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.
"To me anti racism means its about seeing everybody as your equal."
"When we are naming what we’re against, we need to name something that’s not general like racism, we need to name something specific like global white supremacy."
"Anti-racism is about using the privileges that we have to dismantle the systems of oppression."
"It’s a good day to think about what anti-racism means when we’ve got Nigel Farage preparing concentration camps for people who come to this country."
"Because of the racism that existed in how the police were treating people in the community, it was inevitable."
"Being anti-racist makes the world a better place for all of us."
A fight to ensure the people who are subjected to racial discrimination are treated as equal.
"The biggest racist event going on today is the genocide in Gaza."
"My activism was sparked by the lack of representation in the higher education sector."
"An anti-racist city is about the ability to look ahead."
"Anti-racism is about taking action whenever a racist appears."
"An anti-racist city, to me, is one where that diversity is seen as natural, as normal."
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.
