Description

A powerful biography shining a light on the incredible forgotten legacy of the BBC’s first Black female broadcaster

The forgotten legacy of an icon, brought to light for the first time.

Una Marson was a true trailblazer: she made history by becoming the first Black female broadcaster at the BBC and paved the way for Black women and the amplification of Black voices in the media. Despite all this, though, her story has been all but forgotten by history.

A journalist, poet, playwright, broadcaster and activist, Una Marson played a pivotal role in bringing Caribbean culture to audiences in the UK, smashing glass ceilings and fighting against the racism and misogyny she faced.

Marson was a fierce political activist throughout her life, and in this rigorously researched and deeply personal biography, the life and achievements of this extraordinary, complex and multifaceted person will be told in full for the first time.

About the author(s)

Ibi Zoboi was born in Haiti, and holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her writing has been published in The New York Times Book Review, and The Rumpus, among others. She is the author of American Street, a US National Book Award finalist. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and three children. You can find her online at www.ibizoboi.net.

Reviews

Praise for Diversify

‘Engaging and informative … June Sarpong examines the research behind diversity and discrimination while grounding them in personal narratives, highlighting our common humanity.’ Kofi Annan, co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize

‘I am so glad June Sarpong is working on this matter of diversity. We don't seem to know how to handle differences. When will we learn that we share one common humanity as Shakespeare's Shylock declared so eloquently?’ Desmond Tutu

‘My experiences during the Holocaust has led me on a lifetime mission to promote the benefits of diversity … telling my story and that of my step-sister Anne Frank and why civil society must do all it can to protect and celebrate our diversity. Diversify helps us take the first steps on the journey to tolerance.’ Eva Schloss MBE

“A passionately written polemic” You Magazine

‘How boring would life be without diversity? A case of the bland leading the bland. Life would be pretty … dull without [my autistic son’s] literal, lateral, tangential take on the world … Mozart, Orwell, Van Gough, Warhol and many other amazing artists, scientists and musicians were on the autistic spectrum. And yet only 15% of autistic people are in the workforce. If only we would learn to think outside the neurotypical box’ Kathy Lette

‘An engaging read with lots of important and good ideas’ Stylist

‘May prove to be our handbook to negotiate these troubled times’ Psychologies

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