Black & Irish : Legends, Trailblazers & Everyday Heroes by Leon Diop and Briana Fitzsimons
Covering historic and current figures from the worlds of the arts, sport, business, politics and social activism, Black and Irish will also find space to celebrate everyday heroes-lesser known figures making a difference in Irish communities today.
About the Authors
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 organization 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 has 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.
Praise for Black and 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
"... 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
Publisher: Little Island
Date Published: 1 October 2023
Paperback, 224 pages
ISBN: 9781915071231
