Margaret Busby Was Born in a Poor Place

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Margaret Busby Was Born in a Poor Place M A R G A R ET BUSBY BLACK HISTORY MONTH WHO WAS SHE? Margaret Yvonne Busby born 1944, also titled Nana Akua Ackon is a Ghanaian-born publisher, editor, writer and broadcaster, resident in the UK. She was Britain's youngest and first black female book publisher when in the 1960s she co-founded with Clive Allison (1944–2011) the London-based publishing house. Quote: “Write because you really enjoy it and learn to be a good reader because the best writers read voraciously. Get to know the best books out there and please don’t give up the day job.” ABOUT HER CHILDHOOD Margaret Busby was born in a poor place. She never complained about anything to her parents or anyone around her. “We started off with virtually no money and thought we would go making volumes of poetry accessible and affordable to young people like ourselves. So we printed 15,000 paperback poetry books priced at 5 shilling (0.036 pounds). Our idea of distribution was stopping people on the street and asking them to buy our books”. MARGARET BUSBY WROTE LOT S OF BOOKS INCLUDING DAUGHTERS OF AFRICA AND COLOURS OF A NEW DAY. PRIZES: She won an award for writing her novel Daughters of Africa it was very famous. She has worked continuously for diversity within the publishing industry and in the 1980s was a founding member of the organization Greater Access to Publishing (GAP), which engaged in campaigns for increased Black representation in British publishing. Busby is frequently cited as a pioneer in the history of Black publishers in the UK, and is acknowledged as a "pathfinder" by those who followed in her footsteps working towards making the books industry and its output more diverse, among them Bibi Bakare- Yusuf (who when speaking of founding Cassava Republic Press said: "Inspirational figures in publishing such as Margaret Busby, co-founder of Allison & Busby, were our guide"), HER BIRTHDAY IS ON T H E 1 1 TH OCTOBER SHE WAS BORN ON THE ELEVENTH OF OCTOBER IN 1944.MEANING SHE IS 74 N O W .
Recommended publications
  • After Seminal Anthology, Busby Celebrates New Daughters of Africa
    Home Nigeria World Politics Sport Opinion Business Technology Arts Guardian TV Literature After seminal anthology, Busby celebrates New Daughters of Africa By Olatoun Gabi-Williams 21 April 2019 | 4:19 am New Daughters of Africa at the WOW Festival, International Women’s Day 2019 Reports online are increasing about projects in the creative industries aimed not only at countering fear of the ‘other’ and resentment about the growing number of ‘others’ in our midst but at highlighting ways ‘others’ enrich and strengthen us. As nationalism and nativism rise across the globe, my cyber world is under siege. I am not complaining. Powerful images posted online from art biennials have stayed with me: Venice, Berlin, Dak’Art (Dakar, Senegal) and Art X in Lagos, Nigeria. Memorable, startling art, love- infused, aiming to transform the way I, we, see all kinds of difference: gender, race, culture and ability. Rarely can art claim immediate transformative power; what it can do is capture the imagination and plant seeds for a conversation and perhaps – ultimately – a conversion. Latest In this essay, I turn my thoughts away from arresting visual art to focus on a landmark Trump says Congress 'can't union: Margaret Busby OBE with Candida Lacey of Myriad Editions (UK) and 200+ 2 mins ago women from Africa and its diasporas. It is a great literary assembly put together for the purpose of reconstructing perceptions about Africa and her women, celebrating African Why Buhari administratio women in literature and showcasing the dazzling range of their work. Importantly, the delayed - Dogara women have assembled for the purpose of making a difference in black women’s lives 23 mins ago through the inauguration of the Margaret Busby New Daughters of Africa (NDOA) Award.
    [Show full text]
  • Remembering "Norris Buzz Johnson" November 2 1951 to February 11, 2014
    Eulogy: Remembering "Norris Buzz Johnson" November 2 1951 to February 11, 2014 Memorial Service Saturday March 1st. 2014 at 1 pm All Saint's Church Haggerston Road Hackney London E8 4EP I recall Buzz gave me a birthday gift many years ago and it was a book entitled “Return to the Source” written by the late Amilcar Cabral. My words today will be in the form of a journey where I briefly return to the source of our brother’s foundations in Tobago and then Trinidad and the journey here to the UK and his growth and development and he will be making his final journey when the body returns to Tobago. Return to the Source: Norris Chrisleventon Johnson was the first and only son of Mrs Adwina Johnson nee Phillips and the late Cornelius Arthur Johnson. He was born in the fishing village of Buccoo in Tobago on November 2 1951. The family migrated to Fyzabad in South Trinidad, one of the villages that housed many workers from the oilfields in Point Fortin and its environs. His father Cornelius was on oilfield worker and was obviously influenced and inspired by a key political and labour activist and leader, Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler. He therefore called his son Buzz. That name has stuck with him ever since. The Fyzabad area was the main bastion of the Butlerite movement. Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler was a fierce defender of workers’ rights and earned his place in Trinidad and Tobago's history for his role during the turbulent days of June 1937. This was the period of the labour riots and the development of the trade union movement in Trinidad & Tobago and in particular of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2018
    Channel Four Television Corporation Report and Financial Statements 2018 Incorporating the Statement of Media Content Policy Presented to Parliament pursuant to Paragraph 13(1) of Schedule 3 to the Broadcasting Act 1990 Channel 4 Annual Report 2018 Contents OVERVIEW FINANCIAL REPORT AND STATEMENTS Chair’s Statement 4 Strategic Report Chief Executive’s Statement 8 Financial review and highlights 156 The heart of what we do 13 Our principal activities 159 Remit 38 Key performance indicators 160 At a glance 40 People and corporate annualreport.channel4.com social responsibility 162 STATEMENT OF MEDIA CONTENT POLICY Risk management 164 Strategic and financial outlook 2018 programme highlights 42 and Viability statement 167 4 All the UK 46 Please contact us via our website (channel4.com/corporate) if you’d like this in an alternative Governance format such as Braille, large print or audio. Remit performance The Channel 4 Board 168 Investing in content 48 © Channel Four Television Corporation copyright 2019 Printed in the UK by CPI Colour on Report of the Members 172 Innovation 56 FSC® certified paper. CPI Colour’s Corporate governance 174 The text of this document may be reproduced free environmental management Young people 64 of charge in any format or medium provided that it is Audit Committee Report 179 system is certified to ISO 14001, reproduced accurately and not in a misleading context. Inclusion and diversity 70 and is accredited to FSC® chain of Members’ Remuneration Report 183 The material must be acknowledged as Channel Four custody scheme. CPI Colour is a Supporting creative businesses 78 ® Television Corporation copyright and the document certified CarbonNeutral company Talent 84 Consolidated financial statements title specified.
    [Show full text]
  • Margaret Busby Poster
    BLACK HISTORY MONTH 1 – 31 October 6 “ Write because you enjoy it” PIONEERING + INVENTIVE MARGARET BUSBY FIRST BLACK WOMAN NEU.ORG.UKPUBLISHER BLACK Lesson ideas HISTORY MONTH PIONEERING + INVENTIVE 1 – 31 October FAKE NEWS PUBLISHING Margaret talks about technology GROUND BREAKING PUBLISHER allowing people to be their own What is a publisher? What sort publisher. Margaret can see the 6MARGARET BUSBY of job would it be and would potential of the web for democracy. you like to do it? What kind of Link Margaret to your work on digital books would you publish? literacy and critical thinking. Margaret was born She started off with virtually Use original source materials in Accra in Ghana to no money but was determined about the black publishing parents who had roots in to print volumes of poetry to prescence in the UK since the Barbados, Trinidad and make them accessible and eighteenth century (see Black Dominica. affordable to young people Cultural Archives website). like Margaret. They produced 15,000 poetry books at 5 shillings. WOMEN WRITING Margaret became Britain’s first Black Ask your students to woman book publisher research and review one - and the youngest - Margaret and Clive of the pieces of writing when she co founded a stopped people on the in Busby’s ‘Daughters of publishing company in street and asked them to Africa’ book. 1967, Allison & Busby, buy their books, because with Clive Allison. internet didn’t exist. AFRICAN WOMEN Margaret believed the Women of African descent have made internet would enable huge contributions to literature, the more people to share arts and British culture.
    [Show full text]
  • Blackhistorymonthword
    Ho, ho, ho, ho! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Ho ho, Ho ho, ho ho! ho ho! Ho, ho, ha, ha, Ha ha, he, he! ha ha, Ha ha, He, he, ha ha, ha ha! he, he! ha ha! Ho ho, ha ha, he he! Ho ho, ha ha, He he, he he! he he! He he, he he! Did you hear about the hungry clock? It went back four seconds! BLACK HISTORY MONTH WORDSEARCH What do Here’s a list of some great black British you call a figures. Find their first names in the grid. M Z Q H A D U A L O T C computer X A S N T A D E H L S L that can B E R N I E F Z E I R A sing? ADE Adepitan OLAUDAH Equiano A S G G S M C P N V Z U A-Dell! CLAUDIA Jones BERNIE Grant L R L Y A Y A H I E G D MARY Seacole STUART Hall D A W N K R U J T R R I T W I L F R E D N K A A MARGARET Busby DAWN Butler R F M O B I L T T E Q L LENNY Henry Bishop WILFRED Wood A Y T S A K R E A N B A U R B R C J H I N E A H Dr OLIVER Lyseight MARAI Larasi T A A S P H A E Q N S O JACKIE Kay BENJAMIN Zephaniah S M X E I K C A J Q Y J Did you What does a What do you hear about the nosey pepper do? call a pile new broom? Get jalapeño of kittens? It’s sweeping business! A meow-ntain! the nation! I was born Sometimes I tuck my knees into my chest and raised in and lean forwards.
    [Show full text]
  • Enter: the New Daughters of Africa
    THE LONG READ New Daughters of Africa Photography — Yagazie Emezi Enter: the new daughters of Africa With the release of New Daughters of Africa, editor Margaret Busby explains why the collection – 25 years after Daughters of Africa was published – could not have come at a better time and introduces three stories from the anthology. hat a joy to be introducing Kenya, Nigeria to Norway and Sudan to an anthology he had recently curated. From dirt you to New Daughters of Africa. Zimbabwe. His warm response read, in part: ‘It goes WEnabling the anthology to My ambition was and is to shine a light to show – the proportion of women poets Words — Camillet Dungy be assembled in record time, writers on as many as possible of the deserving, never did occur to me – a greater testi- not only came on board with enthusi- whether or not they are acknowledged mony to my non-sexist outlook I cannot asm and alacrity but often steered me or lauded by the gatekeepers, who tra- imagine! But seriously though, it’s quite or months now, I’ve been living heirloom Cherokee seeds to whomever long trial of the Middle Passage and onto, in the direction of others whose work ditionally single out a privileged few, true, and I am sure you wouldn’t have through the grief of deaths, dev- showed interest and sent postage – in a then into, American soil. She must have they admire. Altogether, more than 200 seemingly never too many to rock the wanted double standards applied in Fastation and debilitating disease.
    [Show full text]
  • In Her Own Words: Works by Exceptional Women
    london Peter Harrington ININ HERHER OWN WORDS WORKS BY EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN ur first catalogue focussed on women spans the Others have been overlooked despite brilliant contributions Ocenturies from Sappho to Maya Angelou, showcasing the to their fields. Early works by Joan Robinson (122 and 123) and work of exceptional women in many different fields. Rosa Luxemburg (96) are well-known to economists, but less These were women who pushed legal, intellectual, and well-known are those by Helen Makower (97) and S. F. Porter physical boundaries. Millicent Fawcett Garrett signed our (118). Rosalind Franklin and Jocelyn Bell were both denied copy of Women’s Victory in July 1928, the same month the Equal Nobel prizes, despite playing crucial roles in the discovery of the Franchise Act gave British women electoral equality with men structure of DNA and radio pulsars respectively (70 and 22). In (item 66). Maria Gaetana Agnesi’s Analytical Institutions is the the suffrage movement, the works of Christabel (109) and Sylvia first advanced mathematics book by a woman (1). Trailblazers Pankhurst (110) sit alongside work by their exiled sister, Adela such as Fanny Parks, “characterized by remarkable physical (108), comparatively overlooked, yet no less fierce a Pankhurst stamina” (112), Amelia Edwards, who carried out the first for it. general archaeological survey of Egypt’s ruins (60), and Lady Within the catalogue, works on paper appear alongside items Hester Stanhope, “Queen of the Desert” (144), cleared the way in different media. Amelia Earhart’s Fun of It, inscribed (59), for later intrepid travellers such as Gertrude Bell (21) and Freya complements the pearl carried on the maiden voyage of the Stark (145).
    [Show full text]
  • Publishers Signed up with PLS, As of 1St January 2017
    Publishers signed up with PLS, as of 1st January 2017 2000 BC Publishing Limited 2Simple Software Limited 3P Learning Limited 4SM NI Limited 55 North Limited 5M Enterprises Limited 69 Magazine Limited A & N Media Finance Services Limited A and A Thorpe A to B Magazines AA Publishing aa42 AAVO On Camera Publications AB Academic Publishers Abacus Educational Services ABCO Design Limited Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce Limited Aberdeen City Council Aberdeen Petroleum Publishing Limited Aberdeen University Press Limited Aberystwyth University Ablan Publishing Company Limited ABR Company Limited Abson Books Abundant Life Recording and Entertainment Company Limited Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited Academy of Ideas Limited Acair Limited ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service) ACC Art Books Limited Accelerated Learning Systems Limited Accent Press Limited Access Press UK Accordia Research Institute Accounts Commission ACE Education Advice CIC Limited Aceville Publications Limited ACO Media Limited ACP Publishers Limited ACT (Administration) Limited ACT Publishing UK Limited Action Against Medical Accidents Limited Action Aid Action For Sick Children Action with Communities in Rural England Action Words Active Magazines Limited Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Limited Adamson Publishing Limited Addiction Recovery Foundation Adrenaline Media Limited Adrian Webster Limited Advance Materials Limited Advanced Success Limited Advanstar Communications (UK) Limited Advantage Publishing
    [Show full text]
  • A Journal on African Women's Experiences Issue 10
    Manase Kudzai Chiweshe A JOURNAL ON AFRICAN WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES ISSUE 10 | APRIL 20201 Mapping the Terrain 2 ABOUT BUWA! Guided by the feminist principle that ‘the personal is polit- We would appreciate feedback on this publication using ical’, BUWA! is a journal published by the OSISA Women’s the hashtags #Buwa, #BuwaX and #WHRDsInAfrica on Rights Programme annually. BUWA! services as a tool and any of the following platforms: platform to explore a variety of themes and topics that are Email the Editor at [email protected] pertinent to African women today. Comment on the BUWA! feature on the OSISA website at The journal receives both commissioned and unsolicited www.osisa.org articles primarily from women on the African continent. Comment on the OSISA Facebook page at An editorial team decides on the themes and topics, and www.facebook.com/OpenSocietyInitiative.SouthernA- participates in the editorial process. The publication seeks frica to promote open society ideals through providing a platform for women’s voices, amplifying these across the continent Join the conversation on Twitter @osisa and beyond. BUWA! also explores African women’s experiences through a DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed in this journal are those policy lens, to shed light on international, regional, national, of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent and local debates and policies that shape women’s choices the views of the editor, OSISA or its board. and lived experiences. BUWA! ONLINE BUWA! is published by the Women’s Rights FEEDBACK We appreciate feedback on this publication. Write to the programme of the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa Editor at [email protected] or comment on our various (OSISA).
    [Show full text]
  • Publisher's Signed up As of June 2018
    Publisher’s signed up as of June 2018 5M Enterprises Limited AP Publications Limited AA Publishing aa42 AAVO On Camera Publications AB Academic Publishers Abacus Educational Services PSS Magazine ABC CLIO LLC ABCO Design Limited Aberdeen City Council Aberdeen Petroleum Publishing Limited Scottish Labour History Society Aberdeen University Press Limited ABR Company Limited APL Media Limited Abson Books Association of British Theological and Philosophical Libraries ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service) Accelerated Learning Systems Limited Accent Press Limited Accordia Research Institute Accounts Commission Aceville Publications Limited ACP Publishers Limited Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy Action with Communities in Rural England ACT Publishing UK Limited Action Aid Action For Sick Children Action Against Medical Accidents Limited Institute of Groundsmanship Limited Adamson Publishing Limited Addiction Recovery Foundation Ofsted Advance Materials Limited Advanstar Communications (UK) Limited Advantage Publishing Limited Advertising Association Advertising Standards Authority Dr Jonathan Levy Advisory Unit Computers In Education AE Morgan Publications Limited Deeson Group Limited Africa Analysis Limited Association for Family Therapy Limited AGAR (Ann Gillanders Advanced Reflexology) Age Scotland Age Exchange Theatre Trust Agenda Magazine and Editions Charitable Trust Agri Publishing International Limited Lantra Agro Business Consultants Limited Agroforestry Research Trust Aidan Ellis Publishing Air Britain
    [Show full text]
  • A Celebration of Black History in the Uk Contents
    Great Black Briton: A CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY IN THE UK CONTENTS Foreward/Message to readers ................................................................3 Influential People ........................................................................................4 Influential Movements ............................................................................16 Further resources ....................................................................................22 Lead and Be Led information ...............................................................23 2 | Great Black Britain FOREWORD As young Black people in the UK, we movement. By Black people entering spaces believe that it is essential to have a means of politics, journalism, art, entertainment, of support and continuous celebration of sport we are changing the narrative and our efforts to society. Growing up in the UK deciding how we want to be perceived. We with a curriculum that places importance on want to celebrate those who have worked educating British culture without including endlessly to transform and create new the significant contributions of Black Britons narratives and histories for Black Brits and is disheartening. inspire many locally and globally. A vast majority of schools educate their We hope this booklet of Black excellence will pupils on Black British history that has either inspire you to fight against the oppressive, been taught over previous years which racist and classist system that regularly can be diluted version of history or focused ignores, undermines and harms communities on Black suffering. Raising awareness of colour. We have only named a few about the importance of celebrating Black amazing figures and movements that have History in Britain in will allow students and attempted to break racist structures, but staff to have a better understanding of the we urge you to find out more about these history that goes on within the country powerful moments in history and learn about that has shaped many people’s lives.
    [Show full text]
  • 192538-Trilbytv-Black-Pioneers.Pdf
    B L A C K P I O N E E R S Martin Luther King Jr The prominent civil rights leader and activist. King believed that non-violent direct action was the most powerful way to gain freedom for oppressed people. He said that marches and sit-ins were the best way to force communities to confront issues rather than ignore them. His 'I have a dream' speech is regarded as one of the finest in history and led to the passing of the USA's Civil Rights Act in 1964. Copyright © 2020 Trilby Multimedia Ltd B L A C K P I O N E E R S Mary Mahoney The first African American woman to work professionally as a nurse. Since she was young, Mahoney had wanted to be a nurse. She got a position as a cook, janitor and washerwoman at a hospital when she was 18 and worked hard to get into nursing school. After graduating she not only was a great nurse, but she worked hard to encourage and inspire more black young women to get into nursing. Copyright © 2020 Trilby Multimedia Ltd B L A C K P I O N E E R S Alexandre Dumas Author who is best known for 'The Three Musketeers' and 'The Count of Monte Cristo'. Dumas wrote many short stories and novels, mostly about crime, scandals and historical figures. His writing was very popular and he was well known across France where he lived, as well as much of Europe. His books were translated into over 100 languages and he is the most widely read French author in the world.
    [Show full text]