Civil Rights in the Uk

In America there has been a long history of civil rights abuse towards African-Americans, but in the UK during the 1950s and 1960s civil rights were also lacking. In 1963 a young black protester in Britain echoed the action of Rosa Parks in America and began a bus boycott that helped bring in Britain’s anti-discrimination law.

Early History of British Immigrants

The slave trade in Britain was first documented around 1562 and by the early 18th century there were 14,000 black people living in Britain. Few had any real freedom, and it was not until the abolitionists began protesting that slavery across all of the British Empire was banned in 1833. By 1892 Britain had its first Indian Member of Parliament, Dadabhai Naoroji. After World War II 150,000 Poles arrived in Britain along with hundreds of men from the West Indies and multi-cultural Britain had arrived.

The Mass Migration

During the 1950s Britain invited workers from the Caribbean especially Jamaica to fill job vacancies such as labourers and transport workers in order to help rebuild post war Britain. As the rise in immigration continued so too did the rise in racial violence in cities such as London, Birmingham and Nottingham. The government began to curb immigration and by 1972 non-whites could only settle in Britain with a work permit or if they had parents or grandparents who were born in Britain. By 1970 the amount of non-white residents in the UK numbered 1.4 million, although a third of this number were born in Britain.

Racial Discrimination in the UK

Racial discrimination in Britain during the postwar period was rife. Many of the immigrants were skilled workers but racism and discrimination meant that semi or unskilled work was the only option. By the 1960s the economy in Britain was declining and black workers were the first to lose their jobs. Those that did manage to keep jobs usually did double the work for less pay. The racism and discrimination in Britain echoed that felt in America at the time, although on a smaller scale.

The Civil Rights Pioneer

There were a number of black people who made a difference to the civil rights of the black population in Britain. One was Paul Stephenson, who in 1963 led a boycott against a racist public bus company. The Bristol bus company operated a colour bar that refused employment to blacks or Asians. Stephenson, a 26 year old teacher, organised the 60 day bus boycott on the city’s buses. Thousands of people supported the bus boycott and the news of the racism made headlines. By the 28 August 1963 the bus company lifted the employment colour ban. This was the same day that Martin Luther King Jr made his “I have a dream speech”.

Anti-Discrimination Laws

Mr Stephenson would once again hit the headlines when he stood trial for refusing to leave a pub until he was served a beer. It was not uncommon to see signs in Britain during the 1960s proclaiming, “No blacks, no Irish, no dogs”. Both cases helped to highlight the treatment of blacks and Asians in Britain during this period. During Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s term (1964-1976) he introduced tighter controls on immigration but also introduced legislation that made racial discrimination a legal offence.

Racial Discrimination

Racial discrimination is now a legal offence in the UK and these civil and human rights are afforded to every man, woman and child. Racial discrimination includes discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, nationality and ethnicity. It is an offence to discriminate on these grounds in areas such as employment, education, housing, and the provision of goods and services. It is also an offence for public authorities such as the police or government departments to discriminate in its activities on these grounds.

Other Civil Rights UK

Racial discrimination is not the only discrimination that can be pursued as a legal offence. It is also an offence to discriminate on the grounds of religion, sexuality, gender and disability. Discrimination for any of these reasons can lead to legal consequences. It is important that people are aware of their civil rights in the UK as it is the best protection they have against discrimination.

Racial discrimination and the abuse of civil rights did not end when the anti-discrimination legislation was passed in the 1960s. But this legislation did mean that anyone who practiced discrimination could face legal consequences. The fight for equality and freedom has been a struggle in America, Britain and many other countries around world. Hopefully this struggle will help future generations live in a more equal society.

Further Reading

• Brian Haw: Icon of the Uk Peace Protest Movement
• Online Stalking and Civil Rights
• Women and Civil Rights
• Black Civil Rights History
• The Fight Against Racism
• America and the Civil Rights Movement
• Martin Luther King and the Movement
• Key Figures in the Civil Rights Movement
• The March on Washington
• The Civil Rights Act 1964

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