Black History Month Profile: Valarie Amos
(This is the first in a series of articles celebrating Black History Month compiled and submitted by Winston Nugent)
Valarie Amos
Her parents were both teachers in the land of her birth, Guyana. She was born on March 13, 1954. They both instilled a respect for education and achievement in her from an early age.
When she was 9 years-old her family moved to England. She became the first black student to become Head Girl at the Bexley Technical High School for Girls. She got an undergraduate degree in sociology from Warwick University and her advanced degrees from the University of Birmingham and the University of East Anglia.
She became the first woman of color ever appointed to a cabinet post as the new Secretary of State for International Domestic Aid Agencies and Foreign Governments to help raise the standard of living in developing countries around the globe. She became Baroness Amos in 1997 when British Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed her as a life peer.
Winston Nugent
The honor gave her a seat in the House of Lords, the upper Chamber of the British Parliament and she became the first black woman ever to serve there.
Bio-spotlights
- · In 1997 she was appointed Baroness of Brondesbury in London Borough of Brent
- · She was awarded an Honorary Professorship at Thomas Valley University in recognition of her work on equality and social justice
- · She co-founded “Amos Fraser Bernard” and was adviser to the South African Government on public service reform, human rights and employment equality
- · In 2003 she became the first black woman to sit in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom when she was appointed Secretary of State for International Development
- · In 2005 the British Government nominated her to head the United Nations Development Program
- · In 2008 she joined the Football Associations Management Board for England’s bit to host the 2018 World Cup.
That’s the end? Awww. I was waiting for more analogies and proverbs. They were good for a laugh. Ah well. BTW if you had respectfully disagreed and moved on instead of directly addressing someone you don’t even know in a such a disrespectful manner none of this would ever have started. I disagreed with the train of these comments were taking but I did not jump on anyone directly or called them stupid or tried to “break it down”. I expressed my views and moved on, you know, like an adult. You should try that next time. That’s another contention of mine. VI people need to learn to talk to each other respectfully.
Now shake hands,rub noses and engage in a brotherly hug! No kissing!!
Good one!
Now, that’s funny!