THEME 3: Racial controversy and the impact of government policies on race relations and immigration, 1958–79

Question 1

Commonwealth Immigration Act, 1962

Answer 1

• Designed to end large scale immigration and prevent a multi-cultural society.
• People from former colonies could gain entry vouchers for two main reasons:
  
  • They had a job waiting for them.
  • Had specific skills the economy needed.
• The act allowed families to be reunited.

Question 2

Failure of the 1962 Act

Answer 2

• Large numbers of immigrants moved to Britain before the ban came into place.
  
  • Black and Asian population doubled 1960-1961.
  • 1959 = 21.6k migrants, 1961 = 136.4k.
• Many black and asian migrants stayed for fear of being denied re-entry.
• The act allowed for immediate family to enter Britain.

Question 3

Commonwealth Immigration Act, 1968

Answer 3

• Labour tightened the rules:
  
  • Children of migrants living in Britain who were over 17 were denied entry.
  • Children with only one parent living in Britain were denied entry.
  • Entry required a connection to Britain: New migrants had to prove that a parent or grandparent lived in Britain.

Question 4

The Immigration Act, 1971

Answer 4

• Two new categories introduced:
  
  • Partial: People born in the UK or who had parents/grandparents who were born in the UK.
  • Non-partial: People born outside the UK, and whose parents/grandparents were born outside the UK.
    
    • Subject to strict controls: no right of entry or residence and those who lived in UK for less than 10 years could be repatriated.

Question 5

3 Race Relations Act Summary

Answer 5

Summary:
Collectively, these Acts outlawed racism in British society in a number of forms. It also established boards and commissions to help promote multiculturalism and monitor the enforcement of the new laws.

Question 6

Race Relation Act, 1965

Answer 6

• Outlawed the colour bar - illegal to deny entry based on skin colour.
• Outlawed incitement of racial hatred.
• Established Race Relations Board (RRB) to monitor the enforcement of the law.
• The Act did nothing to end racial discrimination in housing.

Question 7

Race relation Act, 1968

Answer 7

Extended 1965 provision:

• Outlawing racial discrimination in housing and employment.
• Established the Community Relations Commission (CRC) to promote multi-culturalism through education.

Question 8

Race Relations Act, 1976

Answer 8

• Led to further protections from racial discrimination.
• Indirect discrimination was outlawed: Discrimination that wasn’t based primarily on ethnicity, but affected some groups in a detrimental way was banned.
• Combined the CRC with the RRB to create the new Commission for Racial Equality.

Question 9

Black Power Groups (Radicalisation)

Answer 9

• In the 1960s, many young black people rejected mainstream politics in favour of black power.
• 1968: Nigerian playwright (Obi Egbuna) formed the British Black Panther Party.
• 1974: Darcus Howe founded the Race Today Collective - most significant black rights organisation of the period.

Question 10

White backlash

Answer 10

• 1968: Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood Speech
• Powell’s speech reflected a new post-colonial racism.
  
  • Advocated keeping Britain white and inflamed racial tensions.
• 74% agreed with Powell.
• National Front est in 1967 - more attacks on migrant occured in the months after the speech.

Question 11

Assimilation and multiculturalism.

Answer 11

• The race relations laws created the beginnings of an official commitment to cultural diversity.
• Home Sec (Roy Jenkins) was a key proponent of multiculturalism - didn’t really emerge in the 1960s + 1970s tho.
• Policy of dispersal in schools failed. Some signs of it working by the 70s and 80s.
  
  • Eg, 1976 RRA used to uphold right of Sikh boys to wear Turbans following a court case in 1982.