First Black Woman Vice President of Colombia

by Rebecca Cuningham

Sunday, June 20, Francia Márquez, was the first Black woman elected to the office of vice president of Colombia.

She is an internationally known environmental activist who has won several prestigious awards. Francia Márquez won the Goldman Environmental award in 2018 for her work against illegal gold mining on the Ovejas River near La Toma in southwest Colombia . She led a 10 day 350 mile march of 80 women from La Toma to the capital. Illegal miners use mercury and cyanide to process gold, poisoning rivers and killing fish. The river is key to life: fish and water for the Afro-descendant Colombians who have made their home by the river for over 300 years. The protest Márquez led was successful in garnering attention to the problem and the miners have left the La Toma area.

In 2019, the BBC listed Márquez as one of the 100 most influential women in the world.

She worked her way through University, and earned her law degree in 2020 from Santiago University in Cali. Márquez ran for president in the March 2022 primary, and won second place after Gustavo Petro. She then joined his ticket as vice-president and they won in the second run-off. Her focii are to fight for Afro-Colombian’s rights, for women’s rights and for the environment.

Congratulations on her well deserved success.

¡Olé! –Rebecca

Francia Márquez Photo: Instagram of Francia Márquez

Primera vice-presidenta negra colombiana

El domingo, 20 junio, Francia Márquez, la primera mujer negra para tener la oficina de vice presidenta de Colombia comenzó su posición elegida.

Ell es una activista conocida internacionalmente que ganó varios premios prestigiosos. Francia Márquez recibió el Premio Goldman del Ambiente Natural en 2018 por su trabajo en contra de la minería ilegal de oro en el Río Overgas cerca de La Toma en el suroeste de Colombia. Ella lideraba una marcha de 10 días y 350 millas (560 K) de 80 mujeres desde La Toma hasta el capital. Mineros ilegales usan mercurio y cianuro para procesar el oro, envenenando los ríos y matando a los peces. El río es clave para la vida de las personas afrodescendientes que vivían cerca del río por más de 300 años. La protesta Márquez lideró tuvo éxito en llamar atención al problema y los mineros han dejado de trabajar cerca de La Toma.

En 2019 está nombrada como una de las 100 mujeres más influyentes del mundo según la BBC.

Trabajaba y estudiaba en la Universidad Santiago de Cali más recientemente. Se graduó de la Facultad de Derecho en 2020. Márquez era candidata para presidenta colombiana en marzo de 2022. Cuando ganó segundo lugar, se juntó con Gustavo Petro como vice-presidenta. Ellos ganaron la segunda elección presidencial. La vice-presidenta tiene tres focos: los derechos de personas afro-descendientes, de mujeres y del ambiente natural.

Felicidades en su éxito bien merecido.

¡Olé! –Rebecca

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Rebecca Cuningham

37 thoughts on “First Black Woman Vice President of Colombia”

      2. Thanks, Devang. Her leadership has directly improved many people’s lives and continues to do so. Environmental activists have been targeted and killed in Colombia, and there was an attempt against her life, but she persevered.

        Like

  12. Pingback: *Press This* First Black Woman Vice President of Colombia #239 | Its good to be crazy Sometimes

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