Other

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

The Reith Lectures

Performances & Events

Factual

The BBC's annual series of lectures from a major academic figure.

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

The Reith Lectures: Mistaken Identities: Colour

News

The Cape Coast - Ghana

01/11/2016 GMT

Mistaken Identities: Colour

BBC World Service - The Reith Lectures, Mistaken Identities: ColourSearch BBC

Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah discusses skin colour and its role in ideas of identity

Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah discusses skin colour and its role in ideas of identity.

We live in a world where the language of identity pervades both our public and our private lives. We have religious identities, national identities, gender identities and racial identities. There is much contention about the boundaries of all of these. And you can claim to be of no religion or gender or race or nation.

Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah looks at the story of Anton Wilhelm Amo Afer, who was brought from the Gold Coast to Germany in 1707 at the age of five and was educated at a royal court, becoming an eminent philosopher. Kwame argues against racial essentialism and says there is far more variation among people of the same skin colour than between the races.

(Photo: The Cape Coast in Ghana)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Reith Lectures

Mistaken Identities: Colour

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

About BBC World Service