You Are Appreciated

A project celebrating grassroots revolutionaries

We often celebrate people from history and those in the public eye. You Are Appreciated is a project that highlights and acknowledges the contribution of every day community activists. The people who may be known in their local community but not wider afield. The people who do the footwork in campaigns without seeking public recognition. The people that offer inspiration to those around them, galvanising collective action. The grassroots revolutionaries. 

This billboard is a tribute to Angela Francis, whose life and work should be appreciated for the tremendous impact she had. Angela was a talented and unique individual. As renowned DJ Lady Gee, one of the first female black DJs in Bristol, she had a way of making you feel, see and even taste music. Her home was a display of her creativity, covered in rich peachy tones, gold and leopard print. Her incredible painted sculptural artworks took pride of place alongside her record collection and posters that represented her interests in spirituality, musicians such as Peter Tosh and radical activist - Angela Davis

She was an outspoken activist, always aware of black history and not afraid to speak her mind. She was heavily involved in organising community events such ‘freedom 90’ which celebrated the release of Nelson Mandela and a series of events to mark the bicentennial of the ending of the slave trade in 2007. Her vivacious character is witnessed in her going out in the streets dressed in costume from 1800s reminding everyone that although slavery might have ended, black people continue to suffer. After the uprising in St Pauls in 1980, Angela was on a cover of the New Statesman magazine. She was also crowned carnival queen at least once. 

SHELBY x Studios is launching this new project to highlight grassroots revolutionaries.