Becoming Gamal, part 2: Behind the badge

Lives Less Ordinary

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.6 • 814 Ratings

🗓️ 20 November 2023

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Gamal Turawa has lived many lives - but never fitted in.

First as a black British boy adopted into a white family, then hoodwinked by his father and eventually begging on the streets of Lagos - he was always on the margins. As an adult he joined London's Metropolitan Police, but instead of finding a home there, his differences were used to tear him down and humilate him. When Gamal finally hit rock bottom he decided to stop hiding and stand out.

Details of organisations offering information and support on a wide range of issues are available at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producers: Charlie Towler and Harry Graham Editor: Laura Thomas

Transcript

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0:00.0	You are about to listen to a BBC podcast and I'd like to tell you a bit about what goes into making one.
0:06.5	I'm Sadata Sese, an assistant commissioner of podcasts for BBC Sounds.
0:11.1	I pull a lot of levers to support a diverse range of podcasts on all sorts of subjects,
0:16.0	relationships, identity, comedy, even one that mixes poetry, music and inner city life.
0:22.4	So one day I'll be helping host develop their ideas, the next fact-checking, a feature,
0:28.3	and the next looking at how a podcast connects with its audience. And maybe that's you.
0:33.6	So if you like this podcast, check out some others on BBC Sounds.
0:38.4	The Global Story provides fresh perspective on the stories that matter
0:43.2	with me Katia Adler and the BBC's worldwide network of journalists and reporters.
0:49.2	Coming soon from the BBC World Service.
0:52.1	Search for the global story wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
1:00.4	If you look back in the whole journey of my life,
1:04.4	everything was about wanting to belong.
1:07.0	I was desperate to belong somewhere.
1:13.6	And when you have that need to belong, you make certain sacrifices that you're not aware that you're making.
1:20.6	And sacrifices I made is that I gave up my identity.
1:26.6	Told racist jokes in the canteen
1:29.4	I went out and I stopped
1:32.2	searched as many black people as I could
1:34.5	because I wanted my colleagues to think
1:37.2	I'm not like them, I'm one of you.
1:39.3	I'm one of you.
	...

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