Taking Up Space

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

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]

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

  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.