YOUNG SOUTH AFRICAN ACTIVIST HONOURED WITH MURAL IN NEW
YORK |
Teenage activist, Zulaikha Patel, who was
prominent in 2016 during protests against discriminatory hair
policies at Pretoria Girls High School, has inspired a new mural
by a well-known New York City street artist.
Lexi Bella, a renowned American muralist who has
created tributes to prominent female political and pop culture
leaders, recently completed a mural in honour of South African
schoolgirl activist, Zulaikha Patel, on a wall on Flushing
Avenue in Brooklyn, New York City.
Zulaikha, at age 13, was part of a peaceful demonstration
against her school¡¦s policy on unconventional hairstyles in
2016. In a widely shared viral video, she calmly defied the
school¡¦s security staff attempting to disrupt the protest.
Zulaikha was quoted as saying: ¡§Asking me to change my hair is
like asking me to erase my blackness¡¨.
The protest led to a Gauteng Education Department investigation
into school hair policies. The action also inspired similar
protests around the country, with many asking if official
policies towards hairstyles were steeped in racial
discrimination.
The Pretoria Girls High School protest received international
media attention and support.
In September 2016, American political activist and academic
Angela Davis delivered the Steve Biko Lecture at Unisa, in which
she paid special tribute to Zulaikha and her fellow protesters
for their courage. She invited them to join her on stage in what
many recognised as ¡§a symbolic gesture of passing the torch from
one generation to the next¡¨.
In December 2016, Zulaikha was included in the BBC¡¦s 100 Women
list that recognised the world¡¦s leading female voices and
trailblazers. She joined other prominent South African women on
the list, including former public protector Thuli Madonsela and
Zoleka Mandela.
Posting an image of the Zulaikha mural on her Instagram page,
artist Bella hoped that giving international prominence to a
grassroots activist would inspire others to stand up against
injustice.
Bella¡¦s other works include tributes to veteran feminist Gloria
Steinem, singer Debbie Harry and artist Frida Kahlo. ¡V Source:www.brandsouthafrica.com
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