We’ve been ‘Seeking the Pioneers’. Here They Are.
Find out more about our incredible pioneers who are part of our anti-racism project, kindly supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery Players.
Browse through the individuals who are celebrated and recognised as part of ‘Seeking The Pioneers’ project today.
Pioneers from the present who have shared their inspiring stories of struggle, challenges and how they overcame them.
"An anti-racist city is where equality is in place. Right now, it doesn’t look that way."
"Young people can be the driving force for anti-racism in this city that we care about."
"Change comes about, not because someone writes a letter, but through organisation and community strength."
"Racism intersects with class, gender, disability, and sexuality, revealing how oppression is interconnected and never exists in isolation."
"If we want to live in a world that is fit for everyone, then we all have to be part of making it real."
"Anti-racism for me is about dismantling the idea of race."
"Anti-racism means the fight against oppressive systems."
"We are all God’s children, and it is Man that intervenes and thinks that one being is greater than another."
"An anti-racist city is a city where those who are vulnerable to racism are empowered to stand up to their full stature."
"My interest was sparked by the emergence of the Black Panthers and Angela Davis."
"Most people would say they aren’t racist, but anti-racism is much more."
We celebrate the incredible work, contributions and endless efforts of the ‘Pivotal Pioneers’.
Pioneers from the past who will never be forgotten for their fight for equality and against injustice.
"Aijaz was not just an unsung hero; he was a living embodiment of the revolutionary ideal—a man who understood that the fight for justice is not about personal glory, but about the collective liberation of all people."
“I’m Punjabi. I’m Indian. I’m Black. That’s my identity.”
“Freedom is not a gift. It is won through collective struggle.”
“The racism of Britain is not an accident — it is the child of empire.”
“Never again.”
“All my life and all my strength were devoted to the greatest cause of all – the liberation of humankind.”
“Racism is not simply about individual prejudice; it is embedded in social structures, institutions, and everyday practices.”
Share your story with us and apply to become a Pioneer.
