4 Race and Immigration 1951-1979 Flashcards
Between 1958-1979
what were general attitudes in politics?
- politicans appealed to popular racism or proposed to restrict immigration to win votes
- black rights groups formed to fight this
immigration policy
commonwealth immigration act 1962
macmillan
- people from colonies were only allowed into the country if they: 1. had a job waiting for them or 2. could prove that they had a skill Britain needed, for example if they were a medical professional
- spouses or children of citizens were also allowed in
immigration policy
commonwealth immigration Act 1968
wilson
why was it controversial..?
- children of migrants living in britain who were over 17 were denied entry
- children with only one parent living in Britain were denied entry
- Proof of parents or grandparents living in Britain was required for entry
controversial because it denied kenyan asians who were fleeing persecution
immigration policy
what caused the ‘need’ for it?
- racial tensions
- black/asian people blamed for crime, welfare issues and overcrowding
immigration policy
Immigration Act 1971
heath’s racial categories
- partial: born in the uk, or had parents or grandparents born in the uk
- non-partial: born outside the uk, and whose parents/grandparents were born outside the uk
partial had no restrictions, non-partial were denied entry, and if they had lived in the uk for less than 10 years they could be deported.
race relations
Race Relations Act 1965
Wilson
- illegal to deny service based on race
- outlawed racial hatred
- race relations board to enforce these rules
Race Relations
Race Relations Act 1968
Wilson
- outlawed discrimination in housing and employment
- comunity relations board to promote multiculturalism through education
Race Relations
Race Relations Act 1976
Wilson
- outlawed indirect discrimination
- combined Race Relations Board and Community Relations Commission to form a new commission on racial equality
this act was used to uphold the right of sikh boys to wear turbans in school following 1972 Mandla v. Dowell-Lee case
Race Relations
why did race relations act begin?
- pressure from black/asian population
- government thought rioting could happen soon if nothing was done
- political commitment to multiculturalism
Race Relations
what were the consequences of the race relations acts?
- prosecutions as a result of inciting racial hatred, but this was often used against black radicals
- for example, Michael X was arrested after his speech in reading in 1967
- Roy Sawh was arrested the most under 1965 law
White backlash
Enoch Powell Rivers of Blood speech 1968
- black + asian people had mire rights than white people
- white britons ‘strangers in their own country’
- multiculturalism - segregated communities and led to violence
- government should give grants to black and asian people to encourage re-emigration
White backlash
what happened as a result of enoch powell’s speech
- he was sacked from the conservative party
- but, 3 days after the speech took place, 1000 dockworkers stood in solidarity with powell holding placards that read ‘dont knock enoch’
- also, an opinion poll showed 74% of people agreed with him
White backlash
when was the national front party formed?
1967
White backlash
Notting Hill Carnival, what happened in 1976/1977
- the carnival was created by immigrants
- intense policing of the carnival led to violent clashes with the police at the 1976 carnival
- police also tried to close down the African Liberation Day celebrations taking place at the festival in 1977.
- Darcus Howe performed a citizens arrest on local police officers as a protest. this was later held up in court
White backlash
policy of dispersal
designed to enfoce assimilation. 70% of school populations had to be white.
- the policy was abandoned in the late 70s, but it showed Britain’s resistance to immigration.
conequences of acts
what were the main consequences of the immigration commonwealth acts?
- mass migration
- radicalisation
conequences of acts
how did the acts lead to mass migration?
although the goal of the commonwealth acts were to limit migration, actually the opposite occured:
- people moved to Britain before it came into action
- people stayed in Britain out of fear of being denied entry
- immediate family allowed entry
conequences of acts
How did the commonwealth acts lead to radicalisation?
- labour opposed the 1962 act, creating an initial link between migrants and labour - but the party became stricter against migration from 1965.
- radical black people rejected mainstream politics.
conequences of acts
radical organisations formed by activists in 1968, 1971, 1974 and 1975.
1968: Obi B. Egbunda formed the British Black Panther party
1971: Olive Morris formed the Brixton Black Women’s group
1974: Darcus Howe formed the Race Today Collective
1975: Asian Youth Movement
conequences of acts
1971 Darcus Howe and Althea Jones Lecointe forced the acknowledgement of what?
‘evidence of racial hatred in the Metripolitan Police.’
conequences of acts
1974: RTC organised what?
the imperial typewriters strike, which forced support of white unions to asian workers.
conequences of acts
1974-1976: RTC organised the biggest what in British history? to ensure what?
organised the biggest squat in British history to ensure the Bengali population of tower hamlets had access to safe housing
conequences of acts
how did white politicans behave until the late 80s…? :(
white politicans and journalists continued to use the word ‘coloured’ when referring to black and asian people into the late 80s.
conequences of acts
home secretary Roy Jenkins and the multicultural society 1966 speech:
- Cultural assimilation should not be enforced
- there should be a common commitment to equality
- respect for eachothers culture
- cultural diversity is a GOOD THING
