In episode three, Paolo and Paul talk to Pauline Black, the iconic lead singer of Two-Tone legends The Selecter.

Pauline was born on October 3, 1953, the daughter of a Nigerian man. As a baby, she was adopted by a white family in Romford, Essex.

In this enthralling and moving interview, Pauline talks about the loneliness of being adopted and growing up mixed-race in a predominantly white environment. She shares the difficulty of not having role models, as well as the frustration of not having the vocabulary to express her feelings at the time.

By the 1970s, Pauline embraced her Black identity, even though it clashed with her mother's expectations. She later changed her surname to "Black," a radical choice that highlighted her racial identity. As lead singer of The Selecter, she became a prominent figure in the 2-Tone ska movement, standing out as one of the few Black women in the genre.

Pauline eventually traced her birth mother in her 40s, discovering a connection to her Nigerian father and a reunion with her birth mother in Australia. In her journey of self-discovery, she stresses the importance of supporting adopted children with resources and connections to their heritage.

Tune in to hear more about Pauline's powerful story of identity, adoption, class, race, and finding her place in the world through music.

More information

• Buy Pauline's autobiography.
• Find out more about The Selecter here.
• Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story (documentary film).

Produced by Simon Wady.
Recorded at the Tileyard Studios, with thanks to Andres Albert.
Theme music by Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band.
"Human Algebra" by The Selecter was used with the kind permission of DMF Music.

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May we all shine on.