"THIS BOOK COULD NOT BE MORE TIMELY"
Sai Murray
"Asika debuts with a powerful take on an attentive, thoughtful, and anti-racist parenting philosophy that supports children’s empathy and addresses painful realities head-on. This is a must-read for parents, educators, and anyone looking to raise kinder children."
Publishers Weekly Starred Review
"Filled with personal stories, expert advice and advice from fellow parents, Bringing Up Race is a call to arms for all parents to start the conversation and raise the most inclusive generation yet."
Evening Standard Best Books September 2020
"Uju Asika Is A Special Kind Of Writer And This Is A Very, Very Special Book."
Bassey Ikpi, New York Times Bestselling Author
BE COOL. BE KIND.
BE YOU.
Why I Wrote This Book
I wrote this book because I wanted to share some of my experiences, along with those of my children and other families, to help readers understand and empathise with what racism feels like. I also wanted to empower readers to talk about race with their families and to take action to challenge racism and bigotry however it shows up in their lives.
Through my online communities and offline networks, I've spoken to many parents who are ready to do the work but don't know where to start. Race can be such an awkward, sensitive and painful subject, no matter your ethnicity.
We've made some progress on race and inequality since I was a child, but we still have a long way to go. We owe it to our children to do better. They deserve more.
Ultimately, we all want our kids to feel happy, safe and free. I believe if we want to raise a braver, kinder and more inclusive generation then we need to have more honest, thoughtful and sensitive conversations starting when our kids are young.
I hope this book inspires readers to keep learning and to keep the conversations going. I want my readers to understand and to teach their kids that no matter who you are, what you look like or where you come from, race affects all of us. And we need to look after each other much better, because we are all connected one way or another.
''Funny, truthful, and full of profound insights, Uju Asika’s writing is a gift for a parent like myself, attempting to navigate the precarious journey of raising a just child in an unjust world."
Courttia Newland
Author (‘A River Called Time’, ‘Cosmogramma’) and screenwriter for Steve McQueen BBC TV series 'Small Axe'
Uju Asika
Uju was born in Enugu, eastern Nigeria and grew up in the UK. Her poetry and short memoir is published in select literary anthologies, including the landmark collection IC3: The Penguin Book of New Black Writing in Britain, edited by Kadija Sesay and Courttia Newland.
As an arts reporter in her twenties, Uju interviewed the likes of Denzel Washington, Idris Elha, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Gurinder Chadha, Spike Lee and Paul Schrader. She earned a graduate degree in journalism from New York University and worked as an online editor and freelance writer in Manhattan, Lags and London
Past credits include AOL City Guides Salon.com, Time Out Poets & Writers, The Guardian UK and the Daily Times Nigeria.
"I found myself nodding in agreement, laughing, horrified, sometimes in the confined space of a page. In mining the unspoken realities of our times, Asika strikes gold."
Courttia Newland
Mum. Hula-Hooping Enthusiast. #Guru.
Uju is married to Abiye, owner of award-winning street food brand Big Apple Hot Dogs. They live in north London with two boys, the original stars of her blog. As a family, they share a love of food, films and suffering through the highs and lows of being Arsenal Football Club supporters.
Fun fact: Uju’s family is descended from Onitsha royalty and in 2014, she became a titled member of the prestigious Otu Odu women’s society. She’s also a direct descendant of Julius Caesar (according to family legend, not necessarily grounded in reality)!
BLOGGER. SCREENWRITER.
CREATIVE CONSULTANT.
STORYTELLER.
"Uju is a natural and gifted writer. My daily go-to blog on all things cool for kids in London and beyond." Vicki Broadbent, Honest Mum
In 2010, Uju launched her blog/city diary Babes about Town, a multiple-award nominated lifestyle and family travel blog that targets fun-loving families with kids ages 0-12. Founder and Babe-in-Chief Uju Asika is a seasoned content creator (journalism, copywriting, screenwriting and editing) and curator of cool finds and experiences in London and Beyond.
She is also Founder and Lead Strategist at Mothers and Shakers, a digital consultancy for content creators and family brands.
Uju has also been a screenwriter or script editor on some of Africa’s most popular dramas including Hotel Majestic, Ajoche, Hush (script editor) and the award-winning Tinsel, broadcast across 47 countries. She has done brief stints in film publicity (Bullet Boy) and TV production (The Apprentice Africa).
In September 2020, Uju’s first book Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World was published in the UK by Yellow Kite (Hachette).
In May 2021, the North American edition of Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World was published by Sourcebooks.
What struck me most of all was the tone of this book: it is informal but informative, warm and wise, driven by a desire to help others implement change, not to berate them. I would recommend this book to every parent, without a moment’s hesitation.
ELSPELLS BOOK BLOG REVIEW
It’s as much a book to read, as well as a book to action, a book that kicks you into shape in the best of ways, a book that you might, as Brené Brown would put, ‘throw at the wall’ because it brings to the surface the things you need to address. Which is exactly what we need to be reading right now.
IT HAD TO BE YOU NEWSLETTER (September Book of the Month)
"Written with engaging wit, candour, and verve, and containing heart-breaking and heart-warming anecdotes, Bringing Up Race is a needed call to action for all concerned with a future free from racial prejudice."
Sai Murray
What do you do if your child says something racist? Or is the victim of racial bullying? Author Uju Asika doesn’t shy away from tackling these most difficult of questions, infusing the book with her own personal experiences, shocking tales and opinions from experts, influencers and fellow parents. It’s a crucial read and one with plenty of guidance on how to tackle racial prejudice.
EVENING STANDARD: Best Children’s Books for Black History Month
Uju Asika has written a necessary book for our times. She throws up huge questions (and responds to them intelligently and with heart). This isn’t just a book for talking to children—whatever race or color they are—about racism and all the other intersecting isms that divide us; it is a book for everyone dedicated to creating a better, kinder world. This crucial book should be required reading!
CHIKA UNIGWE
