Women of Sound: Una Marson

Episode Summary

Una Marson was a pioneering Jamaican poet, broadcaster, and activist who made significant contributions to the world of radio and literature. Born in 1905 near Santa Cruz, Jamaica, Marson enjoyed a middle-class upbringing and education. By her early 20s, she had already begun her career in journalism as the assistant editor of a political magazine in Kingston. Demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to women's issues, Marson soon launched her own magazine, The Cosmopolitan, which was the first Jamaican magazine owned and edited by a woman. The publication covered a wide range of topics, including housekeeping, fashion, poetry, feminism, and radical politics. Marson's work as a writer was diverse, touching on themes of womanhood in Jamaica and exploring complex social issues through her poetry and plays. In 1932, Marson moved to London, a city where she faced significant racial and gender barriers despite her accomplishments. Jamaica was still a British colony at the time, and Marson found her opportunities limited. However, she continued her activism and became involved with the League of Colored Peoples, eventually serving as its secretary and the editor of its quarterly journal. Marson's activism focused on improving the lives of Caribbeans and advocating for women's suffrage and economic support for Jamaica. Marson's career took a significant turn in 1941 when she joined the BBC. During World War II, the broadcaster was expanding its reach, and Marson became a key figure in connecting West Indian migrants in the UK with their loved ones back home through radio. She was the guiding voice of "Calling the West Indies," a program that featured stories, music, and messages from Caribbean voices in London. Marson's work on the show and her development of the weekly feature "Caribbean Voices" were instrumental in the development of West Indian literature in the UK. Despite her success, Marson faced challenges at the BBC, including discrimination and overwork, which eventually led to her diagnosis with schizophrenia and her return to Jamaica in 1946. Back in her home country, Marson continued her work in reform and relief until her death in 1965 at the age of 60. Una Marson's legacy as a woman of sound is profound. She broke barriers as the BBC's first Black radio presenter and producer, and her contributions to literature and activism continue to inspire. Through her work, Marson connected communities, championed the voices of the marginalized, and paved the way for future generations of women in media and activism.

Episode Show Notes

Una Marson (1905-1965) was a Jamaican feminist, activist, writer, and broadcaster. She became the first Black producer at the BBC with her show Calling the West Indies, which connected West Indian migrants with family and loved ones during the turbulent wartime years.

Episode Transcript

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SPEAKER_07: We're all ready for you, Miss Marson.Thank you, Tommy.Hello, West Indies.This is Una Marson calling you from London.Tonight, we're having a special party.Una was born in 1905 near Santa Cruz, Jamaica. SPEAKER_06: She enjoyed a middle-class upbringing and education, and by the time she was in her early 20s, she'd found work as the assistant editor of a political magazine in Kingston.Two years later, Yuna started her own magazine, which she called The Cosmopolitan.Yuna's magazine was the first Jamaican magazine owned and edited by a woman, and it covered everything a young woman would need to read about — housekeeping, fashion, poetry, feminism, and radical politics. Yuna herself ran the gamut as a writer.She penned poetry on womanhood in Jamaica and wrote a play about a mixed-race relationship.Her work simply asked the questions she wanted to ask, no pretense in sight.In 1932, Yuna moved to London.At the time, Jamaica was still a colony of England.When Yuna arrived in the city, she was a published writer, founder, and editor of a successful magazine. But she found her opportunities limited by a ban that restricted the jobs she could apply for and the places she could go as a Black woman. People seemed surprised when Yuna spoke.She wrote about the experience in a poem.You speak good English, little brown girl.How is it you speak English as though it belonged to you?Yuna, along with students and West Indian and African migrants, found a place to stay at Dr. Harold Moody's house. Moody was the founder of the League of Colored Peoples, an organization fighting to better the lives of Black Britons.Yuna soon became the League's secretary, and later the editor of the League's quarterly journal.During this time, Yuna became a more fervent activist for Caribbeans.She traveled between Jamaica and England more often, attending congresses for women's suffrage and economic support for Jamaica.By 1941, Yuna found a new home for her work at the BBC. the broadcaster had been steadily expanding its reach during wartime.People living in the West Indies joined the war effort in the UK, and the BBC launched programs to keep them connected to their loved ones and homelands.One of those shows was Calling the West Indies.It showcased short, warm stories and music from primarily Caribbean voices in London. Then it played messages from family members, from servicemen, reaching out across oceans and battlefields to carry the words of loved ones from one to another over the airwaves.Una was the show's guiding voice, a presenter, an interviewer, an interpreter. SPEAKER_07: This is Una Boston introducing West Indians in Britain.First of all, here is Larry Constantine, the world-famous cricketer. Larry used to be just a summer visitor, but when the war began, he became a welfare officer to the Ministry of Labor.Hello, everybody.This is Larry Constantine. SPEAKER_06: With this new job, Yuna became the BBC's first Black radio presenter and producer.Later, she developed a new weekly feature called Caribbean Voices.It was more poetic, more along the lines of Yuna's writing back in Jamaica, featuring stories and poetry by West Indian writers. it was hugely influential to the development of West Indian literature in the UK.Unfortunately, Yuna's participation in Caribbean Voices was short-lived, thanks in part to the ongoing injustice she'd been working so hard to stop in the UK.Coworkers at the BBC knew Yuna was an incredible producer, but they also called her impatient. Yuna was direct and ambitious and probably overworked.She developed what an internal memo called crises at work.As that same memo stated, her main difficulties probably arise from social rather than technical circumstances.By 1946, she'd been diagnosed with schizophrenia. The BBC secured her passage back to Jamaica.She didn't return to the U.K., Yuna continued her work in reform and relief.She attended seminars, established her own publishing company, and tended to people in need.She was given a scholarship to study social development in Jamaica.In 1965, at the age of 60, Yuna died.All month, we're talking about women of sound.For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram at Womanica Podcasts. Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator.Talk to you tomorrow. SPEAKER_04: Looking for hair removal tools that not only deliver smooth results, but also empower you with a sense of complete control?Enter Conair Girl Bomb, your secret weapons for smooth, sleek results made just for women.From the ultimate girl bomb grip and professional-grade blades, you don't have to compromise and settle for less. 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