Hilary Brown has dedicated herself to racial activism for over 40 years.
Hailing from Barry and born in 1959 to parents of Canadian and Caribbean-Yemeni decent, Brown has become a dedicated lawyer and civil rights campaigner for ethnic minorities here in Wales.
Being present in virtually every major racial movement over the years, Hilary told WalesOnline she's hugely influenced by people who are "loud and proud", music and Martin Luther King Jr.
“There were many people who influenced me - I was hugely influenced by music”, she said.
“Influences in my life were people who stood loud and proud for women, for black people and for those who stood up for people who didn’t have a voice”.
Being hyper aware of the civil rights movement taking place in America and the work of Martin Luther King Jr, Hilary soon realised the disparity within the laws concerning protection for black people.
“I watched and read as much as I possibly could about what was going on in America and saw many similarities in the United Kingdom”, she admitted.
“I saw that, as black people, we didn’t appear to have the protections within the law that perhaps we should have had
“I lived in an area of Barry where there were races, cultures and creeds from all over the world
“I really didn’t realise that I was different and it was only when I was in my last year of junior school and moved to a new school which was predominantly white when I faced racism”.
Tiger Bay, more commonly known as Cardiff Bay, and its surrounding areas was and still is an epicentre of different cultures form around the globe.
From the 1800s Norwegian, Somali, Yemeni and countless other communities from around the world helped shape this historic place as merchants sailed into the docks to capitalise on Wales' rich coal stocks.
Growing up in this community, aged only nine, Hilary had her first personal experience with racism.
Something she's told many people of the years, the experience had a significant impact on her motivation to fight for change.
“I had to wait outside [my friend's house] and I didn’t know why. I was only nine or 10 at the time", Hilary said.
“Days passed and I called for her again, and she told me ‘Well, my dad doesn’t like you because you’re black’.
“It was only years later, when I was in my late teens, did I find out her father was one of the main leaders of the National Front in Barry."
Founded in 1967, the National Front is a far right political movement which has been characterised by political scientists to draw upon neo-fascism and white supremacism.
Hilary, who is the CEO of Virgo Consultancy Serviced Ltd, has lent her skills as a lawyer representing the family of Christopher Kapessa and people affected by the Windrush scandal.
Speaking honestly, Hilary believes that there is a lack of representation in the Welsh Government and within elected members of the Senedd.
Highlighting problems within education and structural transparency within the government, Hilary believes Wales is "nowhere near" racial equality.
“I believe there are many social structures in the UK that prevents people of colour from being treated fairly, equally and justly," she admitted.
"Although I recognise that the Welsh Government has pledged to ensure that people of colour are reflected in the curriculum, that’s only very recently. We’ve had a government for 20 years that is only now addressing this issue
“If we look at the Welsh assembly government and the Senedd, do we see that there are black employees? No we don’t.
“Do we see a fair, even distribution of grants? No we don’t.
“In Wales it is nowhere near in identifying, recognising and attempting to put right in all of the areas that we feel are disproportionately affected."
This year has become monumental for civil rights activism all over the world, following George Ffloyd's death due to police brutality in the United States.
Speaking at the Black Lives Matter protest that took place in Cardiff this year, amongst others, Hilary credits change to consistency and silent allies who can't be public activists due to external pressures.
“These are vital people in the background who write up minutes and do all kinds of things, but can't be seen at the forefront”, she explained.
“When the emancipation of black people in being led by black people, it seems the world find it uncomfortable."
Hilary is a dedicated lawyer who represents asylum seekers fleeing from countries with oppressive regimes.
Frustrated with the Home Office and its dealings with migrants, Brown thinks camps such as Penally training camp in Tenby which currently houses over 200 asylum seekers, reflects a post-Brexit Britain.
Since the asylum seekers have arrived in the camp, there have been weekly protests for the camp to stay and to go.
“We have seen the cuts in legal aid disproportionately affecting non-British people, because the legal aid bill in relation to immigration and asylum was slashed hugely”, she added.
"It's disgusting that the Home office feel it’s okay to dump people who are fleeing in substandard camp conditions and just abandon them
“It gives you an idea of the post-Brexit feelings that international people can be treated like second class citizens - it’s absolutely appalling."
Come to be known simply as 'Miss Brown' by the community she loves and supports, Brown was recently appointed to overlook the work of Cardiff Council's Race Equality Task Force to ensure it is inclusive and meets the equality legislation.
As years pass by, Hilary is far from done, emphasising the importance of stamina when it comes activism and achieving change.
“I stand on the shoulders of giants. They came from oppressive regimes and came here and faced more oppression”, she said.
"My message is hang on in there, you are not going to change things today or tomorrow.
"We have a saying in the Caribbean: ‘The race is not for the swift but for those who can endure it’.”
