A groundbreaking new book: this is a celebration of Black Irish identity.

Published in collaboration with Black & Irish

As featured on the Late Late Toy Show 2023!

Actors.
Athletes.
Activists.
Style icons.
Scientists.
Influencers.
Entrepreneurs.

Black Irish people are blazing trails in every sphere of modern life.

In the first ever book about Black Irish identity, we take a look at the inspirational careers, dreams and achievements of legends, trailblazers and everyday heroes, including Ruth Negga, Gavin Bazunu, Dami Hope, Emma Dabiri, Rhasidat Adeleke and Phil Lynott.

Written by Leon Diop and Briana Fitzsimons of Black & Irish.

"Offers a history of black Irish people in an accessible and engaging style." – Irish Independent

"A powerful and important book." – Sarah Webb, Irish Independent

"One I wish I had on my own bookshelf as a kid." – The Irish Times

"An informative tribute to Black Irish heroes past and present with hopeful messages for those yet to come." –  Kirkus Reviews

"There are loads of people in here who we might not have heard of and whose stories deserve to be told ... Nicely, nicely done, and lots of little facts in it as well... the reality  of being Black and Irish is portrayed in here as well as the brilliant celebratory stories of amazing people." –  Elaina Ryan, Children's Books Ireland

"It's a lovey looking book." – Claire Byrne, The Claire Byrne Show

"I believe everyone could benefit from reading this."  – Paper Lanterns

"These short, engaging biographies will enlighten and inspire."  – Booklist

"A well-researched and fascinating read, presented in an educational and approachable manner befitting of its target upper YA audience." – YA Books Central

"... perfect for someone who's enjoyed the Rebel Girls but has grown out of them ...The art is a huge part of how effective the book is ... It's a great read and it will certainly be high on my list of recommendations this Christmas." – Read and Reviewed

"I really enjoyed reading the life stories of those featured. The profiles reflect a changing Ireland and that the Black & Irish community have positively contributed to the sporting, artistic and cultural fabric of Irish life. The challenges facing any minority are evident and the aspiration of being part of, is well described."  – Goodreads Review

"I ate this up ... This is perfect for young readers 12+ and teens as it highlights many different areas: activism, hair care, science, influencing, education, media and sports. Plus, the tiny colourful information /index areas are beneficial so you can stay connected to the text without having to google words that may be unknown."   – ***** NetGalley Reader Review

Leon Diop is a 28-year-old mixed-race man from Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland. Born to an Irish mother and a Senegalese father, he grew up in a mixed ethnic and religious household. He studied Psychology in Maynooth University where he served two years as Students' Union President. He is the founder of Black and Irish, an organisation striving to transform Ireland into a global leader in equality and inclusion. He is a host of the Black and Irish podcast with Irish national broadcaster, RTÉ. He currently serves on the boards of the Childhood Development Initiative, and Tallaght and South Dublin County Partnership.
 

Briana Fitzsimons grew up in Yonkers, NY, USA, and has lived in Ireland since 2017. She has been a secondary school teacher for 12 years and also holds degrees in English and Creative Writing. Briana joined the Black and Irish team in 2021 and has been working to make schools across the country more inclusive for all students. One of her main goals is to empower teachers and young people with the tools they need to make sure that everyone is seen and heard and feels a sense of belonging in all educational spaces in Ireland. She lives in Co Kildare with her partner and two children and is proud to call Ireland home.



About the Illustrator

Jessica Louis is an independent Nigerian illustrator whose work features bright colorful characters, shapes and scenes that speak to the emotions at the edges and at the core of our lived experience. She has exhibited with DesignOpp in Dublin and Fresco in Paris and been published in Totally Dublin. She’s represented by Studio BLVCK and together they are paving a new path for independent black creatives across the world.