Harriet McBryde Johnson
Encyclopedia
Harriet McBryde Johnson was an American
author, attorney
, and disability rights activist. She was disabled due to a neuromuscular disease
and used a motorized wheelchair
.
Johnson, who was born in eastern North Carolina
, lived most of her life in Charleston
, South Carolina
. She earned a B.S. in history from Charleston Southern University
(1978), a Master's in Public Administration from the College of Charleston
(1981), and a J.D. (law degree) from the University of South Carolina
(1985).
In 2002 Harriet Johnson debated Peter Singer
, challenging his belief that parents ought to be able to euthanize
their disabled children. "Unspeakable Conversations," Johnson's account of her encounters with Singer and the pro-euthanasia movement, was published in the New York Times Magazine in 2003.
She wrote Too Late to Die Young in 2005 and Accidents of Nature in 2006.
During her career as an attorney she specialized in helping people who couldn't work get Social Security
benefits. She was also chairwoman of the Charleston County Democratic Party
. She once described herself as a "disabled, liberal, atheistic Democrat". She expressed support for Congress
during the Terri Schiavo
case.
In 1990 she drew national attention for her opposition to the annual Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon
. Lewis told the Chicago Tribune
he had no intention of making peace with opponents such as Johnson. He likened the idea of meeting with them to entertaining Hezbollah or insurgents in Iraq
. Johnson described the telethon as "the charity mentality" and decried its "pity-based tactics".
In 2003 Johnson was named Person of the Year by New Mobility
.
Johnson died at home on June 4, 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author, attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and disability rights activist. She was disabled due to a neuromuscular disease
Neuromuscular disease
Neuromuscular disease is a very broad term that encompasses many diseases and ailments that either directly, via intrinsic muscle pathology, or indirectly, via nerve pathology, impair the functioning of the muscles....
and used a motorized wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
.
Johnson, who was born in eastern North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, lived most of her life in Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. She earned a B.S. in history from Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University, founded in 1964 as Baptist College, is an independent comprehensive university located in North Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston Southern enrolls a maximum of 3,200 students. Affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the university's mission is...
(1978), a Master's in Public Administration from the College of Charleston
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
(1981), and a J.D. (law degree) from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
(1985).
In 2002 Harriet Johnson debated Peter Singer
Peter Singer
Peter Albert David Singer is an Australian philosopher who is the Ira W. DeCamp Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University and Laureate Professor at the Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics at the University of Melbourne...
, challenging his belief that parents ought to be able to euthanize
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
their disabled children. "Unspeakable Conversations," Johnson's account of her encounters with Singer and the pro-euthanasia movement, was published in the New York Times Magazine in 2003.
She wrote Too Late to Die Young in 2005 and Accidents of Nature in 2006.
During her career as an attorney she specialized in helping people who couldn't work get Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
benefits. She was also chairwoman of the Charleston County Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. She once described herself as a "disabled, liberal, atheistic Democrat". She expressed support for Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
during the Terri Schiavo
Terri Schiavo
The Terri Schiavo case was a legal battle in the United States between the legal guardians and the parents of Teresa Marie "Terri" Schiavo that lasted from 1998 to 2005...
case.
In 1990 she drew national attention for her opposition to the annual Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon
Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon
The MDA Labor Day Telethon is an annual telethon in the United States to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association . The first MDA telethon was during the Thanksgiving Day weekend of 1952 and titled Party for MDA. It has been held annually since 1966...
. Lewis told the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
he had no intention of making peace with opponents such as Johnson. He likened the idea of meeting with them to entertaining Hezbollah or insurgents in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Johnson described the telethon as "the charity mentality" and decried its "pity-based tactics".
In 2003 Johnson was named Person of the Year by New Mobility
New Mobility magazine
New Mobility, launched in 1989, is a United States-based magazine for active wheelchair users. This monthly publication covers health, disability rights, adaptive technology and lifestyle topics such as recreation, travel, the arts, relationships, sexuality, parenting, employment and home...
.
Johnson died at home on June 4, 2008.
Published works
- Return to Cuba (May 1998)
- Power Dressing (December 1998)
- A Celebration for the Day of the Dead (October 1999)
- Conventional Wisdom (September 2000)
- Unspeakable Conversations, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, February 16, 2003 - The Disability Gulag (November 2003)
- Stairway to Justice (May 2004)
- Not Dead at All: Why Congress was right to stick up for Terri Schiavo (March 2005)
- Schiavo’s Disability Rights (March 2005)
- “Overlooked in the Shadows (March 2005)
- Too Late to Die Young: Nearly True Stories From a Life (2005)
- Wheelchair Unbound (April 2006)
- Accidents of Nature (2006)
- Alas for Tiny Tim, He Became a Christmas Cliché, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, (December 25, 2006) - 13 Questions,” BBC Ouch! (May 2008)