Wearing black on Thursdays says: “I refuse to be silent”
Wearing black on Thursdays says: “I refuse to be silent”
RMP
Wed, 10/07/2026 - 15:48
Francis Fourie is a library assistant at the New York University Abu Dhabi. She shares what Thursdays in Black means to her, particularly after the passing of her sister, Rev. Prof. Dr Mary-Anne Plaatjies-van Huffel.
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Photo: Courtesy of Francis Fourie
Do you regard support for Thursdays in Black as one of your sister ’ s legacies that we can all carry on?
Fourie: Definitely. Mary-Anne was a true trailblazer and there are so many "firsts" in her career. Amongst all the great things she did, this is one of the least I can do to honor her memory--being part and advocating for something that was so close to her heart and mattered so much to her.
Do you find that wearing the pin and the shirt spark important conversations?
Fourie: Yes. It does. I pick up conversations with people from all walks of life. By wearing black and the pin, we do not pretend that it solves the problem. It is saying : "I see. I refuse to become accustomed to this. I refuse to be silent.” Through these conversations awareness and hope is spread.…
