The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me by Keah Brown
From the disability rights advocate and creator of the #DisabledAndCute viral campaign, a thoughtful, inspiring, and charming collection of essays exploring what it means to be black and disabled in a mostly able-bodied white America.
Keah Brown loves herself, but that hadn't always been the case. Born with cerebral palsy, her greatest desire used to be normalcy and refuge from the steady stream of self-hate society strengthened inside her. But after years of introspection and reaching out to others in her community, she has reclaimed herself and changed her perspective.
In The Pretty One, Brown gives a contemporary and relatable voice to the disabled--so often portrayed as mute, weak, or isolated. With clear, fresh, and light-hearted prose, these essays explore everything from her relationship with her able-bodied identical twin (called "the pretty one" by friends) to navigating romance; her deep affinity for all things pop culture--and her disappointment with the media's distorted view of disability; and her declaration of self-love with the viral hashtag #DisabledAndCute.
By "smashing stigmas, empowering her community, and celebrating herself" ( Teen Vogue), Brown and The Pretty One aims to expand the conversation about disability and inspire self-love for people of all backgrounds.
"Brown delivers insights in a refreshing and entertaining way." -- Washington Post
"A hopeful, relatable memoir about a twenty-something just trying to figure out the world and her place in it." -- Bustle
"Necessary reading." -- HelloGiggles
"Her essays on romance, mental health and pop culture challenges our misperceptions about disability and encourages us to read experiences outside of a White and able-bodied dominant culture." -- Colorlines
"Encouraging and refreshing." -- Ibram X. Kendi, The Atlantic