Brown Side Of Autism

There’s a conversation we don’t always have out loud in Black communities—and that’s about disability. Not because we don’t care. Not because we’re trying to harm each other. But because for a long time, survival came first—and anything that didn’t fit into that mindset got misunderstood. This is where ableism quietly shows up. 🧠  What Is Ableism? Ableism is when people with disabilities are misunderstood, judged, or treated unfairly because of how their brain or body works. That includes autism. That includes mental health. That includes anything that makes someone move through the world differently. And sometimes, it shows up in our own communities. 💭  What It Can Look Like Ableism in Black communities doesn’t always look like hate. Sometimes it looks like love that just doesn’t understand. It can sound like: “You just need to pray about it.” “Ain’t nothing wrong with you.” “Stop acting like that.” “You’re too smart to have something like that.” Or it can look like: Gettin...

  On Monday, May 18th, my stepdad JW brought out the grill for the first time since the weather finally warmed up. It felt like one of those moments that quietly signals a new season—summer getting closer. As someone on the autism spectrum, I’ve always been a visual learner. I pick up on things by watching—how people move, how they do things, the little details others might overlook. So even though I already had an idea of how to grill from watching my stepdad JW last summer, I still found myself locked in, observing everything again. The way he handled the food, how he checked the grill, the timing—it all stood out to me. My brother David and I helped by grabbing a couple of cornbread pans, lining them with parchment paper, and bringing them outside with the hot dogs, hamburgers, and sausages. Being part of the process felt important, even in a small way. But what really stuck with me wasn’t just the cooking—it was the moment. At one point, JW had his earbuds in, completely in his...

Spending the day at a Pittsburgh Pirates game at PNC Park was already something to look forward to—but celebrating Smol’s birthday with my girlfriend’s family made it even more meaningful. For me, moments like this come with a mix of excitement and challenge. Being on the autism spectrum, environments like a baseball stadium can be a lot to take in. The noise, the crowds, the constant movement—it all hits at once. There was a time where something like this could’ve easily overwhelmed me. But this experience felt different. A big part of that was the people I was with. When you’re around the right energy, it makes situations that might normally feel uncomfortable a lot easier to handle. Instead of focusing on everything going on around me, I was able to stay present—watching the game, talking, laughing, and just enjoying the moment for what it was. Even the pace of baseball helped. It’s not nonstop action—it comes in waves. That gave me time to mentally reset between plays, wh...

Not everyone starts their story the same way. I was born at 30 weeks, weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and spent my first two weeks in the NICU because of feeding issues. From the very beginning, my journey looked different—even if people couldn’t fully see it yet. As I grew up, one of the biggest challenges I faced was communication. I was nonverbal until the age of three. For most people, talking is something that just happens. But for me, it didn’t come easy. There were thoughts, feelings, and reactions inside me that I couldn’t express out loud. Imagine having a voice in your mind but not being able to let the world hear it. That was my reality. Learning the World Without Words Before I could speak, I learned by watching. I paid attention to everything—how people moved, how they reacted, the tone in their voices, the energy in a room. Being on the autism spectrum, observation became my first language. Even now, I still carry that with me. It’s why I notice small details. It’s why I ca...