Ayọ Tometi

Ayọ Tometi (born August 15, 1984), formerly known as Opal Tometi, is an American human rights activist, writer, strategist, and community organizer. She is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter (BLM). She is the former executive director of the United States' first national immigrant rights organization for people of African descent, the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), working there in various roles for over nine years.

She started as an active community organizer in her hometown advocating for human rights issues. She has campaigned for advancing human rights, migrant rights, and racial justice worldwide. She also worked as a case manager for survivors of domestic violence.

Early life and education

Ayọ Tometi is the daughter of Nigerian immigrants, who hail from the city of Lagos. Her parents are of Yoruba ethnicity and they speak the Yoruba and Esan languages. Her great-great-great-grandfather was born in the country of Togo, and his son, Tometi's great-grandfather was from Cameroon. Tometi's grandfather was born in Cameroon before eventually emigrating to Nigeria. The oldest of three children, Ayọ Tometi has two younger brothers and grew up mostly in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona with other children of immigrants. In addition to Yoruba and Esan, Tometi grew up speaking Pidgin English. During her middle school years, they faced deportation and her mother was unable to return to Nigeria for the burial of her father (Tometi's maternal grandfather) because of the ongoing case. Other family and friends of Tometi, including her uncle, also battled deportation during her youth. Tometi's parents later opened a church at which her father is a pastor, Phoenix Impact Center in Phoenix, Arizona, that also serves to help new immigrants adjust to life in the United States.

On May 7, 2016, she received an honorary doctor of science degree from Clarkson University. Tometi is a former case manager for survivors of domestic violence and still provides community education on the issue.

Career

Early activism After her parents won their deportation case, Tometi began demonstrating with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She worked as a legal observer at the US-Mexico border.

Black Lives Matter Tometi, with community organizers, Patrisse Cullors and Alicia Garza, founded Black Lives Matter (BLM) in 2013. The three agreed, and Tometi purchased Blacklivesmatter.com, established Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter pages for the movement. Tometi contacted numerous other activists in the Black community, alerting them of the new plans and inviting them to join by using the hashtag.

Black Alliance for Just Immigration From 2011 to 2020, Tometi worked as co- and communications director, prior to becoming the executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), the first national immigrant rights organization for people of African descent.

Other projects Tometi also collaborates with the Black Immigration Network and the Pan African Network in Defense of Migrant Rights. She has presented at the United Nations and has participated with the United Nations Global Forum on Migration and the Commission on the Status of Women. and is a member of Theta Nu Xi sorority. Tometi was invited by the Venezuelan government to be an electoral observer for the parliamentary elections on December 6, 2015. Tometi stated she was "in a place where there is intelligent political discourse" and that the country appears to "have a truly thriving and rigorous democratic system."

Tometi has appeared in several media outlets, including Glamour, Essence, CNN, MSNBC, and BET. Her written works have been published by several media outlets including The Huffington Post and Time. Tometi continues to collaborate with communities in Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York City, Oakland, Washington D.C. and communities throughout the Southern states.

Personal life As of December 2021, Tometi lives in Brooklyn, New York City.

Recognition and awards

An Essence New Civil Rights Leader (2013) With Garza and Cullors, Tometi was named to Time magazine's 100 Women of the Year (2013) Cover story of Time Magazine (2013) A Los Angeles Times New Civil Rights Leader (2014) With Garza and Cullors, Tometi was named as an awardee of Politico 50's Guide to Thinkers, Doers, and Visionaries (2015) With Garza and Cullors, Fortune's List of World's Greatest Leaders (2015) Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Award Recipient (2017) The Guardian 200 Leaders Who Embody the Work of Frederick Douglass (2018) Coretta Scott King Legacy Award Recipient from the Coretta Scott King Center for Cultural and Intellectual Freedom (2019) One of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People (2020) Clarkson University Honorary PhD recipient (2016)