As Seen On
Short Bio
Uju Asika is a multi-award nominated blogger, screenwriter and creative consultant. She is the author of Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World, published by Yellow Kite (Hachette) in September 2020. The book has featured in Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, BBC Radio 2 (Good Morning Sunday), BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour and the London Evening Standard among numerous outlets. A former journalist, Uju’s writing has appeared in publications such as The Guardian, salon.com, Time Out and the Daily Times (Nigeria). Born in Nigeria, she has lived and worked in London, New York and Lagos. She is based in north London with her husband Abiye and their two football-mad boys. You can follow her @BabesaboutTown (Twitter/Instagram/FB/Pinterest) and subscribe to her blog at babesabouttown.com
About the Book
Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World is a personal and passionate exploration of growing up different, how racism impacts all our children and what we can do to raise a kinder, more empathetic and antiracist generation. Filled with stories from the author and other parents, as well as expert insights and talking points, it’s aimed at people of all ethnicities. As the global spotlight on race intensifies, having these conversations with our kids and communities has never been more urgent. Join the conversation with @babesabouttown on social media and share with the hashtag #BringingUpRace.
*Bringing Up Race was described as ‘timely and important’ by the London Evening Standard who selected it as one of 10 Best New Books for September 2020*
Media Enquiries
Uju is available for interviews, articles, guest posts, creative consulting, speaking engagements and appearances in person, on camera and online. Please get in touch with any enquiries or to request a copy of her Media Kit.
Popular Topics
- How to talk to kids about race
- Black Lives Matter and where we go from here
- How to have difficult conversations with children
- Raising kind children in an (often) unkind world
- Parenting through a pandemic
- London life, family food, culture and travel with kids
- Motherhood and the creative journey
- Writing, blogging and content creation
- Finding your voice and telling stories that matter
Featured Articles & Interviews
Good Housekeeping: How to Talk to Your Children About Racism
BBC Tiny Happy People: Talking About Race with Young Kids
London Evening Standard: 10 Best New Books for September 2020
Marie Claire: 7 Conversations to Have with Your Kids About Race
Islington Gazette: Most Popular Baby Names
The Tall Tales: Q&A with Uju Asika
Dark Hues Magazine Chats with Babes About Town
BritMums – 10 Black British Lifestyle Influencers to Follow
BritMums: Talking to Uju Asika, Author of Bringing Up Race
No Mum is An Island: I’ve Been Blogging for 10 Years But I Still Love It
Elspells Book Blog: 3rd Septembers on My TBR List
Write Like a Mother: Q&A with Uju Asika
The Motherload Book Club: It’s Bookmageddon
Big Fish Little Fish: How to Talk to Kids About Race + Antiracist Playlist
It Had To Be You: Q&A with Uju Asika (September Book of the Month)
Elspells Book Blog: Bringing Up Race Review
London Evening Standard: Best Children’s Books for Black History Month
NaNoWriMo Blog: 5 Lessons I Learned Writing a Book in a Pandemic
High Life North: How to Discuss Race with Children
Happiful Magazine
The Guardian Book Quiz
Top 10 UK Mummy Blogs (Vuelio)
Speaking Engagements
Uju is an engaging and inspirational speaker known for her warm, authentic and accessible voice — both on the page and in real life. She has taught writing, blogging and digital marketing workshops through digital consultancy Mothers and Shakers and for organisations including Enterprise Creative Nigeria, Bloomsbury Beginnings and acclaimed NYC non-profit Girls Write now.
Past radio appearances include BBC World Service, Colourful Radio, Sherry Ann Dixon on Bang FM and multiple guest slots on BBC London (Breakfast Show, Eddie Nestor and Vanessa Feltz).
Most recently, she featured on BBC Radio 2’s Good Morning Sunday, Antonia Honeywell’s Booktime Brunch Show on Chiltern Radio, BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio’s Badass Women. In September 2020, Uju was a speaker at the Live Life Well Weekender 2.0, part of Cheltenham Festival.
Uju has been invited to speak on race and parenting for events such as Words on Skin – the Africa Soft Power series, Camden Council International Women’s Day panel ‘A Seat at the Table’, Dentons Parents Connect, Warwick School, and Grazia UK panels on intersectionality.
Podcasts & Social Media Chats
Uju has been invited to speak on several podcasts and social media chats including:
The Quiet Life podcast with Michael Wong
Instagram Live Chat with Natalie of @StyleMeSunday
Parent Guide to GCSE podcast
Brave New You Tribe podcast with Lou Hamilton
Lucky Things podcast (and MeetUp) with Sunita Harley
Come Wine With Me with Cee and Sareta
Brits in LA Interview with Kara Miller
Psychologies Magazine Facebook Live with Suzy Walker
School for Mothers podcast with Danusia Malina-Derben
All The Small Things podcast with Venetia La Manna
Buzz
‘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, April 2021
‘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, award winning author (‘On Black Sisters’ Street’) and professor of creative writing
‘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. 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.’
Courtia Newland, author (‘A River Called Time’, ‘Cosmogramma’) and screenwriter for Steve McQueen BBC TV series ‘Small Axe’
‘This book could not be more timely. 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, writer/poet/graphic artist, creative director at Liquorice Fish and trustee of The Racial Justice Network
‘Uju has great perception and this is a subject very close to my heart. It’s a conversation that so many of us need to have. I’m grateful she decided to write this book.’
Andi Oliver, chef and TV broadcaster on the Great British Menu
‘Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World is a new kind of coming-of-age tale. For an age that is about harsh truths and slow reckonings, it is difficult to lead with kindness and empathy. Bringing Up Race is balm and soothing water for an inflamed world. As a parent, it affirms the way I’ve chosen to raise my child. I hope it does the same for others. Bringing Up Race tackles the difficult conversations head on with loving but firm grasps. It is as loud and defiant as it is precious and hopeful. Uju Asika is a special kind of writer and this is a very, very special book.’
Bassey Ikpi, poet and New York Times bestselling author (‘I’m Telling The Truth But I’m Lying’)
Where to Buy the Book
Bringing Up Race: How to Raise a Kind Child in a Prejudiced World is available in all good bookstores and online, throughout the UK and Commonwealth. North American release is slated for Spring 2021.
Quick Links
Buy at Amazon UK
Buy at Waterstones
Buy at Word on the Water (delivery to North America and Europe)
Buy at Bookshop (support independent bookstores)
Buy at Amazon (US)
Buy at Roving Heights Bookshop (delivery in Nigeria)
You can also request the book from one of these Black owned bookshops and help support their businesses.
