THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST EP.249 - PAULINE BLACK
Jun 11, 2025
Pauline Black, a trailblazing English author, actor, and lead singer of ska band The Selecter, shares her fascinating journey through the two-tone music movement. She discusses the complexities of her mixed-race identity growing up in an adoptive family and the emotional reunion with her biological mother. Pauline reflects on the transformative power of music amid societal issues, and how her style evolved over the years. Her insights reveal a compelling blend of personal experiences and cultural nostalgia that shaped her artistry.
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Adoption Reveal at Age Four
- Pauline Black was told she was adopted at age four, which deeply affected her emotionally.
- She immediately sensed she was different in predominantly white Essex and felt sensitized to being black.
Finding Her Birth Mother
- Pauline used adoption papers and letters to identify her biological mother.
- She waited until she was 42 to reach out, worried her birth mother might no longer be alive.
Reuniting by Letter and Phone
- Pauline found her birth mother in Australia through subtle community inquiries and property records.
- Their first meeting was a phone call after Pauline sent a long, cautious letter.