Black Autists: 1700s to the Present – Locating Black Autism

By: Cristina Dimova

Introduction:

This is an image featured in an article called *“Black And Latino Children Are Often Overlooked When It Comes To Autism.”* This article further discusses why children of color are oftentimes diagnosed later compared to their white peers.

The intersectionality between being a Black individual and having autism was not one that has always been recognized. For the most part, enslaved African-Americans that were believed to be “unsound” or unable to work were undervalued. Oftentimes, those that were mentally ill were deemed unworthy, placed in mental institutions, and lost connection from society because their ability to be “a sound slave” was believed to be lost. Within our contemporary times, there has been a major shift in ideology; being Black and autistic is an identity that stands with great importance and pride. Looking at these historical understandings of disability and neurodivergence amongst enslaved African-Americans, provides further awareness on the significance of this identity today.

This image was illustrated by The New York Times in an article called *“Target, Don’t Tell Me You ‘Stand With Black Families.’* This article discusses an incident that took place in Target, where an autistic, Black boy tried to give an employee a hug and eventually a police officer began to intervene.

The diagnosis of autism has been one that has changed drastically depending on the time period. In 1877, it was stated that Dr. Langdon Down had categorized the symptoms of autism to be developmental retardation. Within 1911, Eugen Bleuler created early descriptions of autism in relation to what is now known to be schizophrenia. He would further describe autistic symptoms to be a withdrawal from reality; a now commonly-seen symptom used to describe schizophrenia. Remarks have been made later on saying that the physician Grunya Efimovna Sukhareva described the symptoms of autism first and as mentioned in the current DSM-5. By her fifth account of what she described as “autistic tendencies” in 1925, it was the most accurate description of autism described today. Moving forth, in 1927, a student of Bleuler named Eugene Minkowski made the distinction of autism and schizophrenia, stating that autism was the trouble generator of schizophrenia. Current autistic terminology was not mentioned until the year of 1944 once the diagnosis of early infantile autism and Asperger’s syndrome were established. Now, ASD or autism spectrum disorder has been recognized in order to acknowledge the large spectrum that comes with the diagnosis of autism.

Yet, with all this research that has been placed on the diagnosis of autism, where do Black and autistic individuals fit in this equation? How has the history of autism affected those in the Black community? What are the experiences of Black autists throughout time? Has being an “autistic savant” been the only reason placed so there is value toward Black autists? Acknowledging this identity and its presence in the past and current sense will further validity the experiences of those that have been left unheard and underrepresented.

Timeline:

Within this timeline, it will go through Black autists from 1700s to our contemporary times. We recognize that many of the individuals mentioned were ones that were perceived to be an “autistic savant.” We found it important that those that might not fall under this category of being autistic and having “savant syndrome” deserve to have their story recognized as well. Thus, at the end of the timeline, you will get to meet Professor Paulin’s daughter, Micaela, and get to know a little bit more about her daily life and activities.

Useful Search Terms/Keywords:

being black and autisitic
autistic slaves
slavery and autism
current black autistic individuals
contemporary black autists
black autism throughout time

Useful Databases

Sample Searches:

Thomas Fuller:

Math! Science! History! (n.d.). https://mathsciencehistory.com/2020/06/05/thomas-fuller-americas-african-mathematician/.

Wolfe, C. B. (n.d.). Fuller, Thomas (ca. 1710–1790). Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/fuller-thomas-ca-1710-1790/.

YouTube. (2021, May 10). Thomas Fuller: The Human Calculator. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw8NyI5dADM.

Benjamin Banneaker:

Africa, L. E. A. P. (2014, April 25). Successful Africans with Asperger’s Syndrome. Developing Dynamic, Innovative and Principled African Leaders. https://leapafrica.wordpress.com/2014/04/25/successful-africans-with-aspergers-syndrome/.

Staff. (2020, February 10). Autism Success Stories. Mardaleishvili Medical Centre. https://www.autism-mmc.com/autism-success-stories/.

stephenvincent2. (2020, April 19). Benjamin Banneker: An Autistic American Hero. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COyn4g74n3M.

Thomas Wiggins:

Institute News. Brooklyn College | “Specimens” and “Peculiar Idiosyncrasies”: Songs of “Blind Tom” Wiggins. (n.d.). http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/academics/centers/hitchcock/publications/amr/v40-2/moulton.php.

Janice S. Thursday, F. 04. (1970, February 5). The Incredible Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins. The Incredible Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins | Richland Library. https://www.richlandlibrary.com/blog/2021-02-04/incredible-thomas-blind-tom-wiggins.

YouTube. (2012). Blind Tom: slave piano prodigy [Hd] Into The Music, Abc Radio National. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHPd6RJKQK0.

Eugene Hoskins:

Bering, J. (2012, February 14). Autistic Savants: Geniuses of Obscure Devotions. Scientific American Blog Network. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/bering-in-mind/geniuses-of-obscure-devotions/.

Bering, J. (2012, February 15). The Black Autistic Man Who May Have Inspired William Faulkner’s Greatest Character. Slate Magazine. https://slate.com/technology/2012/02/eugene-hoskins-the-black-autistic-man-who-crossed-paths-with-william-faulkner.html.

Noel Patterson:

The Foolish Wise Ones. Films Media Group. (n.d.). https://www.films.com/id/24649.

Stephen Wiltshire:

deutschewelleenglish. (2018, March 29). Stephen Wiltshire: The autistic urban artist with the photographic memory | DW English. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqKRfZHpYBs.

Hennessey, R. (2013, July 13). How Autistic Artist Stephen Wiltshire Made it Big. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelhennessey/2012/09/10/how-autistic-artist-stephen-wiltshire-made-it-big/.

Strochlic, N. (2021, May 3). See This Incredible Artist Draw a Whole City From Memory. Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/autism-artist-stephen-wiltshire-cities-genius.

John Howard:

Black History and Autism – MMA Fighter John “Doomsday” Howard. #ASDNext. (n.d.). https://asdnext.org/blog/john-doomsday-howard/.

Wagenheim, J. (2019, October 11). How a surprising diagnosis at age 33 changed an MMA fighter’s life. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/27814351/how-surprising-diagnosis-age-33-changed-mma-fighter-life.

YouTube. (2016, June 18). JOHN “Doomsday” Howard TALKS ABOUT BEING AUTISTIC. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpeM_6gVnI0.

Breanna Clark:

Breanna Clark. ATHLETES WITHOUT LIMITS. (2018, July 18). https://www.athleteswithoutlimits.org/people/clark-breanna.

Success Stories Within The IDD Community: Breanna Clark. Soul Dogs Inc. (2021, June 17). https://soul-dogs-inc.org/success-stories-within-the-idd-community-breanna-clark/.

Armani Williams:

AZPros2Preps. (2020, August 4). Armani Williams, NASCAR’s First Driver with Autism | A Race in the Life. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwwvLz0V0wA.

Segal, D. (2018, August 20). Armani Williams Defying the Odds and Living His Dream in NASCAR. NASCAR Home Tracks. https://hometracks.nascar.com/2018/08/20/armani-williams-defying-the-odds-and-living-his-dream-in-nascar/.

Kalin Bennett:

West, J. (2019, November 7). Kalin Bennett Is First Player with Autism to Score in D-1 Game. Sports Illustrated. https://www.si.com/college/2019/11/07/kalin-bennett-autism-scores-first-basket-kent-state.

YouTube. (2019, February 21). The First Autistic Basketball Player To Get A D1 Scholarship. Kalin Bennett Has NO LIMITS! YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNN7oCMEEBY.

General:

Kerima. (1970, January 1). Autistic While Black: The Erasure of Blacks From Histories of Autism. Intersected. http://intersecteddisability.blogspot.com/2016/01/autistic-while-black-erasure-of-blacks.html

Solutions, P. (2021, March 9). Black History Month: 6 People with Autism that Inspire. PS Academy Arizona. https://psacademyarizona.com/blog-posts/2021/2/9/black-history-month-6-people-with-autism-that-inspire.

Biography (Introduction):

How history forgot the woman who defined autism. Spectrum. (2018, November 12). https://www.spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/history-forgot-woman-defined-autism/.

What Was Autism Called Before It Was Called Autism?Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Guide. (n.d.). https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/faq/what-was-autism-called-before/.