Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

Tavis Smiley:  

What's the difference, assuming that there is one, Robert, between an African American actor trying to convince producers that a Black guy, a Black woman can play this role, even though it wasn't written that way, that this ain't what y'all had in mind?

When a brother or sister can play this - what's the difference between you convincing them of that?

Robert David Hall:  

Respectfully, the civil rights movement for people with disabilities is modeled on the African American civil rights movement. I'm old enough to remember 1964. I was a junior in high school. But we're 20, 25 years behind the progress that has been made by African Americans, but we model it on it because it's very important to ask the question you just asked.

Why can't an African American be a surgeon, a professor, a judge, a this, a that? Hey, it's only been since 1967 that Bill Cosby was on "I-Spy." We forget how recent this big light bulb went off in the heads of producers and casting people.

So I'm of the opinion - this is just Robert David Hall - I'm of the opinion that every group, including people with disabilities, has its share of geniuses and brilliant people and its share of losers. People get so crazy about trying to label this and that, and the fact of the matter is that people with disabilities have an awful lot to contribute.