
Marielle Bobo: From EBONY to the Met—Why Centering Black Creativity Became My Life’s Work
Working at major publishing houses, I was often the only Black woman in the room... Rather than allow these experiences to discourage me, they became my fuel.
Working at major publishing houses, I was often the only Black woman in the room... Rather than allow these experiences to discourage me, they became my fuel.
When my father tragically died when I was only 5 years old, my mother sent me to live with relatives in Europe, as she did not have the means to take care of me. It was a very hard time for me, but I turned to education.
I was told that my function as a woman in the art world was to marry a wealthy man and be it. Needless to say, I showed that one can build a successful business
When I finally left an abusive relationship, I realized how little support there was for survivors of abuse. The world tells us to “just leave,” but no one prepares you for the emotional unravelling that comes after.
After being told a few times to slow down, and that I was ‘too ambitious’, I decided to turn that experience into something empowering for others.
You have made brave moves. You have chosen rest. You have grown, reflected, and disrupted. What if you had a space to honour all of it?
I had to unlearn a lot, especially the belief that success looks a certain way, comes at a certain time, or requires permission from anybody but me.
I am a Disruptor because I have an attitude problem! What was meant to be an insult by men has become the thing women like most about me. So, I am 100% going to trust women’s judgement on that!
The world does not need saviours; it needs structural change, radical accountability, and leadership that reflects the realities of the people it serves.