The Pretty One

On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me

By: Keah Brown

Narrated by: Keah Brown

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.

inspirational

I learned so much about how we fall short of representing other people in the media. showing black people on sitcoms really is not enough.

She isn't pretty, she's BEAUTIFUL!

I heard an interview that Keah recently did on the Tom Joyner Morning Show and HAD to but her book. I have a 34 y/o Male cousin with Cerebral Palsy and wanted to hear her story. I always thought that I was "woke" when it came to relating and interacting with people who have various medical conditions, but Keah let me know that there's always more that we can learn. I loved her straight forward way where she laid her soul bare and let us into her world.
Keah is someone I'd love to meet and be friends with via social media. Following her would never be boring. She's bright, funny, painfully honest and tremendously insightful.
Thank you for teaching me and making me even more aware.

Disabled Black Magic

Keah Brown writes straight from her heart and soul,it's an important read for others with disability to not feel alone,and for the rest of the world to learn about disability and it's intersectionality with being black,on top of all that it's just an amazing book.

Wonderful

This opened up a whole new perspective on life for me. Thank you for telling part of your story. I hope you continue telling us more of your journey.

I am choosing joy!

I also choose joy. Thank you Miss Brown for such an amazing book. Such wisdom at such a young age. There are so many little things to find joy in and so many big things we can accomplish if we set our mind to it. Thank you again.