Arogundade

The creativity of author, designer, broadcaster Ben Arogundade

Photo portrait of author writer broadcaster Ben Arogundade

NEW RELEASE

Halle Berry and Denzel Washington feature in Hollywood Blackout, by Ben Arogundade

A revisionist history of Hollywood and the Oscars, through the lens of minorities and women

On 29 February 1940, African American actor Hattie McDaniel became the first person of colour, and the first Black woman, to win an Academy Award. The moment marked the beginning of Hollywood's reluctant move toward diversity and inclusion.

Since then, minorities and women have struggled to attain Academy Awards recognition within a system designed to discriminate against them. For the first time, Hollywood Blackout reveals the untold story of their tumultuous journey from exclusion to inclusion; from segregation to celebration.

Ben Arogundade interweaves the experiences of Black actors and filmmakers with those of Asians, Latinos, South Asians, indigenous peoples and women. Throughout the decades their progression to the Oscars podium has been galvanized by defiant boycotts, civil rights protests and social media activism such as #OscarsSoWhite.

Whether you are a film fan, history lover or diversity advocate, Hollywood Blackout is the quintessential choice for all those who wish to know the real story of Hollywood, the Oscars and the talents who fought to make change.

Release date: February 13, 2025

Pre-order the book now at all places where books are sold.

OR DISCOVER MORE ABOUT HOLLYWOOD BLACKOUT

Hollywood actress Hattie McDaniel, in Gone With The Wind

MORE BOOKS — ONLINE DATING

Internet date book, My Terrifying, Shocking, Humiliating, Amazing Adventures In Online Dating

“Fantastic.”

The Telegraph

“Extremely educational.”

GQ

“Intriguing and powerful.”

BBC Radio 5 Live

My Terrifying, Shocking, Humiliating, Amazing Adventures In Online Dating

I recount my turbulent journey as an online dater, during which time I was stood up, verbally abused, propositioned for sex and asked to be a father to an unborn child. Along the way I offer singles the secrets and best practices they need to boost the quality of their matches, and I present the latest strategies, research-based guidelines and innovations to take their online profiles to new levels of excellence. Get it now at Amazon, £9.99.

OR DISCOVER MORE ABOUT MY ONLINE DATING BOOK

Online dating mixed race couple kissing on relationship date 2022

FICTION: The Sexual Language Of Strangers

Eccentric millionaire Dennison Carr invents a bizarre game in which he pays a group of handpicked men to seduce women he selects at random. One of the male seducers, a down-and-out graphic designer named Erskine, is recovering from a recent trauma that has made him averse to relationships. Things begin to unravel when he begins to develop feelings for a jazz singer called Natascha, one of the women he is paid to seduce. As they both battle against their aversion to intimacy, and their expanding feelings for one another, neither is prepared for the shocking conclusion Dennison has planned.

The novel, which includes 18 sex scenes, became a cult hit when first released, and was championed by Hollywood actor and ‘Matrix’ star Laurence Fishburne, who recorded an audio segment which has never been released. Get the book now at Amazon, £8.99/$11.99.

Dark fiction - an erotic sexual novel for our times

New literary fiction sex and romance novel 2025, by Ben Arogundade

President Donald Trump illustrated book cover title release

Fake Views? The Donald Trump Book Of Covers (2016)

The Donald J. Trump presidency in pictures (FIRST TERM) — a definitive illustrated history of his rise from real estate mogul to the White House, told through a unique collection of 240 of his front covers, from 1979 to 2016. Witness Trump depicted as the anti-Christ, Adolf Hitler, The Joker, a Ku Klux Klansman, a terrorist, a psychopath, a narcissist and a sexual predator, to name but a few.

WINNER: GENERAL NON-FICTION: Indie Book Awards 2019.

FINALIST: BEST COVER DESIGN: Indie Book Awards 2019.

Get it now at Amazon.

£29.99/$34.99 or less.

Obama: 101 Best Covers

President Barack Obama illustrated book biography of best front covers collection

During his two terms in office, President Barack Obama amassed more newspaper and magazine front covers than any other in history. This book presents the best 101 examples from across the globe in a special commemorative edition celebrating the startling event that was the election of the first African American president.

Eight years in the making, the book’s selection of covers depict Obama in a kaleidoscope of guises, including feminist, communist, fashion model, Jew, Muslim terrorist, Messiah, Superman, George Washington, President Roosevelt, Julius Caesar and Hindu deity Lord Shiva. The accompanying text discusses the design, typography, photography and political context of each cover, bringing to life this unique portrait of one of the world’s most famous men. Get it now at Amazon. Available in FOUR different covers.

£29.99/$39.99 or less.

Black Beauty illustrated book cover, Grace Jones, by author Ben Arogundade

Black Beauty: A History & A Celebration (2000)

Released in 2000, ‘Black Beauty’ chronicles the turbulent journey of black beauty within Western culture, from antiquity to the present. It analyses the aesthetics of make-up, hair, skin-tone and facial features amongst people of colour, and the way in which these motifs have been both accepted and rejected within Eurocentric culture. The narrative draws upon a galaxy of black stars of film, fashion, music, television and sports. From Josephine Baker to Beyoncé, from traditional African hairstyles to coloured contact lenses and blonde weaves, ‘Black Beauty’ has become the key text for all studies of this branch of beauty history. Now a three-part BBC documentary.

Get it now at Amazon.

“Beautiful.”

Vogue

DISCOVER MORE ABOUT MY BOOK BLACK BEAUTY

The Tragic Tale Of Fashion’s First Black Supermodel.

Pele king-sized limited edition art photo book by Ben Arogundade.

FOOTBALL: A TRIBUTE TO PELE

Brazil World Cup legend Pele and Gloria Books editorial director Ben Arogundade, at the launch of Pele's illustrated biography, London 2009.

Pelé, one of the greatest footballer’s that ever graced the game, died on December 29, 2022. In one of my previous incarnations as editorial and creative director at London’s Gloria Books (now closed), I am proud to have produced this Pelé collectable — a king-sized illustrated biography covering the key moments in the Brazilian football legend’s life.

The photo-book was a mammoth undertaking, consisting of 720 pages, 250,000 words and over 1,700 images. It was printed in a limited edition of 2,500 copies, each of which was signed by Pelé himself. The finished item was presented in an XXL-sized format, measuring 45cms x 35cms.

ESSAYS & ARTICLES

I write across different subject areas, from history to sports and fashion. As a journalist my work has featured in a range of publications, including ‘The Times’, ‘The Telegraph’, ‘The Guardian’, ‘The Evening Standard’, ‘GQ’, ‘Marie Claire’, ‘Elle’ and ‘Creative Review’.

MY LATEST ARTICLES

British actor Sir Laurence Olivier as Othello, with Maggie Smith as Desdemona

Multi-ethnic models

New Perspectives On Shakespeare: Olivier’s Othello in Blackface (1965)

What Is Beauty? Find Out What The Experts Say.

BBC RADIO BROADCASTING

IN THE RADIO DOCUMENTARY ‘The World According To Search’ I travel across the globe in pursuit of the most popular, weird and wonderful internet searches, and the fascinating stories behind them. Tune in, and join me on my amazing journey.

I WORK AS A voice actor across commercials, documentaries and audiobooks. I have voiced the writing of everyone from Charles Darwin to Bernadine Evaristo. l recently recorded the audiobook for George Orwell’s ‘Essays’. Check out the sample below.

I am represented by Sue Terry Voices.

VOICEOVERS

George Orwell's Essays, audiobook by Ben Arogundade

ART & DESIGN: Apps

I HAVE CREATED a series of health, well-being and self-improvement apps designed to entertain, inform, inspire, or even change behaviours. The apps consist of original quotes and thought-provoking prose which are designed to convey big ideas within small sentences. They combine the power of words with elegant designs that are simple and easy to use. Learn more here.

Mindful app of best quotes written art designed by Ben Arogundade

ART DIRECTION: Extract Magazine

Extract magazine style photographic front cover art for issue 1 of monthly creative magazine

SURFING ahead of the zeitgeist for 'reality' media, I launched ‘Extract’ – a bi-monthly style magazine about non-celebrities. It rejected the lives of the rich and famous in favour of interviews and profiles with unknown personalities from around the world. As well as publishing the magazine, I also edited and designed its pages. It attracted international attention, not only for its then radical editorial agenda, but also for its creative page layouts. Images were supplied by an army of talented young British photographers who were as unknown as their subjects. The title drew a cult audience globally.

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