Theme 3 c 3 - Racial controversy and the impact of government policies, 1958-79 Flashcards
In what ways did politicians take part in racism and the ‘race relations’ between 1958-79?
- Cons and Lab attempted to win votes by proposing policies to restrict immigration.
- A minority of politicians ‘played the race cars’: winning votes by appealing to popular racism.
- Advocate ‘multiculturalism’
- Black rights groups founded to fight against racism in Britain
What factors led to the introduction of restrictions on immigration from 1962?
- Widespread public concern about ‘racial tensions’.
- Govt reports blaming black and Asian people fro crime, the rising costs of welfare and overcrowding
What was the first govt. bill restricting immigration from the ‘new commonwealth’?
Commonwealth immigration act 1962
- Under Macmillian.
Year - Commonwealth immigration act
1962
What was the aim of the commonwealth immigration act?
Designed to end large-scale immigration. To prevent the creation of a multi-cultural society.
What two reasons were given in the Commonwealth Immigration Act that meant people from former colonies could obtain an entry voucher?
- They had a job waiting for them.
- They had specific skills that the British economy required, for instance, a member of the medical professional
What did the immigration act of 1962 allow?
Families to be reunited so spouses or children of people living in Britain still had entry rights.
Year - second commonwealth immigration act
1968
How did the 2nd Commonwealth Immigration Act tighten up the rules on immigration?
- Children of migrants who are over 17 will be denied entry.
- Children with only one parent in Britain were denied entry.
- Entry required a connection to Britain: new migrants had to prove that a parent or grandparent lived in Britain.
Year - Immigration Act
1971
What were the two largely racial categories introduced by the immigration act?
- Partial - born in the UK or recent relative born in the UK tended to be white British people.
- non-partial - born outside the UK with no relatives born in the UK.
What were ‘Partial’ migrants subject to due to the Immigration Act?
No restrictions. Most white people from commonwealth would come and go freely.
What were ‘Non-Partial’ migrants subject to due to the Immigration Act?
Subject to strict controls. They had no right to entry or residence and those who had lived in the UK for less than 10 years could be repatriated.
What was the level of support for the first Commonwealth Immigration Act?
1962 - 62-76%
What was the level of support for the second Commonwealth Immigration Act?
1968 - 72%
What was the level of support for the Immigration Act?
1971 - 59%
Why did the 1968 Commonwealth Immigration act face controversy?
Denied Kenyan Asians who were fleeing persecution entry to Britain.
As a result, it was attacked by the press and student racial.
What three areas did the Acts restricting immigration impact?
Mass migration, multi-culturalism and the radicalisation of black rights groups.
In what fours ways did the 1962 Commonwealth Immigration act lead to the creation of a multi-cultural society?
- Large numbers of black and Asian migrants moved before the Act was in place.
- Those that had planned to leave now stayed for the fear of being denied re-entry.
- Allowed immediate families to enter.
- 1963-79 between 30,000 and 50,000 work vouchers were issued every year.
What happened to Asian and Black populations in Britain between 1960-61?
Doubled in anticipation of 1962 commonwealth immigration act
Between 1963-79 how many work vouchers were issued every year?
Between 30,000 and 50,000.
So migration continued at historically high levels
How did ‘new commonwealth’ migration change between 1956 - 1961?
1956 - 46,050
1959 - 21,600
1961 - 136,4000
Why did many black people vote for Labour in the 1960s?
- Opposed 1962 commonwealth immigration act
- Consv campaign ‘if you want a niggar for a neighbour vote labour’.
- 1964 General election Smethwick constituency cemented.
Give four examples of Minority groups to fight for their rights
- 1968 British Black Panther Party
- 1971 - Brixton Black Women’s Group
- 1974 - Race Today Collective
- 1975 - Asian Youth Movement
Year - formation of the British Black Panther Party
1968
Year - formation of the Brixton Black Women’s Group
1971
Year - formation of the Race Today Collective
1974
Year - formation of the Asian Youth Movement
1975
In 1966 what did Toy Jenkins say about a multi-cultural society?
- Rejected the goal of cultural assimilation. Argued immigrants should be under no obligation to adopt ‘English customs’.
- Should be a common commitment to equality of opportunity for all.
- Wanted cultural diversity and all should respect other’s customs.
How were the Black Panthers and the Race Today Collective effective in organising to challenge racism?
- 1971 - forced first official acknowledgement that there was ‘evidence of racial hatred in the Metropolitan Police’.
- 1974 - Organise Imperial Typewriters strike this forced predominantly white unions to support Asian workers.
- 1974-76 - Organise the largest squat in British history to ensure the Bengali population of Tower Hamlets had access to safe housing.
In 1971 what did the Black Panther achieve?
forced first official acknowledgement that there was ‘evidence of racial hatred in the Metropolitan Police’
In 1974 what did the Race Today Collective achieve?
Organise Imperial Typewriters strike this forced predominantly white unions to support Asian workers
Between 1974-76 what did the Race Today Collective achieve?
Organise the largest squat in British history to ensure the Bengali population of Tower Hamlets had access to safe housing.
Why were the three Race Relations Act implemented?
To outlaw various aspects of racial discrimination.
What motivated the Race Relations Acts?
- Pressure from Black and American people to deal with racism in Britain.
- Govt. concerns that poor ‘race relations’ would lead to widespread rioting.
- A political commitment to multi-culturalism
Who was the first person to be convicted of inciting racial hatred?
Micheal X the leader of the Racial Adjustment Action Society after giving a speech in Reading in 1967.
Who holds the record for the most amount of arrest under the 1965 law?
Roy Sawh, deputy chair of the Universal Coloured People’s Association.
Give an example of how the new Race Relations Acts created a backlash
Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of blood’ speech.
On 20th April 1968 addressing Labours proposals to introduce a tougher race relation law.
What did Enoch Powell argue in his ‘Rivers of blood’ speech 1968?
- Mass migration and antiracist laws meant minority groups had more rights and privileges than white people in Britain.
- The white were now ‘strangers in their own country’.
- Multi-culturalism would lead to segregated communities and violence.
- The govt. should give grants to black and Asian people to encourage ‘re-emigration’.
What was the message of Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of blood’ speech?
Reflected a new kind of ‘post-colonial racism’. It acknowledged that the British Empire was dead, but also advocated keeping Britain white.
What proportion of British people agreed with Enoch Powell’s speech?
74%
What event demonstrated Britains support for Enoch Powell?
Three days after he was sacked from the Conservative shadow cabinet there was a march of 1,000 dock workers expressing their support for Powell. They carried placards that read ‘Don’t knock Enoch’.
Year - Nationa Front political party founded
1967 - very racist saying Black and Asian people had no right to express their own culture in Britain.
Year - 1st Race relations Act
1965
Year - 2nd Race relations Act
1968
Year - 3rd Race relations Act
1976
What were the provisions of the 1st Race Relations Act?
- Outlawed the ‘colour bar’ - became illegal to deny people access to service and public places on the basis of race.
- Outlawed incitement of racial hatred.
- Established Race Relations Board (RRB) to monitor enforcement of the law.
- Did nothing to end racial discrimination in housing.
What were the provisions of the 2nd Race Relations Act?
Extended 1968 act by:
- Outlawing racial discrimination in housing and employment
- Establishing the Community Relations Commission (CRC) to promote multi-culturalism through education.
What was the CRC?
Community Relations Commission - promote multi-culturalism through education.
From the 2nd Race Relations Act
What is the RRB?
Race Relations Board (RRB) to monitor the enforcement of the law.
From the 1st Race Relations Act
What were the provisions of the 3rd Race Relations Act?§
- Led to further protections from racial discrimination.
- Indirect discrimination was outlawed.
- Combined CRC and RRB to create the new Commission for Racial equality.
What is indirect discrimination?
The discrimination that was not based primarily on ethnicity, but effected some groups in a detrimental way.
Year - Notting Hill Carnival
1976
What happened at the Notting Hill Carnival?
1976 - There were extreme aggressive attempts by the Metropolitan Police to close down the Carnival.
It was created by Trinidad immigrants.
1977 - Similarily tried to stop the African Liberation Day the year later. Darcus Howe preformed citizen’s arrest on local police officers and his actions were later upheld in court.
What was a racial rule in British schools?
Students from India n or Caribbean background were not allowed to make up more than 30% of the school population.
Give an example of when the 1976 Race relations act was used in practice
Upheld the right of Sikh boys to wear turbans to school following the 1982 court case Mandla v. Dowell-Lee
