This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.
This board exists primarily for the use of Black Mumsnetters. Others are welcome to post but please be respectful.
Black Mumsnetters
Inspiring Black women
Giningit · 16/10/2020 21:47
Just that really. I’ve been thinking about which Black women I admire and Sharon White, ex OfCom Chief Exec and current Chairman of John Lewis. Her background doesn’t seem particularly privileged, so it seems that she got to where she is by sheer hard work and determination. Obviously I’m making a lot of assumptions here because I don’t actually know the woman.
MarriedtoDaveGrohl · 16/10/2020 21:54
There's so many. I'm shit at on the spot but there's just so many. One I was talking about the other day is Tina Turner. Saw a doc on her years ago and she has a fuck off mansion on the Cap d'Antibe. On the side of the hill looking over the ocean. And the decor is pure class - nothing tacky anywhere which for a famous person isn't common. Plus she made ike look like a cunt (which he is). So she's my first one.
Will check out Sharon White - the one before her was an old Etonian 😁
Giningit · 16/10/2020 21:59
Haha I know there are so many to choose from. I guess I was thinking of “ordinary” people not celebs. Although Tina is a good shout 
Giningit · 16/10/2020 21:59
Also the fact SW got through the old boys network is a bonus.
MarriedtoDaveGrohl · 16/10/2020 22:01
Damn I knew you were going to say that! 😀
I'm not saying Diane Abbott though! Hm. I clearly don't watch the news enough so am now struggling with inspirational people in general.
MarriedtoDaveGrohl · 16/10/2020 22:05
My ex business partner went to Eton with the John Lewis guy. Note I say ex business partner 😉
The old boys network can't save you from yourself.
itsovernowthen · 16/10/2020 22:12
Michelle Obama is mine, reading her autobiography reinforced it for me.
Giningit · 16/10/2020 22:14
I’m just thinking about more relatable people. Celebs just seem too unattainable. Nothing against them though
Giningit · 16/10/2020 22:18
@MarriedtoDaveGrohl
The old boys network can't save you from yourself.
Oooh...Spill!
MarriedtoDaveGrohl · 16/10/2020 22:20
Oh I dont know anything at all about the John Lewis guy, unfortunately!
Giningit · 16/10/2020 22:20
Michelle Obama is definitely on my list, even though it sounds like I’m contradicting myself, I don’t see her as a celeb. She has a fantastic career before becoming First Lady and used her position for good.
MarriedtoDaveGrohl · 16/10/2020 22:30
Michelle was the first one that came to mind. I like her more the more I hear. A class act.
PonDeReplay · 17/10/2020 07:35
Another vote for Michelle Obama! The woman is a legend. She also has a wonderfully inspirational podcast on Spotify called ‘The Michelle Obama podcast’. Definitely worth a listen.
Denzelstowel · 17/10/2020 15:30
Charlotte Mensah - hair stylist/familiar but quite sad early life - she was on R4 this morning discussing her experience of returning to UK to join her mother at age 11 and being bullied relentlessly at secondary school by kids who didn't look too different from her. Often for her hairstyles. Which were the threaded twists back then. Her mother died when she was 13, 2 years after she joined her . She has now won many awards and styles people such as Afua Hirsch, Tracey Ellis Ross - Erica Badu. That's what a call ordinary- I felt quite emotional listening to what the other kids at school put her through !
skedaddIe · 17/10/2020 18:09
Bonnie Greer.
She's such an amazing woman. I'd highly recommend attending any event where she's a speaker.
itsovernowthen · 17/10/2020 21:08
@Denzelstowel
I had my hair (natural Afro) washed, blow-dried and cut by her at her salon in Ladbroke Grove a couple of years ago. She comes across as being very humble, particularly as she did most of the work herself, despite having a junior.
PompomDahlia · 17/10/2020 22:37
Also on the beauty side, Pat McGrath has done amazingly well. I listened to her on Desert Island Discs and she came across as someone who is successful based on passion and hard work.
I've been inspired by a lot of 20-something black women I've spoken to this year who have been doing great things to diversify the sector I work in (don't want to out myself!) - but some brilliant, switched on confident young women. I wish I'd had their courage at that age
Giningit · 18/10/2020 09:56
I’ll look into Charlotte Mensah. She sounds incredible!
Giningit · 18/10/2020 10:03
Googled both Pat and Charlotte. Great choices 👏🏽👏🏽
RedMarauder · 19/10/2020 09:59
Floella Benjamin - only in the last few years as she become more open about the racism she's encountered herself and while campaigning for things like trying to get stories with black characters on children's TV. The fact she was on TV with plaits when I was little made my life easier.
Denzelstowel · 19/10/2020 15:14
"Itsovernowthen"
"I had my hair (natural Afro) washed, blow-dried and cut by her at her salon in Ladbroke Grove a couple of years ago. She comes across as being very humble, particularly as she did most of the work herself, despite having a junior."
Yes I have even there twice now as I would love to have my hair done there and both times I have decided I couldn't really afford it- that's not a reflection on her price - she is quite reasonable for that area and considering the customers she attracts - it's just my budget couldn't justify spending double what I usually do
SandyY2K · 19/10/2020 23:16
Definitely agree with Michelle Obama.
Oprah is another one too.
Farle29 · 20/10/2020 13:54
I love Maggie Aderin-Pocock. I think the things she is doing and trailblazing in Science is fantastic
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maggie_Aderin-Pocock
zatarontoast · 20/10/2020 15:03
Not famous on a Michelle Obama level (yet!) but I absolutely adore Africa from thevitamindproject. She's mostly an interiors person on instagram, but intends to normalize black families doing 'normal' things. The media and western narrative has often portrayed black people as criminals and poor people, so it has been really good for me as a person who had very little exposure to black families to challenge my beliefs/stereotypes.
PoulePouletteEternellement · 20/10/2020 15:19
to normalize black families doing 'normal' things.
...
Speechless.
Truly.
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