This book analyzed how the medical view of disabilities developed, which proved effective in discrediting this specific view due to the bad history involved with it.

Cultural Implications for "Freaks: Myth and Images of the Secret Self"

Fiedler discusses people's fascination with non-normative human bodies, and their display for profit throughout history. 

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Baynton believed that disabilities has been used to justify discrimination to other non-white groups, through attributing the idea of disability to them. This was especially seen during the 1904 world fair, where there were displays of individuals with disabilities and non-white individuals in "America freak shows".

Because of this history, Baynton argues that non-white groups distanced themselves from disability as a means of accessing certain rights and freedoms, but in doing this these groups left unquestioned ableism and ableism as a system of oppression.

Douglas Baynton

- "Uncle Tom and Tiny Tom: Some Reflections" by Leonard Kriegel (1969)
- "A History of Disability" by Henri Jacques-Striker (1999)
- "The Pivot of Civilization" by Margaret Sanger (1922)
- "The Farming of Bones" by Edwidge Danticat (1937)
- "Claiming Disability" by Simi Linton (1998)
- "Freaks: Myth and Images of the Secret Self" by Leslie Fiedler (1978)

Important Books of Race/Ethnicity in Disability History

- "A History of Disability" by Henri Jacques-Striker (1999)
- "The Pivot of Civilization" by Leslie Fiedler (1978)
- "Myth and Images of Secret Self" by Margaret Sanger (1922)

Important Books in the Medical Model of Disabilities

Mambrol, N. (2021, May 8). Disability Studies. Literary Theory and Criticism. Retrieved January 21, 2022, from https://literariness.org/2018/12/15/disability-studies-2/ 

Disability Studies (Literary Theory and Criticism)

While it is true that some Black individuals and communities distance themselves from disability for means of rights claiming, this theory ignores two key factors. (1) The whiteness and racism of the Disability Rights Movement has worked to exclude and alienate Black Disabled individuals from disability (2) disability politics actually exist within Black activism and cultural work by manifest and operate in different ways that are often not as easily identifiable by the majority white Disability Rights movement.

Schalk's Critique of Baynton 

- Published in 1999, this book focuses on how western societies were in a rush to  "fix" individuals labeled as disabled.
- From the lens of individuals in medical science, disabilities failed to be viewed as having a culture.

"A History of Disability" by Henri Jacques-Striker (1999)

This books speaks about how experiences of disability aren't always traumatic, but it is important to understand the emotional and physical injuries that may occur to individuals who received disabilities in their life time.

"The Farming of Bones" Book by Edwidge Danticat (1937)

Sanger argued that sterilizing mentally and physically disabled would be effective in ridding disabilities in future generations. This was similar to her beliefs on other ethnicities, where she supported the idea of sterilizing other races and ethnicities she viewed as "biological mistakes".

"The Pivot of Civilization" Book by Margaret Sanger (1922)

- This essay connects the idea of a disabled white man to the identity of "the Negro, Peurto Rican, Indian, and Mexican".
- Kriegel links the lives of those with disabilities and minorities through the idea of being deprived of media and other representations that  accurately illustrate their lived experiences.
- Failed to account for many other aspects, such as ability status and disenfrenchisement.

"Uncle Tom and Tiny Tom: Some Reflections of the Cripple as Negro" Article by Leonard Kriegel (1969)

Simi Linton looked at Disability Studies using the social model. He spoke about how this view allowed individuals with disabilities to find a community despite being in difficult circumstances. 

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