Malorie Blackman Reflects on Enduring Relevance of Noughts & Crosses
Acclaimed author Malorie Blackman has spoken candidly about her groundbreaking young adult novel Noughts & Crosses, asserting that its powerful themes of racism and prejudice remain as pertinent today as when the book was first published twenty-five years ago. In a recent interview with The Times, Blackman explained why she views the 2001 novel as being especially resonant "in the times we're living in."
A Dystopian Vision of Racism
The celebrated novel presents a dystopian Britain where Black people, known as "Crosses," constitute the privileged ruling class, while a white underclass, termed "Noughts," endures systemic racism and discrimination. The narrative centres on the forbidden interracial romance between teenagers Sephy and Callum, who are compelled to conceal their relationship from a prejudiced society.
"With Noughts & Crosses, my major point was to talk about racism and its legacy," Blackman stated. "Unfortunately, those themes are evergreen, aren't they? Especially in the times we're living in."
Contemporary Parallels and Societal Divisions
Blackman elaborated on the contemporary relevance of her work, noting that witnessing attacks on places of worship and violent hate crimes evokes a sense of familiarity with the novel's themes. "When I see synagogues and mosques being attacked and deliberate acts of driving into people, I think: 'Well, this is familiar,'" she revealed.
The author expressed profound concern over current societal discourse, observing, "The discourse seems to be if we disagree on anything then you're my enemy forever. Finding common ground seems to be very rare. I just find that sad." Her comments follow several high-profile hate crime incidents, including a tragic attack outside a Manchester synagogue last October and a suspected arson at a mosque in East Sussex the same month.
From Page to Stage and Screen
Noughts & Crosses initiated a best-selling six-book series and has been adapted into multiple formats. The Royal Shakespeare Company first brought the story to the stage, followed by a television adaptation broadcast on BBC One in 2020. Blackman, who has authored over seventy books, received significant recognition for her contributions to literature.
She was appointed Children's Laureate in 2013 and, in 2020, became the first children's author to receive the prestigious PEN Pinter Prize, established in memory of playwright Harold Pinter. Her services to children's literature were further honoured with an OBE in 2008.
Advocating for Diversity in Literature
Throughout her career, Blackman has consistently used her platform to champion diversity and inclusion within fiction and the publishing industry. In a 2020 interview with The Independent, she emphasised, "It's so important that all children see all children in books not only so no one grows up believing that the world of literature is not for them. But also, because the power of books is about being able to walk in someone else's shoes for a while and understand their point of view."
More recently, she has advocated for a more inclusive national curriculum. In a 2024 essay supporting the Lit in Colour campaign, which aims to diversify English Literature teaching, Blackman wrote, "No child should ever feel that studying English at school is irrelevant because they never see themselves and their lives reflected in the literature they are tasked to read."
As Noughts & Crosses marks its twenty-fifth anniversary, Malorie Blackman's reflections underscore the novel's enduring power to provoke thought and dialogue about racism, empathy, and the vital need for diverse representation in our cultural landscape.
