Seriously...

Code-Switching


Listen Later

Like many young black people, Lucrece Grehoua is an expert in code-switching - used to changing her voice, accent and mannerisms when she enters white-majority spaces. But should she really have to? In this programme, Lucrece reveals the cost of hiding who we really are in the workplace and explores the mechanics of code-switching, a term first used to describe the experience of African-American students in the 1970s. She shares her own story of being taught to become “a palatable black girl with a soft voice and an unceasing smile”. And she talks to other young professionals about the steps they’ve taken to fit in – from adopting a “white voice” in the office to changing how they behave and switching up their look. We also hear from those who, tired of code-switching, are daring to be themselves in the corporate world.

Lucrece speaks to:

Her friends Emmanuel Ajayi, Cheryl Jordan Osei and Ivan
Her Mum and brother Steve
Criminal barrister Leon Nathan Lynch
Sociolinguist Devyani Sharma from the Accent Bias Britain Project
Nels Abbey, author of Think Like a White Man, A Satirical Guide to Conquering the World While Black
Elizabeth Bananuka, founder of BME PR Pros and The Blueprint
Social Mobility Commissioner and lawyer Sandra Wallace

Picture Credit: Jeff Overs/BBC

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Seriously...By BBC Radio 4

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

257 ratings


More shows like Seriously...

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,789 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,063 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,509 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,798 Listeners

In Our Time: History by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time: History

1,877 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,869 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,072 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,117 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,973 Listeners

Comedy of the Week by BBC Radio 4

Comedy of the Week

494 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

2,087 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

488 Listeners

Lives Less Ordinary by BBC World Service

Lives Less Ordinary

602 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

108 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

46 Listeners

Thinking Allowed by BBC Radio 4

Thinking Allowed

301 Listeners

The Audio Long Read by The Guardian

The Audio Long Read

837 Listeners

All in the Mind by BBC Radio 4

All in the Mind

63 Listeners

Private Passions by BBC Radio 3

Private Passions

51 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,211 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,041 Listeners

Life Changing by BBC Radio 4

Life Changing

73 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

131 Listeners

When It Hits the Fan by BBC Radio 4

When It Hits the Fan

51 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

51 Listeners