Scholastic partners with Black Cultural Archives to celebrate Windrush generation

Scholastic UK has partnered with Black Cultural Archives for a book to celebrate the Windrush generation and the 40th anniversary of the heritage centre and charity.

The Place for Me: Stories of the Windrush Generation will feature 12 stories inspired by the people of the Windrush generation, drawn from Black Cultural Archives. The stories will be supported by fact sections and aimed at readers aged eight-plus. 

Baroness Floella Benjamin will write a foreword and the 10 contributing authors all have a connection to the Windrush generation. The contributors are Kevin George, Salena Godden, Ashley Hickson-Lovence, Jermain Jackman, Kirsty Latoya and Quincy the Comedian, alongside Katy Massey, Emma Norry, K N Chimbiri and Judy Hepburn.

Leah James, publishing manager at Scholastic UK, acquired world rights from Arike Oke, managing director of Black Cultural Archives. World rights for George, Godden, Hickson-Lovence, Jackman and Latoya's contributions were acquired from Crystal Mahey-Morgan at OWN IT!; for Quincy the Comedian and Massey from Charlotte Atyeo at Kingsford Campbell; for Norry from Philippa Milnes Smith at The Soho Agency; for Chimbiri from Julia Churchill at A M Heath, and for Hepburn from Abi Fellows at The Good Agency.

The hardback will publish in June 2021 to mark the Black Cultural Archives' 40th anniversary and Windrush Day (22nd June), which honours the British Caribbean community and the half a million people who travelled to the UK after the Second World War. 

Leah James, publishing manager at Scholastic UK, said: "Working with the Black Cultural Archives is a dream come true. They are a brilliant organisation, working tirelessly to document the lives of Black people in Britain. We are thrilled to be publishing so many brilliant authors who will be sharing the under-heard stories and history of the Windrush generation with children and adults alike."

Arike Oke, managing director of Black Cultural Archives, added: "The stories of the Windrush generation are the stories of how post-war Britain was made, and stories about the shared histories that unite people of African descent around the world. I am delighted that Scholastic recognised the importance of making sure that children and families have access to this precious history, and doubly pleased at the incredible writers that answered the call. This is a landmark publication that will carry its own legacy of education and inspiration into homes and schools. As the managing director of Black Cultural Archives, I couldn’t be more proud."

Fifty pence from the sale of every book will be donated to Black Cultural Archives, which is the only national heritage centre dedicated to the histories of African and Caribbean people in the UK.