Andrea Enisuoh (1970 – 13 February 2020) was an English 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 (NUS).[3][4]
Andrea Enisuoh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1970 Manchester, England |
| Died | 13 February 2020 (aged 49–50) |
| Occupation | Journalist, community activist, trade unionist, parent |
| Period | 1989–2020 |
| Subject | Equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility |
Biography
editEnisuoh was born in Manchester, England, 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]
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 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] In 2010 Enisuoh was a member of the Black and Ethnic Minority Arts Network (BEMA).[7] 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.[2]
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][8][9] Her efforts were widely lauded, yielding a far reaching support. Her activism to protect the library was included in a transmission on Trindadian television.[9]
Enisouh was an arts and culture contributor to New Nation weekly newspaper, 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]
Enisouh died on 13 February 2020, aged 49.[2]
Awards and legacy
editEnisuoh was awarded a George Viner Memorial Fund scholarship in journalism in 1993.[1][13]
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.
- ^ a b c Gelder, Sam (3 March 2020). "Andrea Enisuoh: Tributes to community activist and journalist who worked to 'tip the scales towards equality'". Ham & High. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ Cooke, Diane (4 April 1989). "Young, gifted and black". Manchester Evening News. p. 8. Retrieved 29 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The origins of racism – Socialism Today". 6 July 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Manchester Schools' Strike" (PDF). Militant: 8. 17 April 1987.
- ^ "'Our B + A public material'". mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Hackney Council signals U-turn in CLR James library row". Hackney Citizen. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ Agbetu, Toyin. The Gentrification of Protest: A study of governmental activism in East London, PhD thesis awarded at UCL.
- ^ a b "Storm over CLR James set to rage through Black History Month". Hackney Citizen. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Cavendish, Dominic (4 December 2004). "It's boom time for black theatre – but will it last?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "BBC - Radio 4 Front Row - 13/03/03". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Tutors For Literary Adventures". The Literary Consultancy. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ NUJ. "George Viner Memorial Fund scholars". www.nuj.org.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2025.