Ayọ Tometi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ayọ Tometi
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| Born | August 15, 1984 |
| Education | University of Arizona (BA) Arizona State University (MA) |
| Occupation | Activist, writer |
| Known for | Black Lives Matter, Black Alliance for Just Immigration |
Ayọ Tometi (born August 15, 1984) is an American activist, writer, and organizer. She is well-known for helping to start the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. She also used to lead an important group called the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). This group helps immigrants from African countries.
Ayọ Tometi has worked for human rights and fairness for many years. She has helped people in her own community and around the world. She also used to help people who had experienced domestic violence.
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Ayọ Tometi's Early Life and Learning
Ayọ Tometi's parents came to the United States from Lagos, Nigeria. They are from the Yoruba ethnic group. Ayọ grew up speaking Yoruba, Esan, and Pidgin English. She is the oldest of three children. She mostly grew up in Phoenix, Arizona.
Her parents moved to the U.S. in 1983. They faced challenges with their immigration status. This experience deeply shaped Ayọ Tometi's views on helping immigrants. Her parents were able to stay in the U.S. and later opened a church. This church helps new immigrants settle into life in America. Ayọ first visited Nigeria when she was 17. These experiences made her want to work for immigrant rights.
Ayọ Tometi went to the University of Arizona. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2005. Later, she got a master's degree from Arizona State University in 2010. In 2016, she received an honorary doctor of science degree from Clarkson University.
Ayọ Tometi's Career and Activism
Early Activism and Human Rights Work
After her parents' immigration case was settled, Ayọ Tometi became very active. She worked with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She also observed legal processes at the U.S.-Mexico border.
While in college, she spoke out against Arizona SB 1070. This was a very strict anti-immigration law in Arizona. She also worked with the Black-Brown Coalition of Arizona. In 2010, she was a spokesperson for the Puente Movement. This group also helps immigrants in Arizona.
Starting the Black Lives Matter Movement
In 2013, Ayọ Tometi helped create Black Lives Matter (BLM). She worked with two other community organizers, Patrisse Cullors and Alicia Garza. The idea for BLM started after George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the killing of Trayvon Martin. Alicia Garza wrote a Facebook post about it. Patrisse Cullors then used the hashtag #blacklivesmatter.
Ayọ Tometi saw this and contacted them. She wanted to create a website and social media pages for the movement. She bought the website domain Blacklivesmatter.com. She also set up Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter pages. Ayọ Tometi is also known for choosing black and yellow as the movement's colors. She helped build BLM's social media strategy.
After Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri, Ayọ Tometi organized a big event. She called it the "Black Lives Matter Freedom Ride." About 500 activists joined. This event helped turn Black Lives Matter into a global movement. It brought attention to unfair treatment and police violence. The event helped spread the movement's message worldwide.
Ayọ Tometi also worked on a campaign called "Safety Beyond Policing in New York." She supports the idea of changing how police departments are funded.
Leading the Black Alliance for Just Immigration
From 2011 to 2020, Ayọ Tometi worked at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI). She started as a director and later became the executive director. BAJI is the first national group in the U.S. that helps immigrants of African descent.
In her role, she managed BAJI's teams in different cities. These cities included Washington, D.C., Phoenix, Los Angeles, Oakland, and New York City. She led efforts for racial justice and immigrant rights. She also helped organize a rally for immigrant justice. She helped arrange the first meeting in Congress about Black immigrants.
After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, many Haitians needed help. Ayọ Tometi led BAJI in helping them get visas to reunite with their families. She also helped BAJI work with another group called Race Forward.
Other Important Work
Diaspora Rising
In 2020, Ayọ Tometi started Diaspora Rising. This is a center that aims to connect Black communities around the world. It mostly uses social media to do this.
Other Projects and Appearances
Ayọ Tometi works with other groups like the Black Immigration Network. She has also been part of global discussions on migration. She serves on the board of directors for several organizations.
She has given speeches at many universities and conferences. She has also spoken at the United Nations. Ayọ Tometi has appeared in many media outlets. These include Glamour, Essence, CNN, and MSNBC. Her writings have been published in The Huffington Post and Time. She continues to work with communities across the United States.
Personal Life
As of December 2021, Ayọ Tometi lives in Brooklyn, New York City.
Recognition and Awards
Ayọ Tometi has received many awards for her work:
- Named a New Civil Rights Leader by Essence (2013)
- Named one of Time magazine's 100 Women of the Year (2013)
- Featured on the cover of Time Magazine (2013)
- Named a New Civil Rights Leader by the Los Angeles Times (2014)
- Included in The Root's 100 List of African American Achievers (2015)
- Named one of Fortune magazine's World's Greatest Leaders (2015)
- Received the Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award (2017)
- Named one of The Guardian's 200 Leaders Who Embody the Work of Frederick Douglass (2018)
- Received the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Award (2019)
- Received the Coretta Scott King Legacy Award (2019)
- Featured on the cover of The Guardian Nigeria (2020)
- Named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People (2020)
- Named one of BBC 's 100 Women (2020)
- Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (2021)
- Featured in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)
- A scholarship at the City University of New York is named after her (2017)
- Received an Honorary PhD from Clarkson University (2016)
Images for kids
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Ayọ Tometi in 2021.
See also
In Spanish: Opal Tometi para niños
