International Women’s Day, 8th March, celebrates the remarkable achievements of women globally. Furthermore, it is an opportunity to commemorate audacious, awe inspiring, black women past and present.
The event’s purple, green and white colours symbolise justice, hope and peace. In addition, its 2024 theme, ‘ Inspire Inclusion, ‘ aims to encourage and respect women from all different backgrounds to unite and promote gender equality, allowing every woman to reach their full potential.
Yet, historically, the multidimensionality of black women is rarely acknowledged and ad nauseam are disenfranchised. But who can forget the phenomenal trailblazers of black women throughout history? Mary Seacole, Claudia Jones, Rosa Parks and Althea McNish are a few on a long list. Equally, present-day women carry the baton forward, paving the way for future generations and we commend them. The likes of Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi, founders of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ Movement. While some become famous, others who do not, nonetheless, undertake remarkable achievements in education, healthcare, arts and business. Recognised by colleagues, those in their field, family and friends, they inspire and relentlessly work for a fair and equal future.
For me, an exceptional woman is Dr. Jan Etienne. She is an inspiration and an excellent role model. Her boundless energy is exemplified in her relentless pursuit of education to increase the recruitment and retention of students from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. She works as an Associate Lecturer in Social Policy and Education at the Birkbeck University of London, a Fellow of the university, a Womanist researcher and Chair of the Womanism Activism Higher Education Research Network.
She is renowned for her book ‘Learning In Womanist Ways: Narratives of First Generation African Caribbean Women’. The book explores the benefits of lifelong learning for black Caribbean women who came to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s. Featuring interviews with them and tells of their social interactions and informal education.
Likewise, her book ‘Communities Of Activism Black Women: Higher Education and the Politics of Representation’. Here Dr. Etienne and fellow black women academics explored Africa and South America, indicating how women’s activism across the generations can support black youths and students to resist the pressure of racism, crime and low academic attainment, compared to their white peers. Furthermore her work also includes thirteen additional publications.
Working with the UK Womanism Activation and Higher Education Research Network, which comprises a group of educated, talented black women, their remarkable and diligent work for inclusivity and a fair playing field in education, their research will serve as a document record for future generations.
Thank you, Dr Jan Etienne, for your valiant work, wisdom and inspiration to all black women; I salute you on this commemorative International Women’s Day.
You can find out more about the stalwart Dr Jan Etienne on her blog, janetienne.com
