Determination, Dedication, Dynamism: An Interview with Diane Abbott

Abstract

In 1987, the face of British political life was forever changed when Diane Abbott became the first black woman elected to the House of Commons. Key to her work is her unwavering belief in making things better for others through determined advocacy combined with projects of social justice. Her longevity in the world of politics is in itself striking, and her loyalty to people and to her strong principles has consolidated a distinguished career as a parliamentarian, broadcaster and commentator. In this interview, Ms Abbott reflects upon the importance of calling herself a feminist and voices concerns about the sexualization of girlhood, an area she has particularly made her focus recently alongside her long-standing activism for young people and black children's education.

Keywords:

• black British
• black women
• feminism
• female politicians
• girls' sexualisation
• diaspora

Notes

¹BBC Radio 4, Sunday, 18 May 2008.

²See Diane Abbot's website at www.dianeabbott.org.uk and blackeduction.com at www.blackeducation. Most recently, she helped to launch the National Autistic Society Black and Ethnic Minority Campaign.

³London Schools and the Black Child holds an annual conference at Westminster Hall, drawing together parents, teachers and education experts, and there are annual awards presented for black pupils’ achievements.

⁴See Terri A. Sewell, Black Tribunes: Black Political Participation in Britain, London: Lawrence and Wishart, 1993.

⁵In her maiden speech on 16 November 1987, Ms Abbott declared (presciently): ‘The constant piecing together of incoherent and racist immigration laws that serve no real purpose apart from propaganda heightens tension and stress and makes people feel that they are unwanted. It does more to create division than anything else that I can think of. Since I was a child, immigration legislation has been used as a vehicle for people to air their racism ... it will do nothing to improve community relations. It represents a breach of faith with a generation of people who came here with the best intentions and the highest hopes. Their aspirations, their family life and their children are constantly denigrated in the kind of debate and argument that is used to promote legislation of this kind. The bill is a disgrace, and I urge the House to oppose it’ (from the office of Diane Abbott MP).

⁶Gloria T. Hull, Patricia Bell Scott and Barbara Smith (eds), All the Women Are White, All the Blacks Are Men, but Some of Us Are Brave, New York: Feminist Press, 1982.