These five Black women were the biggest political winners in 2020

Mia Mottley

In a move that will coincide with the 55th anniversary of its independence, the island of Barbados will be removing Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. This long-held dream of many in the country has been achieved under the leadership of the country’s first female prime minister, Mia Mottley.

Mottley wrote in a speech that was read in September:

“Barbados has developed governance structures and institutions that mark us as what has been described as, ‘the best governed Black society in the world.’ Since Independence, we Barbadians have sought constantly to improve our systems of law and governance so as to ensure they best reflect our characteristics and values as a nation.”

Mottley is an influential regional politician but it is hard to see how Barbados’ decision will be followed by other countries in the Caribbean.