65. Divergent Histories
Matthew Syed explores the story of two people overcoming a shared trauma, discovering the joy of learning and the power of a diagnosis to change their sense of self.
In the 1960s and 70s, Maisie Barrett and Noel Gordon were two black British children wrongly labelled as 鈥渆ducationally subnormal鈥�. They were sent to schools where children were never taught to read or write.
They鈥檙e just two examples of a scandal that affected hundreds of children in the UK, one that has never been officially acknowledged.
As adults, Noel and Maisie made a surprising discovery - they were both dyslexic. And with that diagnosis came a profound reimagining of themselves and what had happened to them.
Matthew Syed considers the relationship between ableism, racism and eugenics - concepts with roots that stretch back centuries and which continue to have a profound impact on society today.
With Maisie Barrett, Noel Gordon, sociologist Dr Chantelle Jessica Lewis, Assistant Professor Dr Robert Chapman, and occupational therapist Jenny Okolo.
Presenter: Matthew Syed
Producer: Tej Adeleye & Tom Wright
Series Editor: Katherine Godfrey
Sound Design and Mix: Rob Speight
Theme music by Ioana Selaru
A Novel production for 麻豆社 Radio 4
Last on
Broadcasts
- Wed 21 Aug 2024 09:00麻豆社 Radio 4
- Fri 23 Aug 2024 16:30麻豆社 Radio 4
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Podcast
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Sideways
Matthew Syed explores the ideas that shape our lives, making us see the world differently.
