October marks Black History Month, which is a time when people around the world reflect on and celebrate the lives, histories and cultures of the black community.
This year’s theme for Black History Month in the UK is “Celebrating our Sisters”.
This year’s commemoration will feature trailblazing Black women who have made incredible contributions to literature, music, fashion, sport, business, politics, academia, social and health care, and more.
Additionally, there will be a focus on themes such as resilience, self-care, and well-being, underscoring the strength and determination of Black women throughout history.
This year’s celebrations also mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush.
As part of LondonWorld’s series on Black History Month, we want to celebrate it by highlighting the work of 10 inspirational Black female Londoners.
9. Adwoa Aboah
Adwoa Aboah is a British fashion model, activist and actress and is one of the key faces in today’s modelling industry. The 31-year-old has appeared on the cover of British Vogue and has modelled for some of fashion’s biggest names including Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang. Along with her modelling career, Aboah is the founder of Gurls Talk, a community-led non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the mental health well-being of adolescent girls and young women. Aboah often speaks openly about her battle with addiction and depression, making her one of the most influential women in the fashion industry. She stars as Becks in the Netflix revival drama series Top Boy. | Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
10. Yvette Williams MBE
Yvette Williams MBE is a lead campaigner on the Justice 4 Grenfell campaign. Williams and her daughter witnessed the fire at Grenfell Tower after being alerted by a family friend who was evacuated from one of the walkways. She has played an important role in the campaign for accountability and justice for Grenfell victims ever since. She is also a founding member of operation Black vote – a national campaign encouraging BME communities to engage in the democratic process to get their voices heard and has worked with a number of campaigns including those for Stephen Lawrence and Frank Crichlow. Williams was featured in British Vogue’s 20 Remarkable Activists Ready to Change the World, September 2020 issue. | Credit: Getty Images