Black British women taking the creative industries by storm

The creative arts have long given expression to the downtrodden and the oppressed, enabling those with a less formal education to give affective expression to their experience. Still, mainstream media were created as exclusively white spaces and even now the appearance of Black women in key roles is groundbreaking. Still, Black women have spent decades laying claim to their share of the publishing infrastructure and are now taking centre stage in long running television and film franchises. Just take a look at these Black British women taking the creative industries by storm.

Margaret Busby

Ghanaian-born Margaret Busby co-founded the Allison and Busby publishing house in 1967, becoming the first Black female publisher in Britain. A writer and activist in her own right, Busby has supported and inspired generations of Black women authors. Her pioneering 1992 anthology Daughters of Africa brought together 200 women of African descent, which was unprecedented at the time. Author Zadie Smith hailed Busby as “a cheerleader, instigator, organiser, defender and celebrator of Black arts for the past 50 years, shouting about us from the rooftops, even back when few people cared to listen…”

Lashana Lynch

Named the first Black, first female 007 in 2021, Lashana’s performance won over the many critics of the change. Alongside her acting career, Lashana works with the charity Action Aid, helping women in danger worldwide.

Freema Agyeman

Freema Agyeman is the first Black Dr Who companion. She was reportedly surprised by the backlash from some fans against the Doctor having a Black companion. Sadly, I’m not – the presence of any local minority blazing new trails into territory into privileged spaces formerly reserved for the majority always terrifies some people, who feel that by losing complete domination over a space they are losing control over everything and somehow being marginalised.

Fisayo Longe

Fashion and lifestyle blogger Fisayo Longe left a career in finance to enter the fashion industry by launching the successful affordable luxury fashion label Kai Collective. Her clothing is now worn by some of the best-loved fashion influencers and stylists.

Joan Armatrading

Awarded the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection in 1996, Joan was the first Black British female to be nominated for a Grammy award in the Blues category, and the first female UK artist to debut at number one on the Billboard Blues chart in 2021.