For six years, I built a global reputation in the field of Critical Librarianship, a discipline that examines and challenges systemic inequalities within the profession. Known for my positively unique outlook and strong advocacy for change, I led powerful conversations on Decolonisation and Social Justice. I delivered keynote addresses at prestigious institutions, including the University of Cambridge, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (USA), and South Africa’s Breaking New Ground: Carving a Decolonised Collection Path Symposium.

Recognised for my expertise, I was sought out by the British Library to provide guidance on their Black Collections. Despite a demanding schedule, I also organised and hosted the widely attended webinar : ‘Librarians for Critical Digital Justice #CritLibVsTech’, in collaboration with UCL Information Studies, drawing over 170 global participants. My impact earned me recognition from IFLA and the Goethe Institute as an Emerging International Voice, cementing my influence in the field.

My future in academic libraries seemed bright and promising (from the outside). In reality, however, I was suffering from ongoing experiences of workplace microaggressions. Therefore, in December 2024, I made a decision to simply walk away from my role as the Global Black Studies Subject Librarian at my London based institution, and take control of my own destiny. My LinkedIn post about this decision went viral.

Now, through my two Decolonial consultancies, Black and Gold Education and DIE4ART, I am utilising my lived work experiences, theoretical expertise in Race and Resistance theories, Decolonial frameworks, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems to creatively reshape the future of Society by making decolonial ideas accessible, interesting and appealing to Gen -Z and Gen - Alpha especially.

My aims:

To centre Liberation, Decolonial justice and systemic change to heal Systems, Structures and People.

To uplift and protect marginalised identities from microaggressions that led me to experience illnesses and dis-ease when I was working in academia.  Quantitative and Qualitative research I did shows that my experiences were not unique: https://open.substack.com/pub/naomibaudelairesmith/p/dont-touch-my-hair-in-the-library?r=g8oxg&utm_medium=ios