 years’ old. Each perspective invites us to absorb, reflect on, and, most importantly, take action. 

As an autistic person, I am fairly well-educated on neurodivergence. However, nothing compares to the firsthand experiences shared by those living at the intersection of identities different from my own.

Learning from experiences both similar to and unlike our own is crucial for collective survival in this complex world. 'Autistic and Black' powerfully illustrates the importance of educating ourselves about the intersectional lives of others. It challenges us to broaden our perspectives, share our knowledge, and take meaningful action.

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster—from smiles of solidarity to tears of empathy, from clenched jaws of anger to gasps of genuine shock. Few books have evoked such a spectrum of human emotions in me.

I am deeply grateful to Kala for sharing this book into the world. As much as I appreciate having access to these diverse voices myself, my heart is so incredibly happy at the thought of black autistics of all ages finding themselves reflected within these pages.

As always be sure to look into Content Warnings before reading, I have added these to my StoryGraph review. 
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