Research of Black Britain

1948 - 1962
Between 1948 and 1962 was called the Windrush Years. Since the end of World War 2, Britain was faced with a common political dilemma - Commonwealth immigration. Many West Indians had travelled to Britain for the opportunity to work. Many returned back to their country however many decided they would like to stay, and this started a more multi-cultural society. This angered many British people and sparked racism and prejudice towards many black people including people from Jamaica, the West Indies and several countries in Africa. This led to the Notting Hill riots (1958) in which there were many racist attacks.

How was the social landscape changing?
Many black people began to start getting jobs in majority-white populated areas. This infuriated many white people as they said they did not want to work with 'coloured ' people. Many relationships between black and white people began and this was seen to many as disgusting and shameful. This is evident in the film 'Flame in the Streets' when a young white girl wanted to marry her black boyfriend. Her parents were disgusted; her mother in particular. People stared in the street and were shocked at seeing them together as this was seen as a taboo subject. Black people also found it hard to find places to live as many owners of properties refused to rent places to black people.

How did the changing social landscape lead to a 'racialisation' of British politics?

During the 1960s, tthe worry about the amount of immigrants immigrating and living in Britain increased. Due to this, governments began to tighten rules on immigration and decide on new rules and regulations on who was allowed to come and live in Britain.

 

 

Sapphire

Sapphire is a film about a mixed raced young girl that is murdered. Her brother believes that she was killed because she was black. Sapphire posed as a white person. Her white partner is distraught and said he found out only a few days ago but this did not affect their relationship and it did not make a difference to him.

When Sapphire's brother enters the room for the first time, daunting music is played and a close-up of the policeman's face shows how shocked he was. When another policemen arrives, he stops mid-sentence in shock at seeing her black brother. This could show how shocked they are that her brother is black and has a good profession. This also shows they had the assumption that her brother would be white.

We learn Sapphire stopped being friends with black people, and posed as a white person in order to be more accepted and respected. This shows the prejudice that existed against black people at that time, and that they were not respected. Sapphire lived in a house with only white women. When the owner found out Sapphire was black, she was disgusted and seemed embarrassed, as though a black person living there was unacceptable.

When we learn of the woman who killed Sapphire, she says that she couldn't stand the 'dirty hands on her things'. This shows how racist people were and felt that having black people live with them was embarrassing.