Cabinet of Curiosities: Crip Culture Against Capitalism, Gun Violence, and Being Brown and Broken with Crip Lyrical

I love our community! I had a thoroughly delightful time chatting with Val about guns, community, capitalism, and sex. This is such a great episode and rich with wisdom and joy. 

 

Valois J. Vera, aka "Crip Lyrical" He/Him/They/Them), is a Disabled Revolutionary, Poet/Spoken Word Artist and Activist based out of Denton, TX. His experience and knowledge in Disability Justice, Culture and Identity is well noted. He has served on several social justice boards and commissions, and has garnered many speaking opportunities including the University of North Texas, Fordham University and Azusa Pacific University. While his journalism work can be found in New Mobility Magazine, Latino Rebels, and Rooted in Rights, their poetry has been published by Spoonie Press, Mollyhouse, and the soon to be released anthology American Graveyard: Calls to end Gun Violence, Volume I. Their debut collection "Crip Lyrics: the Unapologetic Poetry of Disability" (POOR Press) is an illustrated collection of liberation verses guided by lived experience and self-reflection. He serves as host of the virtual poetry showcase, "Thunder and Lightning" and performs a one-poet-show called "CripPoetix!"

 

Follow them:

IG: criplyrical 

Twitter: CripLyrical 

Facebook: /CripLyrics

Linktr.ee/ValoisVera 

 

This month I'm trialling a free version of a transcription service - if anyone can help buy the full version, that would be amazing! Below is a summary of the first half hour of our conversation (badly) transcribed. 

 

SUMMARY

• Crip Poetry of disability. (0:00)
• Crip culture and inspiration porn. (2:09)
• What’s your poetry informed by your disability? (7:21)
• A woman with diabetes was approved to be moved out of a social housing project into a housing project. (12:32)
• What’s your contribution to the cause to end gun violence? (14:44)
• What’s the worst part of being disabled? (19:31)
• Thunder and Lightning has become a power to the community. (24:55)
• What does it mean to be a part of the community? (27:41)
• Don’t see yourself as less sexy because you’re disabled. (32:39)
• The villains are getting more relatable. (37:42)