Hachette, Re-Publish the only children's book on African & Caribbean people in Britain

Comments

#403

I’m signing because representation really matters and it’s important to know our full history. There is huge demand and interest for this subject matter.

Priya Braganza (London, 2020-06-22)

#409

I believe there need to be more books like this to educate children and to recognise and validate these communities. Also for schools to have them as a resource.

Philippa Bellis (Liverpool, 2020-06-22)

#410

Books such as these reassure Black British children that they belong in this country, despite the institutionalised anti-Blackness they endure. I hope Hachette will put their money where their mouth is, or return the copyright.

Olivia Wyatt (Leeds, 2020-06-22)

#412

It is unacceptable for children in the UK to only learn about white history. The fact that this is the only book about UK Black history written for children is indicative of the massive inequality and it needs to be republished and kept in print. Please also consider commissioning more books for children about Black communities so that in future there will be a wealth of resources instead of just one.

Jane Scanlon (Reading, 2020-06-22)

#414

I want my children and the children I teach at school to have access to this book and to learn about African and Caribbean history through a different lens. This book is important.

Martha Lamot (London, 2020-06-22)

#415

This is important. Its vital we educate children in school.

Kirsty Roberts (Warrington, 2020-06-22)

#417

This needs to happen!

Naomi Allen (Brighton, 2020-06-22)

#418

We need to know more about Britain's black history

Lysle Osborne (Luton, 2020-06-22)

#422

I’m signing because this is very important.

Bukky Bakray (London, 2020-06-22)

#425

I’m signing because this is a very important intellectual work that must be republished

Jonnas Vasconcelos (Salvador, 2020-06-22)

#440

Please listen to our petition.

Ana Green (Liverpool, 2020-06-22)

#443

In this day and age, and at this time of mass global protest about George Floyd's murder, a petition to have this book republished shouldn't be necessary. That it is is a crying shame.

Jackie Lewis (London, 2020-06-22)

#446

The book should be available urgently.
A) Hachette should either reprint now, or end their contract with the author so another publisher can reissue it.
B) Hachette should redress the injustice of not paying royalties to the author by making a full back payment now, and paying royalties on any future sales

Katherine El-Salahi (Oxford, 2020-06-22)

#448

Published 3 years before the 'Windrush Generation' marked 50 years of their arrival in 1948, Professor Adi's book placed the Windrush event in proper historical perspective and provides children and adults alike, especially curriculum designers, with a considerably more accurate and nuanced understanding of the history of the African Diaspora in Britain. Absolutely essential at this time when there is an imperative not only not only to decolonise the curriculum but to decolonise the academy.

Professor Augustine John (London, 2020-06-22)

#450

It is so vitally important to educate our young people and invest in our writers of colour that can enlighten and educate us all.

Samantha Smith (Rojales, 2020-06-22)

#460

British Black History Matters

Carol Forbes (Welwyn Garden City, 2020-06-22)

#463

The history of African and Caribbean communities in Britain is British history.

Claire Wilson (London, 2020-06-22)

#464

It's important that the history of black people in Britain is available in print to all. Its an important book.

Marsha Blake (London, 2020-06-22)

#465

WE NEED OUR HISTORY TOLD

Roma Fiseha (London, 2020-06-22)

#467

Because clearly we are in a pandemic of poor education and people need to know the truth of our history

Tanya Vital (Bradford, 2020-06-22)

#468

I am the founder of Borders Sustainable Development Goals Book Club, part of the global family of UN SDG Book Clubs. In this Decade for People of African Descent, Hakim Adi's important book is one of our 5 book club picks. We passionately petition for the re-publication of this necessary book.

Olatoun Gabi-Williams (Lagos, 2020-06-22)

#470

Representation matters.

Laure Boulanger (London, 2020-06-22)

#472

This is important, Education on these matters , at an early age is vital and I absolutely support this book being republished

Joy Ugwu (London, 2020-06-22)

#474

I'm signing because I believe it should be republished - of course there will be a market - every school in England for a start -

Anamaria Wills (Heaton Village, 2020-06-22)

#476

It makes sense to have this book available for children to read. Given the current situation in the struggle against white supremacy and insitutional racism it makes no sense to oppose republishing it.

Janice Pargeter (Ventnor, 2020-06-22)

#477

...it is time things changed.

Jo Alexander (London, 2020-06-22)

#479

Hachette UK needs to sort this out pronto. Been asking for this for a while now.

A Strachan (London, 2020-06-22)

#485

I am signing because all coomunities need this book.

Phil James (Huddersfield, 2020-06-22)

#492

Professor Hakim Adi is the first and only Black professor of history in the UK. As a teacher and parent l have actively searched for books on this subject matter. I was shocked to hear that publishers are suppressing the work of such a prominent historian. Why have his other three books for children also remained out of print? Is the decision by Hachette the suppress black history books for children unconscious bias, or something more sinister? Institutionalised racism within Hachette?

Angela Slocumbe (London, 2020-06-23)

#494

I support the petition

Lukeman Jinadu (London, 2020-06-23)

#495

I am signing this because I was not aware of the extent to which black writers have a patronising super management in publishing making discriminatory decisions on who and what to publish. This makes me angrier than I expected.

Sara Mokone (London, 2020-06-23)

#500

This is clearly a vital book in promoting awareness and understanding at a time when awareness and understanding are so evidently lacking in our society. Please re-publish this book and do so in such as way that ensures that its author receives appropriate financial benefit. Thank you.

Kendra Johnson (Durham, 2020-06-23)

#502

I am signing because it is important for this book to be available to children and families of ALL races so that they have an accurate view of the African Caribbean contributions to Britain.

Nadia Denton (London, 2020-06-23)

#503

It's and important book for all communities and should be supported and promoted. Please republish.

Faye Chang (London, 2020-06-23)

#504

This resource should be available for children.

Francesca Barberis (London, 2020-06-23)

#505

I would want to purchase the book. THere is an urgent need for children and adults to know about it!

Inken Carstensen-Egwuom (Flensburg, 2020-06-23)

#516

I want the book available for purchase.

Louise Brown 7310 Hunters Tree Drive (Memphis, 2020-06-23)

#518

children NEED these books !!! society NEEDS children to read these books !!!!

katie sperring (cambridge, 2020-06-23)

#519

children should have the option of knowing their history & parents have a right to the wisdom of making up their own minds

Abayomi McEwen (Buckhurst Hill, 2020-06-23)

#521

It's important for children (and some parents alike) to be able to educate themselves on matters that relate to themselves and their classmates.
The younger generations have already shown to have strong moral compasses and a sense of right and wrong.
Books like these can help them blossom.

Hannah Gale (Exeter, 2020-06-23)

#522

it's an important book - and I would love a copy to share with my school children.

Nicholas Keresey (London, 2020-06-23)

#527

I agree with the principle of the petition. It is crucial that diversity is embedded in children’s learning and that key texts like these are available, especially where they represent the only text on the topic. I don’t pretend to understand how the publishing world works, but it strikes me as odd that any author would receive no royalties from a re-publication of something they wrote, especially when you are profiting from presumably unforeseen reprints 25 years after it was initially published.

Chris Scales (London, 2020-06-23)

#528

Books like these are vital tool for knowledge

Suzette Llewellyn (London, 2020-06-23)

#530

I want this book to be in every school and I want my children to learn from it.

Glena Rodriguez (London, 2020-06-23)

#532

Our children need the best, most varied resources of stories and heritage to learn from. Please republish so we can learn about our friends and neighbours.

Ehryn Torrell (London, 2020-06-23)

#538

Hachette is being hypocritical and engaging in performative solidarity. This is a clear opportunity to make a difference, but Hachette refuses while pretending that they care about Black lives.
The children's publishing industry lacks diversity and their publishing decision reflects that. Meanwhile books about racial equality and the Black experience are literally selling out.

Chella Ramanan (Malmö, 2020-06-23)

#539

Because having literature like this available does 'double duty'. It allows children of colour to see positive images of themselves and to understand that they have a history and identity beyond that defined for them by white society. And secondly, it provides an education for white children, possibly in contradiction to what they receive at home, and lets them clearly understand who people of colour are, in their own words and not via a white lens. They wi then have no excuse not to address their pathology....

David Olokun (London, 2020-06-23)

#540

As a young boy from the Caribbean, I never had the opportunity to learn this part of British history. All children should be able to learn from this book.

Paul de Meillac (London, 2020-06-23)

#542

This book belongs amongst others in libraries, schools and bookshops for future generations.

Bryony Hegartu (London, 2020-06-23)

#548

I’m signing because we are in dire need of educating this country and it’s children a full, broad and inclusive history

Rosetta Thring (London, 2020-06-23)

#559

Dear Mr. Shelly, With thanks for expressing the values, a great start. Wonder, then are you have been resistant to republishing 'The History of African and Caribbean Communities in Britain? This resistance seems to contradict your commitment to the values you have expressed:
"... there is a more urgent need than ever for us to stand together and educate ourselves, become better allies......."
Be amazing if you had the courage to stick up for the values you express.
Kind Regards,
Kali

Kali Case-Leng (Harrogate, 2020-06-24)

#562

This is very important for children of African Caribbean descent to know their roots and contributions to British society. It will also act as a learning tool for the rest of the population.

Sharon Foster (London, 2020-06-24)

#563

I want my children to learn and grow into informed and adults that move society to a better place. In order to do that they need to understand their history.

Natasha Cummings (LANCING, 2020-06-24)

#572

I am a teacher,an informal educator and grandmother.I'm committed to ensuring that young people have access to resources which reflect the experiences and celebrate the achievements Black and Asian people.

Heather Esiri (Bradford, 2020-06-24)

#576

I believe we have been missing learning about ALL our history for too long.

Margot Brown (York, 2020-06-24)

#578

I'm signing because clearly Hachette thought it could get away with just saying they support BLM without actually doing anything to actuate that support. I can only take their refusal publish this important book is them telling us explicitly that they have no intention to contributing to the changes this extremely racist country needs to make for it to be considered civilised. No more gaslighting Hachette you bring shame on your name and if none of your staff feel shamed by your actions you are not employing the best people. If you had black workers in key positions you would not have made such a crass move.

Del Scott (London, 2020-06-24)

#579

Co-author of the Lonely Planet guidebook to Jamaica.

Paul Clammer (Cambridge, 2020-06-24)

#599

Because I support the drive for educating every British and the world over about institutional racism, discriminatory practices and the unconscious biases that exist in society that perpetuate discrimination and support racism.
There is a need to publish all materials known and produced to achieve this effort.

David Clifford (London, 2020-06-24)