About this episode

Jackie Kay discusses her experiences with adoption, identity, and the search for belonging.

Jackie Kay is an acclaimed poet and novelist, who was previously the national poet of Scotland – a role known as the Makar. She’s the author of Red Dust Road , a memoir that chronicles a twenty-year search for her birth parents. Jackie was adopted as a baby by a white Scottish couple and grew up in suburban Glasgow. Throughout her life, she's had to explore questions of identity, belonging and family – themes that run through some of the most celebrated writing of the past forty years. In this conversation, Jackie reflects on how the love of her adoptive parents helped her navigate racism, what it means to feel at odds with your national identity, and whether it's ever possible to feel completely at home in yourself. These discussions are intended for general information and should not be considered medical, psychological or professional advice. If you have concerns about your health or wellbeing, please consult a qualified professional. Jackie Kay is an award-winning Scottish poet and author of Selected Poems 1991-2006 , May Day and Red Dust Road . To hear more from us: Patreon: Watch exclusive home tours, HomingWithMatt YouTube: Subscribe to our channel, Homing with Matt…

People in this episode

Host: Matt Gibberd

Guest: Jackie Kay

Topics covered

• adoption
• identity
• belonging
• family
• racism
• national identity

Keywords

• Jackie Kay
• adoption
• identity
• belonging
• racism
• Scottish poet
• memoir

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Scottish

Products: A Modern Way to Live

Books & works: Red Dust Road, Selected Poems 1991-2006, May Day

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