A Year of Black Joy

52 Black Voices Share Their Life Passions

$21.99

An uplifting and empowering anthology of joyful contributions from 52 contemporary Black voices including chef Andi Oliver, author Patrice Lawrence, space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and climate activist Vanessa Nakate.

This book is not yet published, but will be available from September 2025.

ISBN: 9781917366007 Category:

Jamia Wilson, Jamia Wilson

Description

An uplifting and empowering anthology of joyful contributions from 52 contemporary Black voices including chef Andi Oliver, author Patrice Lawrence, space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and climate activist Vanessa Nakate.

· Discover the joy of chess with Grandmaster Maurice Ashley, then learn the moves of the game.
· Find the joy in stories with award-winning author Patrice Lawrence, then gather the tools to write your own.
· Experience the joy of food with renowned chef Andi Oliver, then follow a recipe to make a delicious dish.
· Read about the joy of flowers with florist Hazel Gardiner, then learn the techniques for pressing flowers to create beautiful memories
· Learn about the joy of hair styling with celebrity stylist Yene Damtew, then read her guide all about caring for your own hair

A donation to BLAM UK will be made for every copy sold. BLAM UK is committed to ensuring that the Black-British community is recognised, represented and appreciated.

Whether you read an entry a week, or dip into it whenever you are feeling in need of joy, this is a book to treasure all year round. Perfect for readers aged 7+

· A joyous tribute to Black achievement today, bringing together ‘own voices’ to share their life passion. The laughter, joy and power in these pages will leave readers feeling hopeful about their future
· Written by Ted Prize winner and social activist Jamia Wilson
· Divided into months, each joyful piece is tied to a particular season, event, international day or week and sits alongside a non-fiction component

Words of praise for this book:
“This compendium is perfect for parents and educators looking for fun ways to ignite the imagination, recognize Black achievements, and spotlight lesser-known holidays. An inspiring source of creativity for all readers.” – Kirkus
“Full of inspiring humans and Black role models.” – Booktrust

JAMIA WILSON is a feminist, activist, writer and speaker from the States. Her work has appeared in numerous outlets, including the New York Times, the Today Show, CNN, Elle, BBC, Rookie, Refinery 29, Glamour, Teen Vogue and The Washington Post. She is the author of This Book Is Feminist, Young, Gifted and Black, Step into Your Power, Big Ideas for Young Thinkers and the ABCs of AOC.

JADE ORLANDO was born on an army base in North Carolina and grew up in a tiny Michigan town. She received her BFA in Illustration from SCAD Savannah, and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, greyhound and four cats. She is the illustrator of Bedtime Stories: Beautiful Black Tales from the Past and co-illustrator of Hey You! Clients include Scholastic, Carter's, Amazon and Oopsy Daisy.