Soar

'[A] self-deprecating, often hilarious, and brutally honest story of a fascinating life, told by a man whose activism is built on conversation rather than confrontation' - Daily Telegraph
Simon Woolley is a member of the House of Lords, the first Black man to head an Oxbridge college, and a policy changemaker who has the ear of prime ministers and the King. But this is a Lord who wants to shake up the establishment; an outsider who knows how important it is to bring underrepresented voices to the table.
Raised by loving white foster parents on the impoverished St Matthew's Estate in Leicester, young Simon learnt about politics while in line at the barber's and about racism as one of the few Black children in the neighbourhood. The desire to make the world better was awakened during a trip to South America, where he saw revolutionary politics first hand. Inspired, he co-founded Operation Black Vote in 1996, credited with encouraging thousands of Black men and women to exercise their right to vote.
Soar is a story of courage and perseverance, of remaining positive despite the challenges of institutional racism. It's about becoming a father and honouring your heritage. But most of all, it's about being your own role model, when no others have been available to you.