‘The fact that IC3, the police identity for Black, is the only collective term that relates to our situation here as residents (‘Black British’ is political and refers to Africans, Asians, West Indians, Americans and sometimes even Chinese) is a sad fact of life I could not ignore’ from Courttia Newland’s Introduction, 2000

First published twenty years ago into a different literary landscape, IC3 showcases the work of more than 100 black British authors, celebrating their lasting contributions to literature and British culture. It spans a wealth of genres to demonstrate the range and astonishing literary achievements of black writers, including:

Poetry from Roger Robinson, Bernardine Evaristo, Jackie Kay and Benjamin Zephaniah.
Short stories from Ferdinand Dennis, Diana Evans, Catherine Jonson, E.A. Markham and Ray Shell.
Essays from Floella Benjamin, Linda Bellos, Treva Etienne, Kevin Le Gendre and Labi Siffre.
Memoirs from Margaret Busby, Henry Bonsu, Buchi Emecheta, Leone Ross, and many others.

Featuring a new introduction from original editors Kadija Sesay and Courttia Newland, this collection reflects on the legacy of these writers, their extraordinary work, and stands as a reminder that black British writers remain underrepresented in literature today.