At a Glance
- Lachi launches I Identify As Blind: A Brazen Celebration of Disability Culture, Identity, and Power on Jan. 27.
- The book reframes blindness and neurodivergence as empowering identities and cultural movements.
- An excerpt details a real-life walk through East Harlem, showcasing the author’s daily experiences.
Lachi’s newest book, released on Jan. 27, invites readers to rethink disability and neurodivergence as powerful, cultural forces. The work promises a fresh perspective that turns challenges into celebration and innovation.
About Lachi and the Book
Lachi is a musician and activist known for championing disability rights. Her book, published by Tiny Reparations Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, explores how disability culture can drive identity and power.
An official synopsis describes the book as a “flips disability and neurodivergence into an empowering identity, a cultural movement, and an innovation engine.” The narrative weaves personal anecdotes with broader cultural commentary, positioning disability as a source of strength rather than limitation.
The Excerpt – A Day in East Harlem
The excerpt shared with News Of Los Angeles follows Lachi as she navigates the streets of East Harlem after a sudden loss of sight. She begins by brushing her teeth, a simple act that feels monumental when the toothpaste tube is nearly empty.
She steps onto the sidewalk, feeling the familiar textures of bushes and the rhythmic rustle of foliage. The playground to her left hums with children, and the nearby bodega’s neon sign flickers. Using these sensory cues, she triangulates her position.
A passerby, described as a “catcaller” who spends eight hours asking for women’s phone numbers, notices her. Despite his usual harassment, he offers to walk her to the corner store. Lachi accepts, saying, “Sure! Walk me to the bodega on the corner.” The man, who she calls Catcalls, guides her across the street and down two-and-a-half blocks.
At the bodega, Lachi asks for a chia-seed kombucha. She spends a long time locating her debit card among identical cards in her wallet, a moment that underscores the daily challenges of a newly blind person.
Catcalls helps her open the bottle, instructing her to shake it and let it sit-an odd piece of advice, as kombucha typically does not require shaking. He then asks for her number and walks away, leaving Lachi to continue her journey.
She feels her way down the subway stairs, swipes her MetroCard-smaller and easier to identify by touch-and boards the train bound for Lower Manhattan. The train arrives, the doors open, and she finds a seat, completing the first part of her “perilous blind journey.”
Themes and Impact
- Empowerment: The book reframes disability as a source of cultural power.
- Visibility: By sharing everyday experiences, Lachi highlights how society often overlooks the needs of blind individuals.
- Community: The narrative illustrates how strangers can become unexpected allies, even in uncomfortable situations.
Lachi’s work encourages readers to see disability not as a deficit but as a lens that can inspire innovation and community building.
Availability and Reception
I Identify As Blind is available now at major retailers and online bookstores. Tiny Reparations Books has made the title accessible across platforms, ensuring a wide reach.
Early reviews praise the book’s candid storytelling and its challenge to conventional narratives about disability. Readers appreciate the blend of humor and insight, especially in the vivid depiction of a day in East Harlem.
Key Takeaways
- Lachi’s book offers a fresh, empowering perspective on blindness and neurodivergence.
- The excerpt showcases real-world navigation challenges and unexpected moments of kindness.
- The book is a call to reframe disability as cultural strength and innovation.
Lachi’s narrative invites all readers to rethink how we perceive disability, encouraging a more inclusive and empowering worldview.
