‘I can’t help but be dismayed’: Reni Eddo-Lodge becomes first black author to top paperback non-fiction charts

‘That it took this long is a horrible indictment of the publishing industry’

(AFP via Getty Images)

Reni Eddo-Lodge has become the first ever black British author to top the non-fiction paperback book charts.

Her 2017 book, Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race reached number one on the chart this week.

In a tweet reacting to the news, the author said: ”[I] can’t help but be dismayed by this – the tragic circumstances in which this achievement came about.”

Eddo-Lodge was referring to the global anti-racism protests sparked by the killing of Minneapolis man George Floyd while being apprehended by police, which has brought the topic of racism – specifically, anti-black racism – to the forefront of media attention.

“The fact that it’s 2020 and I’m the first,” she continued. “Let’s be honest. Reader demand aside, that it took this long is a horrible indictment of the publishing industry.”

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race examines race, class and gender in the UK as well as the rest of the world.

Eddo-Lodge had previously posted about the bestseller experiencing an uptick in sales in the wake of the George Floyd protests, expressing her unease with the trend.

“This book financially transformed my life and I really don’t like the idea of personally profiting every time a video of a black person’s death goes viral,” she wrote, and urged readers to donate to the nonprofit organisation Minnesota Freedom Fund.

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race rose 155 places in the official Bookseller Chart, and is currently the third most popular book overall.