Stories of Black Leadership was designed to showcase inspiring examples of Black leadership excellence in Britain in sectors where such leadership is not well celebrated.
STORIES OF BLACK LEADERSHIP
Image: Heart Of The Race: Black Women's Lives in Britain by Beverley Bryan, Stella Dadzie and Suzanne Scafe is a powerful corrective to a version of Britain's history from which Black women have long been excluded. It reclaims and records Black women's place in that history, documenting their day-to-day struggles, their experiences of education, work and health care, and the personal and political struggles they have waged to preserve a sense of identity and community.
This exhibition is all three parts of the series, Stories of Black Leadership. Commissioned by Black Cultural Archives (BCA), and originally sponsored by J.P. Morgan, it highlights amazing women at the height of their professions in this portrait study.
Though there are accomplished Black Britons leading some of the UK’s most important institutions, they are often hidden from the mainstream gaze. This exhibition discovers these amazing Black women whose resilience, drive and excellence have led them to the highest positions in their respective fields.
This Black Futures Month*, with the theme "Reclaiming Narratives” telling these stories of Black women in leadership is even more important. It allows us to explore the challenges and triumphs Black women face in leadership roles, highlighting their resilience, innovation, and unique contributions. The narrative reclaims and reshapes historical and cultural stereotypes, emphasising the importance of representation, empowerment, and voice. Through personal stories this exhibition celebrates the power of Black women leaders, advocates for systemic change, and enables us to recognise and value their leadership potential in all sectors. It serves as both inspiration and a call to action for the equitable treatment of Black women in leadership.
For us here at Legal & General it allows us to also celebrate some of our very own Black Women Leaders. In a custom fourth series we go through the process of allowing these women to reassert their stories, experiences, and contributions, not only to Legal & General but to society at large.
Each of the original series is shot by an award-winning Black British photographer:
The first series, Radiating Greatness, by Franklyn Rodgers
The second series, Breaking Barriers, by Joy Gregory
The third series, Inspiring Legacies, by Misan Harriman
And!
The custom fourth series, Reclaiming Narratives, shot by our own Charlie Posnett
What is clear through these stories is the importance of collaboration over competition, as together we are able to achieve much more than otherwise in isolation. What makes these women exceptional is not only their individual achievements but their commitment to carving a path that future generations of Black Britons and other communities can follow to show the world what leadership is truly about.
Happy Black Futures Month!
Legal & General x BCA
*At BCA we use the phrase Black Futures Month, as for us we do history every day of the year. We see Black history month as a month to look at the here and now and a chance to look forward at endless possibilities, amplifying the breadth and depth of Black people in Britain.
