Jeremiah Emmanuel - Dreaming in a Nightmare: Finding a Way Forward in a World That’s Holding You Back

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#Merky Books
20 Vauxhall Bridge Road
London, SW1V 2SA

#Merky Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.

Copyright Jeremiah Emmanuel, 2020

Cover photography: Alexander Sturrock

Jeremiah Emmanuel has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

First published by #Merky Books in 2020

www.penguin.co.uk

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 9781529119077

For Gloria Green
Forever in our hearts

I have sometimes changed the names and details of individuals within the text to preserve anonymity, but everything you are about to read is true, or as close to the truth as I can tell it.

Victor Acquah is a former investment banker turned entrepreneur. He consults for a number of businesses and individuals in the entertainment industry. He also secures key investment opportunities for his clients and assists in the delivery of events. In 2019 he helped put together an event at the O2 Arena with a 20,000 capacity. In his spare time Victor works as a commissioned officer the Army Cadet Force. He currently holds the rank of Captain.

Debbie is a Partnerships Officer and Youth Worker who grew up in south London. Shes passionate about helping young people, having worked in adventure playgrounds and youth clubs across Lambeth for almost ten years. Debbie believes that young people should have a say in the spaces they use. She currently works at Building Young Brixton with a focus on ensuring the services delivered are youth-led and regularly holds meetings with the Youth Steering Group. Outside of work, Debbie enjoys chilling with her fifteen nephews and nieces, reading and writing (having completed a masters in Childrens Literature), and baking.

Esther Daniel is a church minister and childrens pastor. Her life ambition has been to give back to others, and support the local community and beyond. She hopes to soon kick-start the organisation she founded fifteen years ago, Beauty4Ashes.

Mariam Diaby is a twenty-one-year-old social creative and activist from south-east London. She is currently in her third year of university studying Politics and IR and is committed to creating change within society. She is a part of the Damilola Trust Youth board, a charity which aims to improve and better communities, and is currently finishing a documentary focusing on young black boys and mental health. She is shortly launching MDTV, a channel that will produce insight into the reality of events that affect young people, whilst acknowledging individuals doing great things within our society.

Deborah Emmanuel is a creative from Brixton, and the loving mother of Josiah. Deborah runs Hampers by Dee, a bespoke seasonal hamper business.

Krystal Frimpong is a British-born Ghanaian currently working in the construction and building management industry. Krystal has a BA honours in Marketing and Media and is a social activist, who has worked in the criminal justice system and mentored young children from various backgrounds. She is passionate about supporting young people and helping them to fulfil their limitless potential. In her spare time, Krystal supports event management, contributes to documentaries and podcasts, and bakes. Krystal is focused on a diverse and inclusive community that fosters progress.

Seven is a social entrepreneur and innovator. Having worked with brands like Nandos, Superdry, Nike, and Instagram, and being an advocate within charities and for wellbeing, mental health and meaningful self discovery, he runs unique workshops and gives talks through his own brands, enterprises, and projects. Growing up feeling isolated by the systems meant to support you, he is a strong proponent for building programmes and relationships to give young people meaningful voice and opportunities.

Karl Lokko is a former gang leader turned activist, poet, public speaker, adventurer and personal advisor. Further to this he has managed to harness his life experiences which has propelled and uniquely situated him as an activist and influencer within the UK. Karl is a gifted orator with a rare ability to connect with people on a human level, bridging worlds and uniting communities.

Damani Mensah is a twenty-one-year-old entrepreneur from south London. He is an A&R scout at Just Entertainment and music manager. He is also the tour manager for up-and-coming artist Frosty. His aim is to one day start his own music management consultancy company.

Precious Oyelade is a writer and marketer who has worked and volunteered in education, media and tech. She graduated with a degree in Politics, Psychology and Sociology from the University of Cambridge, and received a starred first for her dissertation on the impact of Nollywood Nigerian film on the Nigerian UK diaspora. She was later awarded the University of London Award upon completing her MA in African Studies at SOAS. She is currently working in communications, specialising in African tech, sits on the youth advisory board for CVQO a vocational education charity, and consults for an African diaspora entertainment channel in the UK.

Daryl Parker is a qualified personal trainer, nutrition coach and entrepreneur from Croydon. He studied Sports Science at Coventry University, and currently runs his own online personal training company, www.darylparker.co.uk

All my life Ive had dreams in a nightmare, because where Im from theres no scenery and no sun. Ive just tried to work hard for Mum. Im just a young entrepreneur whos trying to change the world!

23 October 2017

Welcome to Dreaming in a Nightmare. My name is Jeremiah Emmanuel. Im twenty years old and I was born and raised in south London. All my life, Ive felt like Ive inhabited two different worlds. In one, I am listened to and respected. Doors are opened for me. I can do anything I want to. In another, I am ignored and I am targeted. In this world, prison is expected and violence is accepted. I have no opportunities and am punished for thinking I might succeed. This is a book about my life, but its about your life too. Its about those two worlds the dream and the nightmare how you can move between them, and what happens when you do. You are probably wondering what I mean. Well, let me give you a few examples