Becoming Black – how a Ska ‘princess’ found her calling
As lead singer of The Selecter, Pauline Black pushed music and racial boundaries but struggled with her own identity. Adopted as a baby it took decades to understand her past.
This episode contains outdated racial language.
In 1979, Pauline Black was thrust into the limelight as lead singer of The Selecter, a British band which fused ska, punk and reggae. Fans were enthralled by her dramatic stage presence – dressed in sharply tailored suits and a trademark trilby. Pauline crafted a unique 'rude girl' persona characteristic of ska fans and British-Jamaican youth culture. The Selecter, with its mix of Black and white musicians were trailblazers in a society where racism was commonplace.
Pauline was no stranger to racial tension. The daughter of a Nigerian prince, she was adopted by a white family who taught her that Black men were dangerous and to be avoided. Her childhood was confusing and complex and it would take Pauline decades to reclaim her identity and learn the truth about her birth parents.
Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Maryam Maruf
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707
(Photo: Singer Pauline Black in the 1980s. Credit: Getty Images)
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