Thinking Black

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Peter Fryer

20201005

20230320 (R3)

There were Africans in Britain before the English came here.' So begins the book 'Staying Power', the first comprehensive history of black people in Britain. Its publication in 1984 caused great controversy because its author, Peter Fryer, was white. Some argued it wasn't his place to tell their story. Anticipating this, Fryer had written in the preface that he would make every effort to 'think black' - to grasp imaginatively as well as intellectually the essence of the black historical experience.' But it was felt by some not to be enough.

Thinking Black' is a series of personal essays in which the writer Colin Grant explores the fascinating stories of five individuals who have each attempted, in one way or another, to transcend or challenge the boundary of race.

In this first essay, Colin asks whether it is appropriate for a white author to write black history or whether it's simply appropriation. Does empathy have a place in the writing of history? Peter Fryer's empathetic skill is clear in his writing, so does this help justify his authorship, especially in the absence of any other written history? Colin Grant examines these questions, the book 'Staying Power' itself and the life of its author.

Produced by Kirsty Pope

A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3

Colin Grant explores whether it's appropriate for a white writer to write black history.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

John Howard Griffin

20201006

20230321 (R3)

What does it mean to be black?

Thinking Black' is a series of personal essays in which writer Colin Grant explores the fascinating stories of five individuals who have each attempted, in one way or another, to transcend or challenge the boundary of race.

In this essay, Colin explores black invisibility, interweaving his own experience with the work of John Howard Griffin and his book 'Black Like Me'. A pioneering white journalist in 1950s America with a strong sense of racial injustice, Griffin conceived of a project in which he would disguise himself as an African American in order to be able to write about black experience. Griffin wished to open the eyes of his fellow white Americans in the hope of kindling kinship between the two groups. The experience shocked him, particularly the invisibility he experienced when appearing in front of many white Americans as a newly incarnated black man.

Colin asks how successful this experiential writing can be and explores how virtual reality software has attempted to tackle the same issue today. Are either forms likely to be successful in combating the racist thinking that invisibility often evokes?

Produced by Kirsty Pope

A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3

Colin Grant examines how black people often experience invisibility in wider society.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Bert Williams

20201007

20230322 (R3)

When it comes to blackness, what are society's expectations?

Writer Colin Grant examines this question, interweaving his own experience growing up in Luton with the story of Bert Williams, a black vaudevillian in early 20th-century America.

A gifted, intelligent comedian, Williams was forced to further black up' and performatively dumb down to meet the expectations of the white audiences and theatre producers of the day. His talent was extraordinary, and he went on to become the highest paid entertainer in America. But was it too big a price to pay for success?

Colin Grant looks at Bert Williams's place in the history of minstrelsy and explores whether Williams's experience shares common ground with the gangsta rappers - and ordinary black people - of today.

Produced by Kirsty Pope

A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3

Writer Colin Grant explores the history and evolution of minstrelsy.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Sandra Laing

20201008

20230323 (R3)

The tragic story of Sandra Laing - born in apartheid South Africa to white parents but with an appearance that suggested she was not white - forms the backdrop of writer Colin Grant's exploration of racial passing: pretending to be part of a racial group other than your own.

Laing's story involved being racially reclassified by the South African state four times and includes her having to pass as a coloured woman, which to the best of her knowledge, she was not. Colin considers what it means to pass' and the associated absurdity of an imposed taxonomy of race.

Colin examines other examples of passing in history and asks whether it should always be seen as a betrayal when someone pretends to be white when in fact they aren't. What are the consequences for the individual - and for the race they try to deny?

This personal essay is one of five in the series Thinking Black' in which Colin Grant tells the fascinating stories of individuals who have each experienced or challenged the boundaries of race. He interweaves these lives with his own experiences and in so doing explores the nuances of some of the complex issues underlying the current debate around race and identity.

Produced by Kirsty Pope

A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3

Writer Colin Grant explores the history and consequences of racial passing.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Michael Manley

20201009

20230324 (R3)

Who is and isn't black? What, in fact, is black'? Who gets to decide?

Writer Colin Grant examines the life of Jamaican politician Michael Manley and the extraordinary socio-cultural context of Jamaica as it emerged from colonial rule. Using Manley's story, Colin explores the criteria by which we judge blackness' and argues that there's a much more nuanced approach required than the one usually employed. Colin draws on Manley's life to argue that it is perfectly possible to be white-skinned and black.

This is the last essay in the series Thinking Black' in which Colin explores the fascinating stories of five individuals who have each experienced or challenged the boundaries of race. He interweaves these lives with his own experiences and explores the complexity of some of the issues underlying the current debate around race and identity.

Produced by Kirsty Pope

A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3

Writer Colin Grant asks who is black and who isn't - and who gets to decide?

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Peter Fryer	20201005	20230320 (R3)	There were Africans in Britain before the English came here.' So begins the book 'Staying Power', the first comprehensive history of black people in Britain. Its publication in 1984 caused great controversy because its author, Peter Fryer, was white. Some argued it wasn't his place to tell their story. Anticipating this, Fryer had written in the preface that he would make every effort to 'think black' - to grasp imaginatively as well as intellectually the essence of the black historical experience.' But it was felt by some not to be enough. Thinking Black' is a series of personal essays in which the writer Colin Grant explores the fascinating stories of five individuals who have each attempted, in one way or another, to transcend or challenge the boundary of race. In this first essay, Colin asks whether it is appropriate for a white author to write black history or whether it's simply appropriation. Does empathy have a place in the writing of history? Peter Fryer's empathetic skill is clear in his writing, so does this help justify his authorship, especially in the absence of any other written history? Colin Grant examines these questions, the book 'Staying Power' itself and the life of its author. Produced by Kirsty Pope A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3 Colin Grant explores whether it's appropriate for a white writer to write black history. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
02	John Howard Griffin	20201006	20230321 (R3)	What does it mean to be black? Thinking Black' is a series of personal essays in which writer Colin Grant explores the fascinating stories of five individuals who have each attempted, in one way or another, to transcend or challenge the boundary of race. In this essay, Colin explores black invisibility, interweaving his own experience with the work of John Howard Griffin and his book 'Black Like Me'. A pioneering white journalist in 1950s America with a strong sense of racial injustice, Griffin conceived of a project in which he would disguise himself as an African American in order to be able to write about black experience. Griffin wished to open the eyes of his fellow white Americans in the hope of kindling kinship between the two groups. The experience shocked him, particularly the invisibility he experienced when appearing in front of many white Americans as a newly incarnated black man. Colin asks how successful this experiential writing can be and explores how virtual reality software has attempted to tackle the same issue today. Are either forms likely to be successful in combating the racist thinking that invisibility often evokes? Produced by Kirsty Pope A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3 Colin Grant examines how black people often experience invisibility in wider society. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
03	Bert Williams	20201007	20230322 (R3)	When it comes to blackness, what are society's expectations? Writer Colin Grant examines this question, interweaving his own experience growing up in Luton with the story of Bert Williams, a black vaudevillian in early 20th-century America. A gifted, intelligent comedian, Williams was forced to further black up' and performatively dumb down to meet the expectations of the white audiences and theatre producers of the day. His talent was extraordinary, and he went on to become the highest paid entertainer in America. But was it too big a price to pay for success? Colin Grant looks at Bert Williams's place in the history of minstrelsy and explores whether Williams's experience shares common ground with the gangsta rappers - and ordinary black people - of today. Produced by Kirsty Pope A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3 Writer Colin Grant explores the history and evolution of minstrelsy. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
04	Sandra Laing	20201008	20230323 (R3)	The tragic story of Sandra Laing - born in apartheid South Africa to white parents but with an appearance that suggested she was not white - forms the backdrop of writer Colin Grant's exploration of racial passing: pretending to be part of a racial group other than your own. Laing's story involved being racially reclassified by the South African state four times and includes her having to pass as a coloured woman, which to the best of her knowledge, she was not. Colin considers what it means to pass' and the associated absurdity of an imposed taxonomy of race. Colin examines other examples of passing in history and asks whether it should always be seen as a betrayal when someone pretends to be white when in fact they aren't. What are the consequences for the individual - and for the race they try to deny? This personal essay is one of five in the series Thinking Black' in which Colin Grant tells the fascinating stories of individuals who have each experienced or challenged the boundaries of race. He interweaves these lives with his own experiences and in so doing explores the nuances of some of the complex issues underlying the current debate around race and identity. Produced by Kirsty Pope A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3 Writer Colin Grant explores the history and consequences of racial passing. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
05	Michael Manley	20201009	20230324 (R3)	Who is and isn't black? What, in fact, is black'? Who gets to decide? Writer Colin Grant examines the life of Jamaican politician Michael Manley and the extraordinary socio-cultural context of Jamaica as it emerged from colonial rule. Using Manley's story, Colin explores the criteria by which we judge blackness' and argues that there's a much more nuanced approach required than the one usually employed. Colin draws on Manley's life to argue that it is perfectly possible to be white-skinned and black. This is the last essay in the series Thinking Black' in which Colin explores the fascinating stories of five individuals who have each experienced or challenged the boundaries of race. He interweaves these lives with his own experiences and explores the complexity of some of the issues underlying the current debate around race and identity. Produced by Kirsty Pope A Far Shoreline production for BBC Radio 3 Writer Colin Grant asks who is black and who isn't - and who gets to decide? Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.