Black British Lives Matter: A Clarion Call for Equality

This is more than a book - it's an incitement to change people's perceptions.

George Floyd's murder and the resulting protests sparked a truly international movement, and one of the most prominent displays of solidarity with US protestors came from Britain. In the summer of 2020, Black Lives Matter rallies in London were attended by tens of thousands of people, and they reinvigorated the conversations around what it means to be Black and British.

In this collection, seventeen prominent Black British figures explore their experience within Britain and demonstrate that their lives and work should be celebrated when they are too often undervalued. Edited by Lenny Henry and Marcus Ryder, two leading British television personalities and champions for diversity in media, this collection illustrates the global impact that Black Lives Matter has had, and introduces a unique international perspective to what started as an American movement.

"We achieve everything not because we are superhuman. We achieve the things we achieve because we are human. Our strength does not come from not having any weaknesses, our strength comes from overcoming them" -- Doreen Lawrence.

I always presumed racism would always be here, that it was a given. But the truth is, it was not always here, it was invented. -- David Olusoga

"Our identity and experience will shape every story, bleed into every poem, inform every essay whether it's about Black 'issues' or not" -- Kit de Waal

Author: Lenny Henry, Marcus Ryder
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Published: 01/25/2022
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.60h x 5.40w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9780571368495

About the Author
Henry, Lenny: - Sir Lenny Henry has been a comedian since the age of 16. He has risen from being a cult star on children's television to one of Britain's best-known and most celebrated comedians, as well as a writer, radio DJ, TV presenter, co-founder of Comic Relief, and award-winning actor. Henry has a PhD in Media Arts and is currently the Chancellor of Birmingham City University, and was awarded a knighthood in the 2015 Honors for services to charity and drama. Henry has also been invited by the UK Government to discuss diversity in the entertainment industry on numerous occasions. Who am I, Again?, his autobiography, was published in 2019.Ryder, Marcus: - Marcus Ryder has over 25 years of experience working in television and journalism, and is a leader on the issue of diversity in the media. He was previously the Chair of the Royal Television Society's Diversity Committee, and was the head of BBC Scotland Current Affairs for nearly a decade. He is the recipient of a number awards for his work, including multiple BAFTA Awards.