Andrea Enisuoh
Andrea Enisuoh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970 |
| Died | 2020 (aged 49–50) |
| Occupation | Journalist, community activist, trade unionist, parent |
| Period | 1989–2020 |
| Subject | Equity, diversity and inclusion |
Andrea Enisuoh (1970–2020) was a socialist, feminist, journalist, political activist, trade unionist, human rights campaigner, and volunteer based in Hackney, London, England.[1][2] In 1989, she was the first Black woman to be elected a member of the National Executive Committee of the National Union of Students.[3][4]
Biography
[edit]Enisuoh was born in Manchester, and it was while attending Further Education college in Manchester that she became involved in politics, serving as Chair of the Youth Action Committee in the city in 1987.[5] She spent most of her living and working life based in Hackney.[1]
Politics and campaigning
[edit]Enisuoh was active in her efforts supporting equity in many aspects of her life, including politics and sports. In 1989, Enisuoh was elected a member of the NUS National Executive Committee, making her the first Black women to hold the position.[1] In 1989, as a supporter of Militant, (a left faction of the UK Labour Party) Enisuoh authored the publication,"By Any Means Necessary: The Life and Legacy of Malcolm X".[1][6] She was the first London worker in the Show Racism the Red Card campaign, founded to call out discrimination in football.[1] Enisuoh was also an active trade unionist of the independent democratic trade union, the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA).[1]
For a decade, Enisuoh worked at Hackney Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) in support of designing, creating and implementing programs in response to community need. Enisuoh's programming supported progressive community development bolstering local diversity, equity and inclusion skillsets, with a focus on mentoring individuals who identified as having learning differences.[1]
Enisuoh was a member of the Black and Ethnic Minority Arts Network (BEMA).[when?] Her co-ordination at BEMA provided community support for members via mentorship and learning opportunities to upgrade their skillsets in navigating the injustices and discrimination faced by visible minorities.[citation needed]
In 2010, Enisuoh further campaigned as a BEMA coordinator in Hackney to retain the name of the C.L.R. James Library, named after the Trinidadian author.[1][7][8] Her efforts were widely lauded, yielding a far reaching support. Her activism to protect the CLR James Library was included in a transmission on Trindadian television.[9]
Writing and editing
[edit]Enisouh was an arts and culture contributor to New Nation, and supported increased representation of Black writers in theatre and performance.[10] In 2003 she appeared as a talking head on BBC Radio 4's Front Row, to discuss Percival Everett's novel, Erasure.[11] She collaborated with Grenada-born writer Jacob Ross to edit the short story collection Turf.[12]
Awards and legacy
[edit]Enisuoh was awarded a George Viner Memorial Fund scholarship in journalism in 1993.[1][13]
Enisuoh's legacy in London will be honoured by a celebratory plaque commissioned by the Hackney Archives. This inaugural plaques scheme will feature plaques for three Hackney community activists including, Andrea Enisuoh, Clara Ludski, founder of the Rio Cinema and Edith Watson, the first female police officer and a suffragette.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Andrea Enisuoh". Women from Hackney's History. 1. The Hackney History Society (Friends of Hackney Archives): 45. 2021. ISBN 9781800492103.
- ^ "Andrea Enisuoh: Tributes to community activist and journalist who worked to 'tip the scales towards equality'". Ham & High. 2020-03-03. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
- ^ Cooke, Diane (4 April 1989). "Young, Gifted, and Black". The Manchester Evening News. p. 8.
- ^ "The origins of racism – Socialism Today". 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Manchester Schools' Strike" (PDF). Militant: 8. 17 April 1987.
- ^ ""Our B + A public material"". mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ Agbetu, Toyin. The Gentrification of Protest: A study of governmental activism in East London, PhD thesis awarded at UCL.
- ^ "Storm over CLR James set to rage through Black History Month". Hackney Citizen. 2010-10-04. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Storm over CLR James set to rage through Black History Month". Hackney Citizen. 2010-10-04. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "It's boom time for black theatre – but will it last?". The Telegraph. 2004-12-04. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "BBC - Radio 4 Front Row - 13/03/03". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Tutors For Literary Adventures". The Literary Consultancy. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ NUJ. "George Viner Memorial Fund scholars". www.nuj.org.uk. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
- ^ "Plaques Scheme". Hackney History Society. Retrieved 2025-07-01.