Roedean pupils and students from local Brighton schools marked Black History Month this October by attending a lecture by inspirational black bookshop owner Carolynn Bain.
Ms Bain told pupils how she knew nothing about the world of publishing or bookselling until one day during lockdown when she decided that black authors needed more platforms.
“When I was growing up, I could not find books that represented me,” she told a packed-out Roedean theatre. “There just seems to be the least amount of representation and I felt I needed to be part of a change around that”.
She went on to found the online bookstore Afrori Books and also runs a physical shop in Brighton too. Afrori is the only bookshop in the UK which specialises in black authors.
Added Ms Bain: “But, we are so much more than a bookshop. We are a social enterprise that meets the needs of the community. We also deliver anti-racism training to adults, run anti-racist clubs in schools across Sussex, hair workshops, author events, women of colour yoga sessions, writers workshops, music events, a book festival and so much more.”
Over the last few years, the brand has grown and in 2023 Ms Bain was named British Bookseller of the Year.
After the lecture, deputy head Dr Ross Barrand said: “Ms Bain’s lecture fitted the national theme this year of reclaiming narratives perfectly. The audience was challenged to change the narratives around us. Inspiring, thought-provoking, inclusive, and totally engaging – Carolynn was a brilliant Black History Month speaker!”
Categories: Roedean School School News
