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What does it take to be considered cool?

American jazz saxophonist Lester Young epitomised one of our modern understandings of cool. As cultural historian Joel Dinerstein explains, he wore sunglasses and adopted a laid-back attitude in order to defend himself against racism in 1940s America.

Photo: Lester Young (PoPsie Randolph/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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1 minute