Empowerment

Representation is important. That fact is apparent to nearly all members of marginalized communities. To see yourself reflected in the culture in which you live is a validating thing, especially for young people, and I’m glad to see our heroes beginning to reflect the diversity of the American experience. Empowerment begins sometimes in simple ways, with children of color leaping around as Black Panther, or young girls flying around as Wonder Woman, punching the bad guys into orbit. Yet, as those children age they need to be able to look into the real world, and see not just a collection of amazing adults with disabilities on their screen, but adults with disabilities in positions of power, shaping the world around them.