Immigration and race relations

Question 1

What does ‘race relations’ mean?

Answer 1

The relations between people of difference races within one country.

Question 2

What was the British Nationality Act and when was it?

Answer 2

1948, member of Commonwealth allowed British citizenship, given a British passport.

Question 3

What does ‘racial prejudice’ mean?

Answer 3

Negative attitude toward a group based on their race.

Question 4

What is the ‘colour bar’?

Answer 4

Where black people would be denied access to the same rights and opportunities as white people.
Employers operated a ‘colour bar’ - did not take on any black workers eg the Bristol Bus company

Question 5

When did SS Empire Windrush arrive in England, where, how much were tickets, how many people?

Answer 5

1948, carrying 500 West Indians, mainly Jamaicans, who paid 28 pounds for one way trip.

Question 6

Where did immigrants from the West Indies settle?

Answer 6

Those migrating arrived with little money - sought accomodation in the cheapest areas of town eg St Ann’s Nottingham, Toxeth in Liverpool and Notting Hill in London.

The effect: there was what the government called ‘the white flight’ from these areas.

Question 7

What were the causes of racial tension in the 50s?

Answer 7

1. Colour bar - on average black people were paid 28% less than an equivalent white worker.
2. Trade unions often supported employers who operated the colour bar. Some trade unions complained about immigrants taking jobs from whites by accepting lower wages
3. Teddy boys - gangs who sought to intimidate black men who were ‘taking their women’
4. Politicians and media fueled racial tension - some politicians said immigrants were taking advantage of welfare state, newspapers reinforced racial stereotypes eg portraying blacks as unclean criminals
5. Some landlords refused to let housing to black tenants.

Question 8

What are the examples of racism in the media?

Answer 8

Media showed racial minorities in a patronishing way.
Far fewer sports or media figures who showed racial minorities in a positive way.
Til Death Us Do Part - 1965 - 75 - a BBC sitcom whose racist views made him seem ridiculous, many didn’t realise he was being mocked.
Love Thy Neighbour - ITV sitcom about a white couple trying to come to terms with their black neighbour