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Barbara Blake Hannah
Trailblazing Journalist | Cultural Icon | Global Advocate for Truth, Justice & JAH

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Barbara Blake Hannah made history in 1968 when she became the UK’s first Black TV news journalist, joining the London evening show Today With Eamonn Andrews on Thames Television at the age of 27. A fearless voice and pioneering presence, Barbara broke racial barriers on camera—setting the stage for future legends like Trevor McDonald and Moira Stewart.

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Her early career was marked by high-profile interviews and friendships with some of the world’s most powerful and recognizable figures, including Harold Wilson, Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, Michael Caine, and Sammy Davis Jr.. Her direct, intelligent style commanded respect and brought global attention to voices and stories that mattered.

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Barbara’s presence on British television, however, came with resistance. Despite her talent, her tenure at Thames TV was cut short due to the racism of the era—viewers called and wrote to complain about “a Black face on their screen.” Yet her legacy could not be silenced. “People who were children at the time still tell me their parents would bring them in to watch me on TV,” she recalls. “I’ve had so many young Black journalists, especially women, reach out to say I inspire them. They are all my children.”

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A devout Rastafarian, Barbara gives all glory to JAH for her life’s achievements. She went on to work with the BBC on the acclaimed documentary series Man Alive and later gave her name to the prestigious Barbara Blake-Hannah Award, launched in 2020 by Press Gazette to honor and uplift Black journalists in the UK. “This award opened a door 50 years after I left England in 1972,” she said. “It just seems like yesterday.”

Her media journey began in Jamaica, where her father Evon Blake co-founded Spotlight magazine (1940), the Jamaican Press Association (1943), and New Day newspaper (1956). It was in this environment that Barbara found her first byline, eventually transitioning into public relations for the Jamaican government and later print journalism in the UK.

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Her international career includes encounters of profound historical significance. In her memoir Growing Up – Dawta of JAH, she recounts her invitation to a Palestinian Film Festival in Baghdad, Iraq, where she met Saddam Hussein—asking him the first question at a press conference in his palace. She also sat on the jury at a film festival in East Germany, interviewed Fidel Castro in Spanish, and challenged Prime Minister Harold Wilson on his colonial policies during a Jamaican broadcast. “I was very rude,” she said with a smile. “But he kept his temper and answered like a Prime Minister.”

Barbara has written eight books (two novels), produced eight films, organized six Reggae film festivals, and served as an Independent Senator in the Jamaican Parliament—the first and only Rastafarian to do so. She has also worked as Cultural Liaison for the Jamaican Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sport. In recognition of her unwavering work for Ethiopia, she was recently inducted as an Officer of the Order of the Star of Ethiopia, receiving a Gold Medal from H.I.H. Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie, Chairman of the Crown Council of Ethiopia.

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Now over 80, Barbara Blake Hannah continues to shape history. Her dream to make a feature film based on her friend Bob Marley remains alive, and she still hopes to one day interview her heroine, Angela Davis.

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As a legendary voice of courage, cultural diplomacy, and spiritual integrity, Barbara is a treasured force within The Light Must Unite – Opioid Awareness Foundation. With her global stature, deep media relationships, and unmatched legacy of truth-telling, Barbara helps guide the Foundation’s messaging with cultural wisdom and journalistic clarity. Her work strengthens the movement’s outreach to underserved communities, amplifies the urgency of the opioid epidemic, and inspires generational healing through frequency, faith, and fearless storytelling.

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“There’s still so much to do to make the world a better place,” she says with a smile. “That’s why I accepted my role in The Light Must Unite. It’s the best way I can channel my abilities and connections to achieve that objective.”