Claudia Rankine - On Whiteness

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20180916

The multi-award winning American poet, essayist and playwright Claudia Rankine explores the ubiquity and meaning of dyed blonde hair.

Honey blonde, platinum blonde, gold baby lights, sandy blonde, platinum blonde, white blonde. Although only around 5% of white Americans are naturally blonde, around 3 out of 4 women there lighten their hair. But do blondes really have more fun?

Walking around New York City, Claudia talks to people she encounters about the fascination with blondness.

Claudia Rankine's best-selling 2014 book Citizen: An American Lyric mixed prose, poetry and images to shine a light on racist micro-aggressions and language.

Producer: Jo Wheeler
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4

American poet Claudia Rankine explores the ubiquity of dyed blonde hair.

2018091620180922 (R4)

The multi-award winning American poet, essayist and playwright Claudia Rankine explores the ubiquity and meaning of dyed blonde hair.

Honey blonde, platinum blonde, gold baby lights, sandy blonde, platinum blonde, white blonde. Although only around 5% of white Americans are naturally blonde, around 3 out of 4 women there lighten their hair. But do blondes really have more fun?

Walking around New York City, Claudia talks to people she encounters about the fascination with blondness.

Claudia Rankine's best-selling 2014 book Citizen: An American Lyric mixed prose, poetry and images to shine a light on racist micro-aggressions and language.

Producer: Jo Wheeler
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4

American poet Claudia Rankine explores the ubiquity of dyed blonde hair.