We Were There

We Were There is a vital corrective that enhances our understanding of Black British history in the 20th century by moving the narrative outside of London – Steve McQueen
Lanre Bakare’s first book is not just a work of history – it is a necessary and urgent recalibration of the way we think about Black Britain… an expansive, deeply researched work that insists on a broader, richer understanding of Black life * Guardian *
[Bakare writes] with quiet enthusiasm and sharp intelligence about black communities, including those in Bradford, Wolverhampton, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff and Edinburgh … We Were There bridges the gaps to missing links and admirably achieves what it sets out to provide: further evidence of Black people’s influence on the UK * Observer *
Like much of how we view and discuss history in the UK, the story of Black Britain often has a London bias. But as Guardian writer Lanre Bakare’s book explores, there is a rich story to be told outside the capital too … A joyous and fascinating corrective * GQ Magazine best books of 2025 *
The premise of this non-fiction book is a deceptively simple one: to consider the influence of Black culture in modern Britain, and, critically, beyond London … It’s a part of Britain’s collective heritage that has been woefully underreported and makes for a book that is fact-packed and fascinating * Esquire best books of 2025 so far *
We Were There is an essential, unique and joyful contribution to the full understanding of Black Britain. It broadens our story and ensures that the scale of our influence across the UK is fully recognised and appreciated. Utterly brilliant – Dipo Faloyin, author of Africa Is Not A Country
An urgent conversation about Britishness and the breadth of Black British experience [that] will take us on affecting and insightful journeys – Arifa Akbar, author of Consumed
Lanre Bakare takes us on a rare journey, rearranging our understanding of Britain’s racial geography with an open mind, perceptive eye and an accessible style. An incisive book at an important time – Gary Younge, author of Dispatches from the Diaspora
Genuinely pioneering and transformative histories only come along rarely, but Lanre Bakare’s wonderfully immersive, wide-ranging account of the years when Black Britian acquired its own agency is undoubtedly such – David Kynaston, author of A Northern Wind
[A] meaty social history study [with] interesting things to say about race and class … Packed with revealing content * Independent *

Lanre Bakare is the Arts and Culture Correspondent for The Guardian, focusing on the intersection of art, race, and culture across multiple disciplines. He was the senior correspondent on the Cotton Capital project, an investigative series that exposed The Guardian’s founders’ links to transatlantic slavery. This work was recognized at the Press Awards as a “breathtakingly honest mea culpa.” Lanre was born and grew up in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

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