Delois Blakely

Queen Mother Delois Blakely is an American former nun and current religious leader, pan-Africanist, writer, activist and humanitarian.

Queen Mother Blakely at United Nations

A goodwill ambassador to Africa at the United Nations, she claims to represent the 55 million displaced Africans of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, and calls for reparations for slavery. She has published books and articles on self-reliance, education, recreation and culture.

She is the successor of Queen Mother Audley Moore, and attended the unveiling ceremony of the United Nations' permanent memorial “The Ark of Return” on March 25, 2015.[1][2]

Biography

In 1958, Blakely entered the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary convent for ten years, as a teen under the name Sister Noelita Marie. She graduated in 1965 with a BS degree in Religious Education from the Franciscan Handmaids of The Most Pure Heart of Mary College affiliated with The Catholic University of America (CUA).

In 1969, Blakely founded the New Future Foundation Inc.[3][4]

She was enstooled in Kpando, Volta Region in Ghana and subsequently received by the king of the Ashanti Kingdom. After this, she was given over to the king's mother for her blessing. Finally, she was blessed by Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, the Asantehemaa of the Ashantis, as the Nana (Queen Mother) of North America.

She was subsequently initiated in another ceremony by the Maasai People. Later, in the Arusha Region of Tanzania, Saint Serigne Saliou Mbacké, former President of Tanzania Julius Nyerere, and Dr. Angie Elizabeth Brooks of Liberia, the first woman President of the United Nations General Assembly, conducted a third initiation.

She has served on the local and state level committees for children and youth, and on the United States National Commission on the International Year of the Child under President Jimmy Carter. She also served as a co-chair for UNICEF International Day of the African Child from 1991-1993.

Honors

She has received numerous honors as a Community Fellow (1981-82$ at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), an Education Policy Fellow (1982-83) of the International Education Leadership (IEL), a Fulbright Scholar in Tanzania and Nigeria (1984-85); Master of Education Degrees from Harvard University (1982), Teachers College and Columbia University (1983) and a Doctorate of Education Degree from Teachers College (1990).

She is also a Dame of Honour and Merit, The Sovereign Military and Hospitaler Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights of Malta.[5]

Work

She has published scholarly and popular books; and articles on self-reliance, education, recreation and culture.

She criticizes mankind for what she believes to be economic injustice against billions of lives worldwide, and campaigns for improvements to education, basic business training, science and technology, entrepreneurship, and compassion as potential solutions for economic, social and sustainable development.

Her two books are "The Harlem Street Nun: Autobiography of Queen Mother Dr. Delois Blakely (Volume 1)" in 1987 (ISBN 978-1492289678) and "Pilgrimage to Goree Island (The Harlem Street Nun) (Volume 2)" in 2016 (ISBN 978-1502370167). In 1995, she was appointed “The Community Mayor of Harlem” and “Ambassador of Goodwill to Africa” since the late 70's.[6][7]

"Sister Act" Lawsuit

In November 2011, Blakely filed a lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company and Sony Pictures claiming that her life was the basis for the 1992 film Sister Act.[8] She sued for "breach of contract, misappropriation of likeness and unjust enrichment".

She later dropped the original lawsuit in January 2012 to serve a more robust lawsuit in late August 2012 with the New York Supreme Court, asking for $1 billion in damages from Disney.

In early February, 2013, the New York Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, awarding no damages to Blakely.[9]

References
  1. "African Burial Ground to Celebrate Kwanzaa in New York 12/26- 1/1". Broadway World. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  2. "Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade at the United Nations". UN.org.
  3. "UN Dept. Of Global Communications". UN.org. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  4. "New Future Foundation, Inc. history". New Future Foundation, Inc. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  5. "THE INTERNATIONAL REGISTRY OF PROFILES Edition IV/V". International Biographical Centre. 3 June 1981. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  6. "Harlem's Queen Mother, by Acclaim; Honorary Mayor Traded Convent for Life of Street Charity". New York Times.
  7. Delois Blakely (2015). Pilgrimage to Goree Island (The Harlem Street Nun) (Volume 2). CreateSpace. ISBN 978-1502370167.
  8. "Harlem Nun Sues Disney". BET.
  9. "New York Supreme Court Decision". New York State Courts.
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