The Pretty One Pdf Summary
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.
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The Pretty One Review
4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring Book
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 2, 2021
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In the book, “The Pretty One” by Keah Brown, she describes what her life has been like living as a disabled person. Keah has cerebral palsy that effect the right side of her body, affecting motor skills and strength. and has struggled with self-love and acceptance in the world and herself. Keah is a Western New York native, creator of the viral hashtag #DISABLEDANDCUTE. Keah gives an insight on her life of being an African American disabled person. Her life hasn’t been an easy one, but she is grateful for her journey. She talks about her struggles with simple tasks and being dependent on others for self-care. Simple things that we take for granted such as putting your hair up in a ponytail. “I was twenty-four years old when I could finally put my hair into a ponytail,” (Brown, 2019). Keah has a lovely personality that was shown throughout the entirety of her book. Keah though hasn’t always liked herself and her story. After many years Keah has learned to love herself now and takes pride in her disability. She knows now that she is much more than her disability. “I am a black woman with cerebral palsy who loves herself now, and most days that feels like a revolutionary act. It took a lot of work to get to this place…but I’m here and its beautiful,” (Brown, 2019). Her twin sister always helps her, and she had wished to just be ‘normal’ like her. “Back in high school I wanted to be her. I wanted a body with completely functioning hands and feet,” (Brown, 2019). It must be hard relying on everyone else to help you out with simple tasks. She was striving for independence but knew she might never get to it. “My ability to put my hair up didn’t change the world, but it changed my world,” (Brown, 2019). I think that sentence was one of the best, profound sentences in the book because one simple task that she is now able to do on her own changed her life. She talks about how a lot of the time with disabled peoples the offer for help is given without explicit consent and makes them feel inferior. Another goal of hers was being able to do her own makeup; she has lipstick down her next thing she is working on is eye shadow and once she gets that she wants to move on to highlight and learning to fill in eyebrows is a must for her. “…I thought ponytails were impossible and look at me now, proving my own self wrong. I used to believe that makeup could only hide my ugly, but now I know that it can enhance what beauty is already there,” (Brown, 2019). Seeing the journey of self-love for Keah was amazing and I am glad she was able to overcome that time of her life. “I will never blend in, and I am recognizing the beauty in that fact,” (Brown, 2019).
Keah mentions how she writes her books to be seen and heard because it is not common to see a black disabled woman on the shelf at bookstores or best sellers lists or book events. “The Pretty One is a collectio0n for the people who give a damn, for the girl who saw her differences as dangerous and ugly, who lived most of her life trying to desperately wish herself into another body, for the person who just wants to experience joy through a little sadness and laughter along the way,” (Brown, 2019).
I love how in this book she talks to her read as a person having a conversation with you. This book opens your eyes to the struggles that people with a disability must deal with. I would recommend this book and give it a 4 out of 5-star rating. I think this was a great book to read in the class of Sociology of Disability and Rehab. I aspire to live like Keah, not care what others think and love the life you were given.
Stephanie McCallTop Contributor: Harry Potter
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Mix of Education, Solidarity, Humor, and Thought-Provoking QuestionsReviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 21, 2021
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As a woman with cerebral palsy and Asperger’s syndrome, who wants to advocate for inclusion and rights, I’ve sought more disability memoir and voices lately. Keah Brown jumped out at me as one to try, partially because we have the same physical disability and partially because we’re not the same in many ways. I’m white, cis, straight, and fairly conservative; she’s Black, queer, and (it seems) fairly liberal (which, most people still think equal access for the disabled is liberal, so there you go). But even if Keah and I had been racial, sexual, and ideological twins, I still would’ve loved her book.
First of all, I want to commend Keah for combining the disability experience with her own experiences as a Black and LGBT+ woman. Her essays capture a truth I’ve tried to explain to people for over a year–that intersectionality is not a bad word. It simply means people’s experiences can and do *intersect.* Keah has found she is her only representation right now; as a woman with CP and Asperger’s together, I am sometimes my only representation too, because the ideal white woman is not one who also processes the world with physical and social differences. Keah’s skin and body have set her apart from others; my body and brain have done the same, to the point that people assume things like, she’s stuck up, she has no social skills or compassion for others, her skills are only “splinter skills.” I will never fully know what it is to be Black, but I hope Keah and I could still speak and connect on various levels.
I also enjoyed how Keah applied the disability lens to everyday life, on topics from sibling relationships to religion to interactions with law enforcement, caregivers, and others who may mean well, but who basically look at disabled people through a lens that says, “I need to have control over this group because they are different.” Keah’s essay on religion, cure, and the murder of disabled people by their caregivers was in particular a positive punch to the solar plexus. As in, I knew these murders happened, and I knew they got almost no attention. But to have them happen in multiples every week? To have Christians, members of my own tribe, either condone the murders or be the perps, because their “faith” said death was the only hope for the disabled? Finally, somebody is talking about this! It was nothing short of heartbreaking but validating to know I’m not the only one who knows, questions, or cares.
That’s not to say The Pretty One is a gloom and doom book, although as I find with most books like these, I did have to take it in small doses because it is so real and raw. Actually, Keah follows through great on her promise of a relatable, humorous, and uplifting book. The Disability Be Gone anecdote was a favorite, because while I haven’t been to that “store” the same way Keah has, I certainly have patronized it and struggled with its existence. Bits like that, as well as the cadence of Keah’s voice and the immediacy of her experiences, keep the pages turning.
If I were really going to split hairs, I might call The Pretty One a 4.75, simply because some of the essays, especially at the beginning, are really long. Then again, I write long pieces, too, so I won’t fault another writer for the same thing. Overall, I’d say snap up a copy, learn, and enjoy.
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 4, 2020
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I had to read this book for a sociology class, which was focused around different disabilities. I appreciated how she wrote a memori on the ups and downs that she struggled with through her life. Starting with her younger years dealing with body and self image set backs, to overcoming obstacles with self motivation and determination as she grew into a young adult. It made me challenge my point of views because I never would have looked at it through the eyes of a disable black woman.
About Keah Brown pdf Author Of The Pretty One pdf Book
Keah Brown Author Of The Pretty One pdf Book is a journalist and freelance writer from Western New York. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, Essence, Catapult, Harper’s Bazaar, and Lenny Letter among other publications. She is currently writing her debut essay collection “The Pretty One” slated for 2019 release via Atria Books.
The Pretty One pdf, Paperback, Hardcover Book Information
- Publisher : Atria Books (August 6, 2019)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 256 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1982100540
- ISBN-13 : 978-1982100544
- Item Weight : 7.3 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.38 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #118,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #102 in Biographies of People with Disabilities (Books)
- #433 in Humor Essays (Books)
- #4,891 in Memoirs (Books)
- Customer Reviews: 4.4 out of 5 stars 174 ratings
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