The UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is pleased to host a conversation with Dr. Sami Schalk, author of the recently published book, Black Disability Politics. This program will be hosted in the new Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building and will be livestreamed online. This event is co-presented in partnership with the Office of Disability Access and Inclusion (ODAI) and the Office of Diversity and Outreach's (ODO) Anti-Racism Initiative.

About the Presenter: Dr. Sami Schalk (she/her) is an associate professor of Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the author of Bodyminds Reimagined: (Dis)ability, Race and Gender in Black Women’s Speculative Fiction (Duke 2018) and Black Disability Politics (Duke 2022). Dr. Schalk’s academic work focuses on race, disability, and gender in contemporary American literature and culture. She also writes for mainstream outlets, including a monthly column called “Please Practices” in TONE Madison. Dr. Schalk identifies as a fat, Black, queer, disabled femme and a pleasure activist.

About Book: Black Disability Politics explores how issues of disability have been and continue to be central to Black activism from the 1970s to the present. Drawing on the archives of the Black Panther Party and the National Black Women’s Health Project alongside interviews with contemporary Black disabled cultural workers, Schalk identifies common qualities of Black disability politics and prioritizes an understanding of disability within the context of white supremacy. The book ultimately demonstrates that the work of Black disability politics not only exists but is essential to the future of Black liberation movements.

We encourage attendees to read chapter two of the book ("Fighting Psychiatric Abuse: The BPP and the Black Disability Politics of Mental and Carceral Institutions") prior to the event. You can access the book chapters here:  https://read.dukeupress.edu/books/book/3091/Black-Disability-Politics

To register: https://ucsf.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3QtsBON7mLh5nwy

Accessibility: UCSF welcomes people with disabilities to all of our events. To request a reasonable accommodation for this event, please email Cecile.Puretz@ucsf.edu as soon as possible.

Organized by:

The UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences:  The UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is a world leader in research and has had a long history of commitment to supporting and furthering diversity and health equity in our own department and the larger community. Our world-class psychiatrists, psychologists and neuroscientists explore psychological, biological and social processes as they may affect the cause, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders as well as those that promote health, coping capacity and life satisfaction. We are dedicated to the discovery of better treatments, prevention strategies and cures for neuropsychiatric disorders. Operating in one of the premier biomedical research institutions in the world, our research faculty members are conducting state of the art basic, clinical and translational research aimed at improving the care of people with mental illness.

In partnership with:

UCSF Office of Disability Access and Inclusion (ODAI): Founded in 2021, the Office of Disability Access and Inclusion ensures that UCSF is an accessible and inclusive environment for people with disabilities to work, learn, visit, and receive healthcare. ODAI provides training, consultations, and programs that heighten awareness around disability, celebrate disability culture and identity, and combat ableism in medical education and healthcare. The Office of Disability Access and Inclusion supports the Office of Diversity and Outreach Anti-Racism Initiative by centering people with disabilities who are most impacted by ableism: people of color, LGBTQAI+, transgender and non-binary individuals, female-identified individuals and those who are justice-impacted. Visit the ODAI website to learn more. Sign-up to receive the Disability Allies Newsletter for updates on programs, events, and resources.

UCSF Anti-Racism Initiative: As an organization dedicated to improving health, UCSF has committed itself to dismantling structural racism and the impact of bias. Our mission is to build and nurture diverse health care and science leaders, provide the highest quality of care to all of our patients, and live the full meaning of our Principles of Community and PRIDE Values. To achieve a community defined by these values, we have launched the UCSF Anti-Racism Initiative, partnering with leaders across campus and UCSF Health. Our anti-racism efforts are focused on seven major areas of work, which comprise the seven pillars of the initiative. Learn more about the initiative here and sign up for the Matter Is the Minimum Newsletter for the latest anti-racism efforts at UCSF.