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Tag: Ngozi Fulani

  • Charity work of Ngozi Fulani Sistah Space halts operations due to safety

    A charity run by a black woman who was frequently questioned about her origins at a royal event has temporarily halted operations out of concern for safety.

    The founder of Sistah Space, Ngozi Fulani, brought the organization to light when she claimed that Lady Susan Hussey “interrogated” her at Buckingham Palace last month.

    Because of safety, it asserts to have “ceased many” of its operations.

    Following her outspokenness, Ms. Fulani reported she experienced online bullying.

    Lady Hussey – Prince William’s godmother and the late Queen’s lady-in-waiting – has since left her honorary role within the Royal Household.

    In a statement on its Instagram page, domestic violence charity Sistah Space said: “Thank you for the continued support and messages.

    “Unfortunately recent events meant that we were forced to temporarily cease many of our operations to ensure the safety of our service users and our team.

    “We are overwhelmed by the amount of support and encouragement and look forward to fully reinstating our services as soon as safely possible.”

    Lady Hussey, by the side of the late Queen
    IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA Image caption, Lady Susan Hussey was a key and trusted figure in the British royal household for decades

    Ms Fulani said earlier this week that she, her family, and her team had been put under “immense pressure” and received “horrific abuse” on social media.

    The BBC has contacted Sistah Space for further comment.

    Lady Hussey was the late Queen’s lady-in-waiting and was seen as a key and trusted figure in the Royal Household for decades.

    Part of her latest role involved helping to host events at Buckingham Palace – which is how she met Ms Fulani.

    Ms Fulani had been at the Palace representing the London-based charity – which supports women of African and Caribbean heritage who have faced domestic and sexual abuse.

    After the event, Ms Fulani described on Twitter how Lady Hussey had moved her hair aside to see her name badge and had then challenged her to explain where she was from.

    The conversation, as recounted by Ms Fulani, consisted of Lady Hussey pushing her about her background and nationality.

    The BBC understands Lady Hussey remains willing to make a personal apology should it be welcomed.

    In a statement, Buckingham Palace previously said “unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments” had been made and all staff were “being reminded of the diversity and inclusivity policies which they are required to uphold at all times”.

    A spokesperson for Prince William previously said “racism has no place in our society. The comments were unacceptable, and it is right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect.”

     

     

  • Ngozi Fulani: Palace race incident was abuse, says charity boss

    A black British charity boss who was repeatedly asked where she was “really” from by the Prince of Wales’s godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, has told the BBC the encounter was an “abuse”.

    Ngozi Fulani was questioned about her background at a Buckingham Palace event on Tuesday. The late Queen’s lady-in-waiting has since resigned.

    Ms Fulani likened the conversation with Lady Hussey, 83, to “an interrogation”.

    The palace described the remarks as “unacceptable and deeply regrettable”.

    And a spokesperson for Prince William said “racism has no place in our society”. The incident has overshadowed the Prince and Princess of Wales’s visit to the US to hand out awards for his Earthshot Prize.

    Lady Hussey, who was a close confidante of the late Queen and accompanied her at the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, has apologised.

    Ms Fulani, who founded domestic violence charity Sistah Space, rebuffed suggestions that Lady Hussey’s remarks had anything to do with her age.

    “Let us be clear what this is. I’ve heard so many suggestions it’s about her age and stuff like that, and I think that’s kind of a disrespect – an ageism kind of thing,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

    “It was like an interrogation. That’s the only way I can explain it.”

    She continued: “If you invite people to an event, against domestic abuse, and there are people there from different demographics, I don’t see the relevance of whether I’m British or not British.

    “You’re trying to make me unwelcome in my own space.

    “I have to really question how this can happen in a space that’s supposed to protect women against all kinds of violence.

    “Although it’s not physical violence – it is an abuse.”

    Lady Hussey was a key figure in the Royal Household for many decades, having started working for the Royal Family in the same year the Queen gave birth to Prince Andrew, eventually becoming her longest-serving lady-in-waiting.

    Buckingham Palace announced last week that Lady Hussey and the other former ladies-in-waiting would subsequently be known as “ladies of the household” – a role which involves helping to host occasions at the palace.

    Lady Hussey, by the side of the late QueenPA Media
    Lady Susan Hussey was a key and trusted figure in the British royal household for decades

    Lady Hussey resigned and apologised on Wednesday following the incident at the royal reception.

    A spokesperson for Prince William said “racism has no place in our society”, adding: “The comments were unacceptable, and it is right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect”.

    Speaking to the BBC, Ms Fulani said she wanted the focus to remain on domestic abuse survivors and not the resignation of Lady Hussey.

    She said would have preferred to accept Lady Hussey’s apology instead of seeing her quit the royal household. “I would have preferred it did not happen,” she said.

    She also said she wanted the focus to remain on violence against women and girls.

    In its statement, Buckingham Palace said: “We take this incident extremely seriously and have investigated immediately to establish the full details.

    “In this instance, unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments have been made. We have reached out to Ngozi Fulani on this matter, and are inviting her to discuss all elements of her experience in person if she wishes.

    “In the meantime, the individual concerned would like to express her profound apologies for the hurt caused and has stepped aside from her honorary role with immediate effect.

    “All members of the household are being reminded of the diversity and inclusivity policies which they are required to uphold at all times.”

  • Lady Susan Hussey: Prince William’s godmother resigns from palace duties after asking black visitor ‘where she came from’

    Lady Susan Hussey, 83, has “profoundly apologised for the hurt caused” and “stepped down from her honorary role with immediate effect,” according to a spokesperson.

    The godmother of Prince William has resigned from her position at Buckingham Palace after making “unacceptable” remarks at a reception hosted by the Queen Consort.

    Lady Susan Hussey, 83, resigned after asking Ngozi Fulani, CEO of Sistah Space, where she “really came from” at a palace reception on Tuesday.

    A spokesperson for her godson, the Prince of Wales, said the news was “really disappointing.”

  • Buckingham Palace aide resigns over ‘unacceptable’ comments to black charity boss

    The member of royal staff has expressed her “profound apologies for the hurt caused” and has “stepped aside from her honorary role with immediate effect”, a spokesperson said.

    A member of the Buckingham Palace household has resigned after “unacceptable” comments were made at a reception held by the Queen Consort.

    Ngozi Fulani, chief executive of Sistah Space, said she was asked by the household member where she “really came from” during an event at the palace on Tuesday.

    Ms Fulani, who is black, works as an advocate for survivors of domestic abuse and described the exchange as a “violation”.

    She wrote on Twitter that the woman “approached me, moved my hair to see my name badge” and then insisted on asking her “what part of Africa are you from”.

    Despite her saying she is British, the member of staff said: “I can see I am going to have a challenge getting you to say where you’re from.”

    It comes after Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, claimed last year that a member of the royal household raised concerns about what colour skin her son Archie would have before he was born.

    The palace responded by saying that “issues raised, particularly that of race” were “concerning” and the matters would be addressed privately.

    Buckingham Palace said of Tuesday’s events: “We take this incident extremely seriously and have investigated immediately to establish the full details.

    “In this instance, unacceptable and deeply regrettable comments have been made. We have reached out to Ngozi Fulani on this matter, and are inviting her to discuss all elements of her experience in person if she wishes.

    “In the meantime, the individual concerned would like to express her profound apologies for the hurt caused and has stepped aside from her honorary role with immediate effect.

    “All members of the household are being reminded of the diversity and inclusivity policies which they are required to uphold at all times.”

    The Union flag over Buckingham Palace, London, is returned to full-mast as the mourning period following the death of Queen Elizabeth II comes to an end. Flags at royal residences had remained at half-mast since the Queen died on September 8. Picture date: Tuesday September 27, 2022.

    ‘Treated almost like tresspassers’

    Ms Fulani said the incident left her with “mixed feelings” about visiting the palace and the experience will “never leave” her.

    Responding to messages of support, she added that being unable to report the issue or tell the Queen Consort added to her distress.

    “There was nobody to report it to. I could’nt (sic) report it to the Queen Consort, plus it was such a shock to me and the other 2 women, that we were stunned to temporary silence,” she wrote.

    “I just stood at the edge of the room, smiled & engaged briefly with who spoke to me until I could leave.”

    Mandu Reid, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, who was next to Ms Fulani and witnessed the exchange, claimed they were treated almost like “trespassers”.

    She said: “We really felt ‘oh, okay, we’re being treated almost like trespassers in this place’. We’re not being treated as if we belong, we’re not being embraced as if we are British.”

    Ms Reid described the exchange as “grim” and like an “interrogation”, adding: “She was really persistent. She didn’t take Ngozi’s answers at face value.”

    Based in Hackney, east London, Ms Fulani’s organisation Sistah Space is a support organisation for women of African and Caribbean heritage affected by abuse.

    They said in a statement: “We at Sistah Space would like to raise awareness about this issue rather than shame another individual.”

    Domestic abuse is one of the key causes championed by the Queen Consort since she entered into the Royal Family.

    Source: Skynews.com