6 | THE VOICE MARCH 2023
Celebrating Our Sistahs
Leading the charge...
The Voice salutes the tireless campaigners who made waves over the past year. By Richard Sudan
B
LACK WOMEN have always led the charge in producing change and standing up for our communities at home, and in the wider diaspora. There are so many names to hail up. We pay tribute and express gratitude for some of the Black community’s sistah trailblazers making special waves over the past year.
ILHAN OMAR ELIZABETH WANJIRU WATHUTI
KENYAN ENVIRONMENTAL activist Elizabeth Wanjiru Wathuti’s experiences of deforestation and climate change in her community has transformed her into an internationally recognised advocate for change. The 27-year-old founded the Green Generation Initiative, is the recipient of numerous awards, and has given a voice to many communities, especially in the Global South, while on a mission to reconnect future generations to nature.
SASHA JOHNSON
THE UK’s Sasha Johnson played one of the key front line roles in galvanising and energising Britain’s Black Lives Matter protests which were organised following the death of George Floyd. The UK protests led to Black grassroots mobilisation especially among young people, and were so effective that many believe it led to the government clamp down on protesting. A new generation was inspired by Sasha’s work. Unfortunately Sasha remains on the road to recovery after sustaining serious and life changing injuries following a shooting incident in South London. Everyone at The Voice wishes Sasha and her family the very best and the community is grateful for her work and courage.
ILHAN OMAR is a prominent member of ‘The Squad’ of progressive Democrats elected to US Congress, and the first uslim woman in the House of Representatives. A staunch critic of Apartheid in Palestine, Omar has continued to hold the government to account since first entering politics several years ago. Omar was recently removed from the Foreign Affairs committee by her Democrat colleagues after a racist campaign by rightwing Republicans such as Marjorie Taylor Greene.
CHANTELLE LUNT, founder of Merseyside’s Black Lives Matter movement, is credited with generating mass support for the ‘Kill the Bill’ campaign which produced opposition protests to the government’s controversial draconian policing act. unt, a former police officer, remains committed to the fight for justice for Black and marginalised communities and has long sought to highlight racism e perienced by lack police officers as well as campaigning for racial equality in society.
UK BORN and of Zimbabwean heritage, Korrine was one of the Black people escaping Ukraine, which she called home during her studies at the outbreak of war, one year ago. Korrine made it her mission to create a non-stop flow of information and advice which helped many other lack people find safe routes out of the warzone. Not only this, but the aspiring doctor and her team also raised thousands of pounds to support those who remained trapped in Ukraine as the bombs started to drop and endeavoured to help them get back into education. That’s what leadership looks like.
JACQUELINE McKENZIE
JACQUELINE McKENZIE deserves a special mention, as one of the key figures leading the charge in fighting for ustice for our Windrush communities. One of many lawyers working tirelessly around the clock, McKenzie has raised the plight of those on the receiving end of the government’s hostile environment while ensuring that many wrongly destined for deportation by the ome ffice have been pulled from planes, often at the last minute, giving them a fighting chance to remain in the UK. McKenzie has also proved instrumental in giving Black communities a fighting chance to secure something meaningful from the shadow government’s long-awaited proposed Race Equality Bill.
MEGHAN MARKLE
CHANTELLE LUNT
KORRINE SKY
WHETHER you count yourself a republican or a royalist, the racist storm Meghan Markle has weathered simply for being a Black woman in a white institution deserves respect. Despite revelations by her own admission that her mental health was deeply impacted by her experiences in ‘The Firm’, the constant trolling by the likes of Piers Morgan, Markle must be an inspiration to many young Black girls up and down the country. The system has tried to break Meghan Markle but has failed, and racist sections of the media hate it. Markle deserves support and respect for remaining true to herself in the face of relentless and baseless attacks.
DR SHOLA MOS-SHOGBAMIMU
UK DISCOURSE would not be the same without the unflinching and outspoken voice of Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu. The British Nigerian lawyer is a regular feature on our TV screens, calling out white supremacy, its apologists, while pulling no punches. In an era of cancel culture, and media attacks with the war on ‘woke’ (which we know means Black people) Dr Shola tells it like it is a breath of fresh air. We love and respect the fact that racists hate her although we suspect that deep down they secretly admire her voice and watch all of her videos.
AFUA HIRSCH
AFUA HIRSCH is a household name in the UK, a successful journalist, author, producer and TV personality. Over the years Hirsch has consistently used her platform to speak and promote issues at the heart of the Black community in the UK but also in the wider diaspora. Hirsch has appeared on many debates around race and racism, and is a powerful voice for our community. Hirsch has also been targeted by the government for her views on anti-racism and is the author of the best-selling book ‘Brit-(ish)’ which deals with race and identity in modern contemporary Britain.
