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Calling Una Marson

The Extraordinary Life of a Forgotten Icon

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Calling Una Marson

By: June Sarpong
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About this listen

The groundbreaking story of the BBC’s first Black woman broadcaster—finally brought to light.

Una Marson was unstoppable—a poet whose words lit up hearts, a broadcaster who made history in 1941 as the first Black woman on the BBC, and an activist who fought fiercely for racial and gender equality. She brought Caribbean culture to the global stage, challenged prejudice head-on, and dared to imagine a better world. Yet history nearly erased her.

From the streets of 1920s Kingston to the heart of British broadcasting during World War II, Una’s journey was one of resilience, ambition, and brilliance. She shared ideas with George Orwell, held her ground with T.S. Eliot, and used her voice to amplify the silenced while navigating a world unprepared for her genius.

Calling Una Marson restores this trailblazing woman to her rightful place in history. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, it celebrates her dazzling, difficult life and the legacy of courage, creativity, and justice she left behind.

©2025 June Sarpong (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers Entertainment & Performing Arts Media Studies Women

Critic Reviews

'It’s wonderful that Una Marson’s groundbreaking talent is being finally celebrated in all its glory. This is an inspiring and long-overdue tribute to a pioneer on who’s shoulders we now stand.'

— Baroness Floella Benjamin, broadcaster and campaigner

'An extraordinary story about an extraordinary woman. Una Marson broke barriers, and this book ensures her name will never be forgotten.'

— Sir Trevor McDonald, broadcaster

'Una Marson’s story is an essential piece of history that demands to be known. This book reclaims the voice of a trailblazer who shaped the world we live in today.'

— David Olusoga, historian and author of Black and British

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