Taking Up Space: The Black Girl's Manifesto for Change is a 2019 book by Cambridge University graduates Chelsea Kwakye, who is British-Ghanaian[1] and Ore Ogunbiyi, who is Nigerian-British.[2][3]

Taking Up Space: The Black Girl's Manifesto for Change
AuthorChelsea Kwakye and Ore Ogunbiyi
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
PublisherMerky Books
Publication date
27 June 2019

It discusses the lack of diversity in higher education, and addresses topics such as decolonising the curriculum, access, mental health, relationships and activism.[3][4] The book includes interviews with students from UK universities about their experiences.[5] Kwakye holds a degree in history and Ogunbiyi in human, social and political sciences. Taking Up Space was the first independent book to be published by #Merky Books, an imprint with the publishing house Penguin Random House in collaboration with grime artist Stormzy, who has a scholarship program that fund black British students to go to Cambridge University.[6][7][8]

In 2020, Sid Gentle Films acquired the television rights to the book.[9][10]

References edit

  1. ^ Felicity Bryan Associates https://felicitybryan.com/fba-author/chelsea-kwakye
  2. ^ Penguin Books https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/1084168/ore-ogunbiyi.html
  3. ^ a b Sethi, Anita (2019-06-15). "What Cambridge University taught us about racism". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  4. ^ "In Taking Up Space, Chelsea Kwakye and Ore Ogunbiyi bring stories by Black women to the centre stage". Varsity Online. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  5. ^ "'Hardly Anyone Looked Like Us': The Reality Of Being A Black Woman At Cambridge". Grazia. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  6. ^ "Stormzy launches Cambridge scholarship for black students". BBC. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  7. ^ "Stormzy reveals first book to be released on #Merky Books". Metro. 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  8. ^ Cowdrey, Katherine (1 Oct 2018). "Stormzy's first acquisition tackles diversity and inclusion in higher education". The Bookseller. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Cambridge alumni's critically acclaimed book to be adapted for the small screen". Varsity Online. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
  10. ^ "Sid Gentle Films wins auction for Taking Up Space TV rights". The Bookseller. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.