Knights Of partners with Milk Honey Bees for Black girls' anthology

Knights Of has acquired Girlhood Unfiltered, an anthology of essays and creative work penned by group of teenage girls from south London-based charity Milk Honey Bees, and its founder, Ebinehita Iyere.

Editorial director Eishar Brar acquired world rights from Gyamfia Osei at The Good Literary Agency for the anthology, which will publish on 3rd November 2022 in B-format hardback.

Girlhood Unfiltered reflects on the experience of Black girlhood, and seeks to bring the voices of real young Black girls to the forefront.

Knights Of has been working with the organisation since the Milk Honey Bees members were involved in the Brixton Village poster advertising campaign in October 2021 for Candice Carty-Williams’ YA novel, Empress & Aniya. The publication of the new book will be supported by a long-term partnership between the two organisations throughout the year, including a series of half-term workshops.

The campaign launches with a takeover on Reprezent Radio this evening (Tuesday 26th April) from 11 p.m., where the girls will be talking about their contributions to the anthology and recommending songs they identify with, and the themes of their essay.

Iyere founded Milk Honey Bees in 2017 as a creative and expressive safe space for young Black women and girls in south London. She is a public speaker, mentor and advocate for young people across London, and is currently completing her PhD on the complexities and flaws in the education system, relating to the experiences of Black teenagers. To date, her organisation has partnered with Sony, Barbie and The Black Girl Global Justice Initiative.

"Girlhood Unfiltered is the book I never knew I would be writing, with some amazing girls; the book I needed growing up, celebrating, capturing and remembering young Black girls," she said. "I am so excited to be handing the mic to girls who deserve to be seen, heard, protected and loved in all their joy—and not just their trauma. This journey, writing with the girls and working with Knights Of, has been unique and very fun. I’ve loved welcoming the girls into the world of publishing while welcoming others in to our safe space. I hope every Black girl reading this book knows that Milk Honey Bees is, and always will be, about H.E.R. [healing, empowerment and resilience], and that every girl is a Milk Honey Bees girl.”