A FLY Girl’s Guide to University has arrived, reading over the name and purpose of the book we are glad that it’s finally arrived and for many women of colour entering institutions can be a daunting as well as an anxiety-ridden experience navigating the space. The book features four women of colour who all studied at the University of Cambridge, a familiar face to us all in the Muslim community- Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan is one of the four women and has shared:
“I’m so moved by how much this book is becoming the START rather than the END of something – publishing a manuscript we wrote 3 years ago felt like closure, but actually it’s seeming more like a conversation opener and it’s so wild to see how much it means to people and what we can build off the back of it, the requests to give workshops, educate educators and more! SubhanAllah – i pray this book can be a call to action inshaAllah.”
The front of the guide holds the title and description which reflects the background and experiences the women have had:
“Being a woman of colour at Cambridge and other institutions of power and elitism”
The book holds poetry, prose, memoirs, and essays from the women. The origins of FLY begin at Cambridge where the women studied, the network was a safe space for non-binary and women of colour on campus.
The women have shared that “This book exists as a testament to our existences in a place we were often made invisible, and stands as a demonstration of the fact that we have the power to validate ourselves. We believe our book itself to be a form of activism in its fearless sharing of our experiences and in contributing to the provision of previously silenced truths.”
It has been encouraged that institutions and governments along with young women and non-binary people of colour read and understand the voices in the book which may be a tool in understanding what exclusion and existence in such institutions look like and how it may manifests across the board.
The women who feature are Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, Waithera Sebatindira, Lola Olufemi and Odelia Younge.
Book reviews accepted, please email contribute@amaliah.com
Amazing talk from the authors of #FlyGirlsGuideToUniversity @thebrownhijabi @Odelia_Younge @lolaolufemi_ truly making me consider how else we can be disruptive and talk about issues we skirt around. And about organising ourselves as POC. I'm so excited to read this book! pic.twitter.com/QWPgRjloR2
— Poonam (@mvnoop) January 30, 2019
Amazing bath pic from @thebrownhijabi! Brum folk @VervePoetryPres & @ImpactHubBrum are hosting a #FlyGirlsGuideToUniversity this Wed! Don’t miss what is surely going to be a fun, illuminating & eye opening event! #HubTalks https://t.co/qMx9RP67eO https://t.co/fKLe8wFzFM
— ThatNikkiBi (@ThatNikkiBi) January 27, 2019
‘The trap of visibility in elite spaces, we are encouraged as women of colour to share the trauma of racism, we didn’t write this book to be visible, it is first & formost a record of work we did, as this is work no one will record it’ #FlyGirlsGuidetoUniversity @thebrownhijabi
— Imandeep Kaur (@ImmyKaur) January 30, 2019
‘So where do we begin when our foundation of thought is unequal?’ #FlyGirlsGuideToUniversity @TheBrownHijabi pic.twitter.com/4tr1TW4Swo
— Imandeep Kaur (@ImmyKaur) January 30, 2019
If you’re a PoC, you really must read a #FlyGirlsGuideToUniversity co-authored by 4 incredible WoC. This book is an essential read for PoC navigating their way through white spaces. Honour to host @lolaolufemi_ @thebrownhijabi & @Odelia_Younge at @ImpactHubBrum tonight. #HubTalks pic.twitter.com/pM3rtLyWNu
— ThatNikkiBi (@ThatNikkiBi) January 30, 2019
