Jason Arday, Born 1985
PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
Jason Arday was born deaf in one ear, could not speak until he was eleven, was brought up on a poor housing estate, and suffered racial discrimination in the streets. It was only at the age of eighteen that he learned to read and write. In this autobiographical essay Jason explains how, with the help of his mother and others who believed in him, and supported by his Christian faith, he overcame these obstacles to become at the age of 33 an Associate Professor in the Sociology Department of Durham University. Along the way he raised a million pounds for charities by undertaking extremely challenging long distance runs. This life story is a transcript of a 2021 talk by Jason Arday in the BBC Radio 4 Lent Talks series. In February 2023 he was appointed as Professor of Sociology of Education at Cambridge University.
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Source: This autobiographical essay is a transcript of a 2021 talk by Jason Arday in the BBC Radio 4 Lent Talks series. It is archived here with acknowledgement and thanks.