Postcolonial Western Europe: Britain

Question 1

The Equals (Police On My back, 1967)

Answer 1

First multicultural band in British pop music - one of first examples of black and white people collaborating to sing about police racism, and getting into the charts
Musical acticism
Criminality and running from law big theme in Jamiacan music - hero of a lot of Ska songs in trouble with police and staying ahead of them

Question 2

Heathcott quote

Answer 2

‘Ska was generated out of transnational network of labour and music migration’

Question 3

Impact of Ska and dancehall culture

Answer 3

Rocksteady movement - associated with young men from outlying Jamaican towns and villages moving to larger cities
Regae movement - what Jamaica was known for nationally, associated with politics and protest
Punk influence - Clash covered ‘Police on My Back’

Question 4

‘Sus’ laws

Answer 4

Stop and search. Allowed police to harass black teenagers on the streets, or search whoever else they wanted - slightly restricted in 1984

Question 5

1981 riots

Answer 5

Due to Brixton New Cross fire not investigated after house caught fire.
13 black teenagers dying, Michael Bailey stabbed and suspicion that police left him to die instead of taking him to hospital.

Question 6

Southall Youth Movement

Answer 6

1976 - formed after murder of Asian Sikh man Girdip Singh Chaggar

Question 7

‘It Dread Inna Inglan’

Answer 7

Linton Kswei Johnson (1978) sang in Jamaican Patois

‘Dem frame up George Lindo up in Bradford town’ > George imprisoned for robbery suspected to be innocent, common occurence

Question 8

Rock Against Racism

Answer 8

Founded 1976 by musicians and music journalists, many with left-wing politics
Ended in 1981 due to divisions in left, but long lasting cultural impact
Attempted to use live music to catalyse solidarity among black, Asian and white youth

Racism in late 1970s Britain led to Rock Against Racism: National Front Street Movement growinng
White musicians (Eric Clapton, David Bowie) made 'troubling' statements - Claptop supported politicians on stage that wanted to send immigrants back to countries of birth, Bowie occasionally talked approvingly on facism.

More successful for left than other political campaigning (Anti-Nazi League). Linked racism directly to Imperialism, as a British problem

Question 9

David Widgery quote:

Answer 9

Rock Against Racism founder
‘We want rebel music, street music, music that breaks down people’s fear of one another. Crisis music. Now music. Music that knows who the real enemy is. Rock against racism. Love Music Hate Racism’

Question 10

The Clash ‘White Riot’

Answer 10

1977
‘Black man got a lotta problems
But they don’t mind throwin’ a brick’

‘All the power’s in the hands
Of the people rich enough to buy it
While we walk the street
Too chicken to even try it’