BBC World Service Online

The Why Factor

Documentaries

Factual

The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions

The Why Factor: Black

Black image

08/02/2013

Black

BBC World Service - The Why Factor, Black

Mike Williams peers into the world of black and asks why it has so many different meanings

Mike Williams peers into the world of black and asks why it has so many different meanings?

From the mythology of night time and darkness,  to being rebellious and cool,  to a word which has come to define a race of people, black, as a colour and a concept, has always meant many things.  Why?   

Where do positive and negative ideas that have been associated with black come from, how much resonance do they still hold today?  Mike Williams peers into the world of black, its science, history, psychology and politics and asks why black has so many different meanings.

(Image of black and white grid, BBC Copyright)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Why Factor

Black

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service