Stacey Park Milbern, a Korean-American disability justice activist, passed away on May 19, 2020, due to complications arising during her operation to remove kidney cancer. She was 33 years old and died on her birthday. Her death shocked and saddened many people who admired her work and vision for a more inclusive and equitable society for people with disabilities.
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Who was Stacey Park Milbern?
Stacey Park Milbern was born in Seoul, South Korea, on May 19, 1987, with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD), a condition that affects the muscles and causes progressive weakness. She grew up in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in a military family. She identified as queer and mixed-race, and faced multiple forms of discrimination and oppression throughout her life.
She became involved in disability rights activism at the age of 16, and helped to create the disability justice movement, which emphasizes the intersectionality of disability with other identities, such as race, gender, sexuality, and class. She also advocated for the rights and needs of people with disabilities during emergencies, such as natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.
She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2011, where she continued to organize, write, and speak for the disability community. She was the director of programs at the Center for Independent Living, Berkeley, and also co-founded the Disability Justice Culture Club, a collective of disabled and/or neurodivergent people of color. She graduated from Methodist University in 2009 and from Mills College in 2018 with an MBA.
What was Stacey Park Milbern’s cause of death?
Stacey Park Milbern was diagnosed with kidney cancer in early 2020, and was scheduled to have surgery in March. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, her surgery was postponed for three months. She finally underwent the operation on May 18, 2020, at Stanford Hospital, but suffered from complications and infections. She died the next day, on her birthday.
Her death sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes from her friends, family, and fellow activists. Many people shared how she inspired them to fight for disability justice and to celebrate their identities and differences. She was also remembered for her kindness, generosity, humor, and love.
What is Stacey Park Milbern’s legacy?
Stacey Park Milbern left behind a legacy of activism, leadership, and community building. She helped to shape the disability justice movement and to challenge the dominant narratives and stereotypes about disability. She also created spaces and platforms for disabled people of color, queer and trans people, and other marginalized groups to share their stories and perspectives.
She also influenced many policies and initiatives that aimed to improve the lives and rights of people with disabilities. She was involved in the writing and passing of the 2007 North Carolina law that established October as “Disability History and Awareness Month” and required disability history curriculum to be taught in all schools. She also spoke out about the impact of the PG&E power shutoffs and the COVID-19 pandemic on people with disabilities who rely on electrically powered medical equipment and in-home care.
Stacey Park Milbern’s cause of death was a tragic loss for the disability community and the world. However, her spirit and vision live on in the millions of people she touched and empowered. She taught us to embrace our differences, to work for justice, and to love ourselves and each other.
