This morning I woke to to the news that Alice Wong had passed away. Alice was someone I’d known through social media and her work. Her site Disability Visibility Projects is an immense resource. There is a lot to be learned from her and her work.
Her final words were posted on Instagram and Facebook accounts by a friend of hers:
“This is Alice’s friend Sandy Ho, posting. Per Alice’s wishes, this message is being shared at the time of her passing.
Hi everyone, it looks like I ran out of time. I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. There are a few in progress that might come to fruition in a few years if things work out. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist, and more. As a kid riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. It was thanks to friendships and some great teachers who believed in me that I was able to fight my way out of miserable situations into a place where I finally felt comfortable in my skin. We need more stories about us and our culture. You all, we all, deserve the everything and more in such a hostile, ableist environment. Our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I’m honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future. Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
Here’s an article she wrote for the Times last year: Living With Muscular Dystrophy at 50 Makes Death My Shadow Partner
“Death remains my intimate shadow partner. It has been with me since birth, always hovering close by. I understand one day we will finally waltz together into the ether. I hope when that time comes, I die with the satisfaction of a life well-lived, unapologetic, joyful, and full of love.”
RIP Alice Wong, I’m glad to have known you.
If you haven’t read any of her books I strongly suggest you do so, they’re all listed on her site. But perhaps especially her anthology Disability Visibility or her memoir Year of the Tiger
The fight for our freedoms is never ending. As it’s been said we must “remember the dead but fight like hell for the living”. Last week I read the book Read This When Things Fall Apart: Letters to Activists in Crisis and it seems like a good book to be reading now as well.
Updated: The Sick Times has posted an obituary for Alice Wong – this one includes information about her most recent work with people dealing with Long COVID and Crips for eSIMS for Gaza that other obituaries have ignored.