My perspective on the blog is they should know that I’m an advocate and I like to speak about different things that are important in life. It’s a fun thing to do, and it’s important for people to know what Cow Tipping does and helping people with disabilities in the community.
– Shaunte Martin
Mooosings: A Cow Tipping Blog
Welcome to our blog! Every month, Inclusion Associates Shaunte and Maeve will share thoughts, interviews, literary analyses, and more from Cow Tipping and the broader world of disability.
August 2024
Shaunte Martin’s Journey: Don’t Accept Bullying
By Shaunte Martin
When I think about bullying it’s not right to do that to people because it can hurt their feelings. It can hurt other people’s feelings because that’s not okay. I don’t think that’s right.
When I was like in high school, it was really hard to make friends. I was bullied because of my culture. I don’t feel that people with disabilities should be treated different from everyone else. They’re not the same as everyone else, but they should be treated equally as everybody else.
I thought my family just didn’t believe me, and I said that I was being bullied. That they didn’t care about my feelings and about how I felt. But I realized that family does love me, and I shouldn’t think about the negative. I should just think about the positive, because I know the family loves me a lot, and I do appreciate that.
I was trying to be an advocate for the school, so the bullying can stop, because I don’t appreciate it. I thought, I’m going to do something about that, so I told the principal that there’s bullying going on in the school. I told the principal, and he came down and said, why are these people with disabilities and without disabilities getting bullied in the school? I think we should have a meeting with all the juniors, seniors—freshman upwards—in the gym.
I was blindfolded and I didn’t know what was going on. The principal did something to honor me, and I got flowers and posters. They had a lunch for all of us. It made me so happy and I started to cry. I was so happy with what the school did for me and the family, and I really appreciated that. That’s a memory I will always cherish for the rest of my life.
Then they had me come into the gym and I made an announcement in the gym to everyone that I was very upset that they were bullying people with disabilities. It doesn’t matter who we are, we should be treated equally in every school. The bullying just has to stop.
Being a woman of color, I shouldn’t have been bullied. I shouldn’t have been bullied because I believed in Christianity and because of my color, and being bullied because of the color of my skin. There are some days I didn’t want to get up for school at all I felt lost I felt undetermined.
I felt like it was going to continue to happen. I felt like I didn’t belong in the school, and that I wasn’t wanted as a friend. And then the next day, I finally made some friends. The next day I went to school, my friends waited for me at the door of the gym. They gave me flowers and cards to say that they were sorry for what they did and made a poster with all their pictures and names on it.
There was an anti-bullying movement when I lived in the Rondo community, and I was really glad to be a part of that, so we can make it a law in every school that doesn’t accept bullying. it was really great to know that I wasn’t the only one who was dealing with that.
I just want kids to stay in school and not be fighting and learn from their teachers that they should stay in school. Graduate with a diploma and be safe out there in the communities. Do the right thing and stay in school.
I’m happy to just be out of school, don’t have to worry—bigger and better things going on. Focus on the positive things. I just leave my past behind me and focus on my future.
Being bullied as I grew up and the years went by, I was bullied as an adult because people didn’t really understand what my disabilities are. They don’t understand that being bullied in different ways as an adult can be hard as well.
I deserve positive people who are friends, who are going to be supporting me in all the things that I’m doing, and be here for all the things I’m doing in my life. Be there whenever I need them. I just need to be around positive people in my life. Even though I lost a lot of people, I still keep the friendships closer.
July 2024
Interview with Strive founder Mary Taris
By Maeve McDevitt
When I first caught sight of Strive, it did not look like what I had expected for it was this elegant looking old building. I thought that it would be in a modern looking building nevertheless I was pleasantly surprised being the history buff that I am. The building wouldn’t look out of place in the art deco era. When I entered the building, I saw tables littered with books. Behind the counter stood an African American lady with eye glasses and long curly black hair. I got right to explaining the mission of Cow Tipping Press. She gave me the impression of a nice soft-spoken woman. The space looked somewhat cozy with the addition of aqua armchairs. I later learned that Strive has held events in their space.
Maeve: So this bookstore specializes primarily in Black literature?
Mary: Yes, and we are trying to reach across cultures, so we lift up other underrepresented voices—voices from other cultures, abilities, and gender identities.
Maeve: How long has this store been in business for?
Mary: This is our one-year anniversary this month. We opened last June.
Maeve: So the store is that new.
Mary: Yes, it’s new. We have a mini-bookshop that we’ve had for three years. It’s in the IDS center. That’s the one that has only Black literature.
Maeve: The other one?
Mary: Yeah, it’s in the Sistah Co-Op in the IDS center.
Maeve: Is it still around?
Mary: It’s still there.
Maeve: As far as what I have read online—I learned about the store, like how the owner of this place wanted to open a bookstore that would sell books featuring characters like her.
Mary: Yes, and that would be me. I’m the owner of the bookstore. When I was growing up, I didn’t see books that affirmed my identity. And then I got into teaching when I was 40, and there still weren’t books for children who looked like me. That’s why I started publishing.
Maeve: That’s great. So what’s the best-selling book here?
Mary: It’s called All About Love by bell hooks. That’s our best-seller.