| Graca Machel |
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| Lady Scotland |
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| Arundhati Roy |
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| Wangari Maathal |
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| Leah Chishugi |
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Welcome to New Readers
This being Black History month I would like to dedicate this month to Bieneosa Ebite:
It was at her fabulous conference day, Communicating in Multi-cultural Britain, where I met Monique Haq of Ethnicusa an inspirational multi ethnic firm, dealing in PR global marketing. Bieneosa runs Bright Star Public Relations Ltd.  |
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| Maggie Aderin
I'd like to start with a rocket scientist:
Maggie Aderin born to Nigerian parents. In her first year at Imperial College, London, she was one of only two black people and one of 10 women in her class of 200.
She obtained her degree in Physics and her PhD in Mechanical Engineering. "Science is for everyone, and even if you don't want to be a rocket scientist, it is good to have an awareness of science so we can have an understanding of all the things that affect our lives today like climate change and the MMR vaccine,".
She also does some of this work through her own small company, Science Innovation Ltd. Through this Maggie conducts "Tours of the Universe", a scheme she set up to engage school children and adults around the world in the wonders of space.
As the children 'fly' past the celestial bodies, Maggie gives details on the objects observed and undertakes demonstrations with the audience. She also highlights the benefits of space science and astronomy to society today and why it inspired her to do the job she loves. Click here for more information. |
Role Models
Of course as soon as I mentioned I wanted black women role models Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey were suggested, and rightly because they have a high media profile which is essential.
But I'd like to cheat, by mentioning The Elders, which includes many inspirational stateswomen and men, the black women in particular being Graca Machel and Aung Aun Suu kyi.....
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Aung San Suu Kyi
Burma's democracy leader, and Nobel Peace prize winner, was locked up on new trumped up charges just days before her 13 years of detention was due to expire. She and thousands of fellow monks and students have been imprisoned for bravely challenging the brutal military regime, with peaceful calls for democracy.
Risking danger to speak out for their jailed friends, Burmese activists are demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. There was a call to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon calling on him to make their release a top priority. He can make this a condition of any renewed international engagement, and currently it seems as if the Americans are considering this. Amnesty put out a twitter on her 64 birthday, May 26th. Click here for further details. |
| Graca Machel
Graca Machel is often overshadowed by her famous husbands, (Mandela and Machel) but is a political activist in her own right.
So many of these women are known by the name of a current or former husband.
Graca is currently working on child soldiers, for the UN. In 1996, she presented her groundbreaking report to the United Nations on the impact of armed conflict on children and in 2001 she authored "The Impact of War on Children", which updated her 1996 report.
In the Independent this year she talks of the challenges of climate change and economy facing the African continent. Graca Machel: Africa's people need bold, focused and sustained leadership from its governments... read more.
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Baroness Patricia Scotland
Celebrating Black History month, Michael Eboda in The Voice,
publishes this year's Power List, the top 50 black men, and 50 black women.
Once again headed by Lady Scotland, our first woman attorney general, and our first black attorney general, who had the audacity to judge that there was a case to answer for MI5 complicity in torture.
The Mohamed case (allegation of torture) was referred to the Attorney General on 23 October 2008 by Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary. Read more.
"Any decision on whether any person should be charged with a criminal offence can only be taken following the police investigation on the basis of an independent assessment of the evidence and the public interest, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors," she said.
Lady Scotland said the investigation would be conducted by the police, with advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. Baroness Scotland said she had considered the case "in my capacity as an independent guardian of the public interest and the rule of law" adding "I perform this function wholly independently of Government."
"It only takes one person to make a stand"
I want to celebrate, in particular, women who chose to make a stand.
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Rosa Parks
On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks, age 42, Rosa Parks refused to obey the bus driver 's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger.
She was not the first person to do this, but her action set off the Montgomery Bus Boycott and has become a symbol of the civil rights movement. She worked in collaboration with Martin Luther King, yet his is probably the more prominent name. Back to top |
Arundhati Roy...
...from Kerala who, having won the Booker for the God of Small Things, felt the need to speak against the destruction of the natural environment, and people displacment especially in the Narmada Dam project.
Her writings drew attention to the dams, which were enormous, supposed to make India both strong and proud, yet she found many anomalies between the promises of drinking water for many and the destruction, and resettlement of many groups.
If protesting against having a nuclear bomb implanted in my brain is anti-Hindu and anit-national, then I secede. I am a citizen of the earth. I have no territory. I have no flag. I'm female and have nothing against eunuchs. I'm willing to sign any nuclear test ban treaty that's going. Immigrants are welcome.
"The only dream worth having......To never forget your own insignificance. To never get used to the unspeakable violence and vulgar disparity of life around you..... to respect strength, never power....to never look away. and never, never to forget" Back to top |
Wangari Maathai
Wangari who endured beatings, arrests, cold prison cells aggravating her arthritis, and who plants trees with Barak Obama, and received a Nobel prize, and still travels the world to show what one woman can achieve. Maybe saving the planet includes the continent of Africa. It was very strange to see the Independent giving 5 pages to an African woman
"Now Maathai is travelling the world with a warning. As she told the United Nations climate summit last Tuesday, it is not just her beloved rainforest that is threatened now, but all rainforests. "As human beings, we are attacking our own life-support system," she says. "And if we carry on like this, we are digging our own grave." "
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Leah Chishugi...
....who although a refugee from the fighting in Rwanda, chose to go back to interpret for the Guardian film makers filming the genocide and rape in Darfur.
This unbelievable atrocious war was the theme of last year's Women of the Year Lunch, and the dedication of the foundation, Everything Is a Benefit. "It is not normal for women to suffer so much. We have to refuse to allow this suffering to continue." She says she is the first person from "the outside world" to reach the villages, thanks to her ability to blend in with locals - she speaks 15 African languages.
Visits to Kinshasa, the Congolese capital, and a meeting with the Rwandan president, Paul Kagame, have convinced her that neither government is concerned about the women's situations.
"I am not a politician but I want to let the world know what is going on. I believe that Kagame, [Joseph] Kabila [the Congolese president] and [Laurent] Nkunda [the Tutsi rebel leader] all know exactly what is going on."
Leah Chishugi travels into the heart of eastern Congo to record the testimony of more than 400 women and girls abused by marauding militias... read more. | |
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So go well in the world, celebrate all black women of courage and integrity. At this time of instability, it is too easy for media and governments to set up immigrants, and "foreigners" as scapegoats. Yet the best and most vibrant societies are built on immigrants, usually fleeing persecution or war in their own countries. This list is only a taster, or some of my favourites and friends' suggestions, but in no way exhausting. If you admire women of colour, or "white" women, why not send me some suggestions for further newssheets, especially pilots!
As ever, remember that you have all the resources you need. If you are receiving this news-sheet for the first time, it entitles you to one Free Coaching Session, Business or Personal, OR a free seminar for your staff on Leadership and/or Diversity for your Business, or topic of your choice.
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Christina
Woman on a Mission
Diversity and Leadership Consultant
Inspirational Speaker
Alumnus Women of the Year 2008/2009 © christina@christrainers.com
Motivational Speaker
NLP Master Practitioner
Counsellor and Coach
London +44 (0) 208 653 7893
Melbourne +00 61 3 9563 0028
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