I love a good documentary. They are such a useful and entertaining way to learn about unique people and events, ranging from true crime stories everyone’s heard of to niche subjects no one talks about. And while some documentaries intrigue me more than others, it is rare that I ever find myself touched, moved, and emboldened by one.
In fact, I think it’s safe to say that no documentary or docuseries I have ever watched (and I’ve seen many) has affected me quite the way Netflix’s Crip Camp has.
Crip Camp is a 2020 documentary that sheds light upon Camp Jened, effectively described by Jim LeBrecht (a former camper) as “a summer camp for the handicapped run by hippies.” Following the stories of many camp alumni, (campers and counselors alike), we see how the inclusive, accessible world of Camp Jened inspired numerous disabled individuals and their allies to fight in the disability rights movement of the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Now there’s a good chance when I say “disability rights movement,” you don’t know what I’m talking about, and before Crip Camp, I knew next to nothing about it either, save for the little knowledge I have of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Little did I know that this act was the result of years and years of campaigns and protests from disabled Americans and their allies. For many of these advocates, their stories began at Camp Jened.
Perhaps one of the most impactful features of this film is the inclusion of black-and-white footage taken at Camp Jened during those summers.
Ranging from recordings of sports events, goofy interviews, and serious heart-to-heart talks among the campers, this footage does a beautiful job of showing how teenagers with disabilities are just that: teenagers. Yet, they live in a world that excludes them from schools, cages them in asylums, and refuses to make itself accessible. All of these injustices coupled with the refusal of government officials to pass legislation to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities highlight the fortitude and strength of the protesters, whose struggle met with denial and indifference from the U.S. government for a long time before actual change was allowed to occur.
But, so much more than a “simple” story of protest and empowerment, Crip Camp is truly a well-rounded, distinctly human documentary of people brought together, sharing highs and lows, humor and injustice, empowerment and oppression.
Whether they are singing a song in the back of a UHaul, using their wheelchairs to block traffic in New York City, or demanding the passage of legislation via protests or sit-ins, this diverse cast of advocates made me laugh and brought me to tears.
I also love the fact that the documentary not only included the way Camp Jened impacted the disabled campers but also the way it changed the perspective of the non-disabled counselors, many of whom admit that, before Camp Jened, they had never interacted with a person with a disability.
Crip Camp does a beautiful job of highlighting the fact that, oftentimes, just having some meaningful, personal interactions with people from a marginalized group, such as those with disabilities, can greatly impact the way we view that group, and allow for the deeper humanity of us all to shine through. The counselors, some of them teenagers themselves, were able to leave Camp Jened seeing people with disabilities as equal to themselves, and years later, would not fight for them but with them.
Crip Camp is a witty, beautiful, tear-jerking account of lived experiences of a group of people who are often written off by society as not being able to have experiences in general.
While the viewing of one documentary isn’t going to suddenly take away all of our negative and demeaning stereotypes of people with disabilities, the viewing of this one will certainly have you questioning how much you actually know about the largest minority group in this country.
Anyone and everyone should give Crip Camp a watch. Whether you’re there for the history, activism, comedy, or the classic rock soundtrack, you won’t be disappointed, and if your perspective isn’t changed (or at least challenged) a little bit, then I suggest a second viewing. And the best part? Netflix has released the full-length documentary on YouTube, making it free to watch!
I send my praise, respect, gratitude, and admiration to every single man, woman, teen, and child who endeavored and fought for the legislation that has made our world, while not perfect, a little more accessible for all human beings.
May the story of Crip Camp never be forgotten; may the legacy of those who have passed on be honored; and may we always remember where we were, so that we may never live in that world again.
