A painting workshop for Black History Month took place at Manchester’s Portico Library, with attendees creatively representing four female political trailblazers.
Hosted by 50:50 Parliament, an organisation aiming to increase female representation in Parliament, this event focused on the Amplifying Muted Voices campaign to encourage female ethnic minorities to get involved in politics.
Attendees were invited to paint four female changemakers: Diane Abbott, Zarah Sultana, Baroness Floella Benjamin, and Kamala Harris, to “be empowered by the subject they are painting”.
The panel, chaired by 50:50 Parliament’s trustee Carol Ann Whitehead, explored Black History Month’s theme of reclaiming narratives.
Panelists discussed advocating for race equality in health, increasing female equality in faith spaces, and overcoming challenges as women from ethnic minority backgrounds in the political sphere.
This year’s general election formed Britain’s most diverse Parliament yet, with the percentage of female MPs increasing from 34% to 40%.
The percentage of female MPs from an ethnic minority background is 8%, almost representative of their 9% population in Britain.
As 51% of Britain’s population are female, 50:50 Parliament aims to continue to advocate for more women to sign up to stand as councillors and MPs.
Ms. Whitehead, who leads the Amplifying Muted Voices movement, said: “The most remarkable aspect of our Rosa funded campaign is the opportunity to connect with passionate and like-minded experts by experience, ambitious agents of change, and aspiring politicians.
“Our 50:50 Parliament campaign truly exemplified the power of collaboration and learning from one another on the path to success.”
Although the event was hosted in the Portico Library, a colonial product of the British Empire, Ms. Whitehead suggested it was “the ideal venue for hosting these inspirational events” as it reclaims the narrative for “women of colour who at at one time could not cross the threshold.
“It’s a reminder of how times have and can change.”
50:50 Parliament’s ‘Sign up to Stand’ campaign can be found here.
