By Grace Uche
In an international world in which international problems must be solved together, global activism and solidarity are necessary to tackle everything from social injustice to environmental degradation and human rights abuses. Activists across the world are organizing communities, harnessing technology, and building cross-border coalitions to create change. One of these inspiring activists is Ralph Leonard, a Nigerian descendant activist, whose activism embodies the spirit of international solidarity.
Ralph Leonard, a British-Nigerian author and commentator, has become a strong voice in modern global discussions on solidarity and activism. Ralph Leonard was born on 9 May 1996 in Eastbourne, United Kingdom. He was raised in many nations worldwide, such as Nigeria, Poland, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia, which significantly influenced his concept of global, not to mention local, social justice movements.
Leonard completed his primary, secondary, and tertiary studies in the United Kingdom, which afforded him a strong academic foundation that he calls upon when he writes. His education, along with his diverse upbringing, allows him to relate strongly to complex social and political issues.
Having written for the likes of UnHerd, Quillete, The New Statesman, and Sublation Magazine, Leonard’s writing style tends to hover around the intersection of politics, culture, and human rights. His writings are characterized by a dedication to mapping out how global social justice movements like Black Lives Matter find resonance in Nigerian grassroots movements.
The struggle against systemic injustice and racism is not, in Leonard’s view, peculiar to any one nation. He stresses the need to understand the similarities in the challenges of marginalized groups across borders. For example, the Black Lives Matter movement, which took hold in the United States in a powerful manner, has spurred the same kind of activism in Nigeria, especially following nationwide protests against police brutality, including the #EndSARS movement. Leonard continues that though the contexts are different, the issues of racial injustice and the call for accountability are identical everywhere.
In his argument, Leonard underscores the fact that cross-border solidarity plays a key role in projecting the voices that have long been muted. He talks of the potential for global movements to build a feeling of common cause among activists across Nigeria and the rest of the world. Through the establishment of comparisons between local and global struggles, Leonard argues for a holistic approach to activism that transcends geographical boundaries.
Leonard’s criticism of some elements of the contemporary Left, specifically its isolationism and neo-puritanism, also indicates his dedication to a more engaged approach to activism. He believes that the heritage of the Enlightenment—stressing reason and universal human rights—must inform modern movements in their quest for justice and equality.
Ralph Leonard is still active in combating the challenges of global solidarity and activism in his publications and public life. He calls upon readers to consider the role of collective action in solving systemic problems that face communities around the world, reminding us that the struggle for justice is a shared responsibility. As we walk through these essential conversations, Leonard’s writing is a point of intersection between the local and international, reminding us how social justice struggles are linked across the world.