This blog will focus on the general experience that black-British migrants had faced during the 1960s. The blog will analyse and evaluate the changes and impact that had occurred during the movement of migrants across Britain between the years 1950 to 1962. A general trend in the 1960s was the decrease in the number of black migrants coming to Britain due to the implantation of tighter immigration controls.[1] As stated in the previous blog, opposition towards migrants did occur and was not dealt with by those in power due to the fear of losing power in Parliament.[2]
A significant change that occurred was the increase in racial attitudes towards the black migrants. The attitudes towards migrants existed during the 1950s, however, in the 1960s the attitudes were explicitly shown in more sections of British society from MPs and Politicians to employers. Those attitudes towards the migrants had affected the experiences of the migrants severely. In term of employment, some immigrants struggled to find work even though employers required staff but refused to hire black migrants to work. Migrants were also refused access housing and other establishments.[3]
The events that occurred at the Notting Hill Carnival had heighten the increased discrimination towards the migrants and ultimately changed the experience of the immigrants from 1958.[4] The Notting Hill riots was a significant downturn for the migrants, the first response to tackle the issue was tighter restrictions on the influx of migrants.[5] In 1962 the Commonwealth Immigration Act was imposed, stopping the influx of migrants and only allow access to Britain on the basis of vouchers.[6] As a result of the bill blackness was equated with second-class citizenship.[7] The legislation effected every single migrants both directly and indirectly and greatly changed the way society treated the migrants. The long-term affect of the legislation hindered the social mobility of immigrants as they were forced to work in mainly manual-labour jobs due to the demands of the economy as well as the increase in racial prejudice.[8]
[1] Panikos Panayi, The Impact of Immigration: A Documentary History of the Effects and Experiences of Immigrants in Britain since 1945 (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1999), 1, https://content.talisaspire.com/gold/bundles/5dfb5d250cb4c365837c9fc4.
[2] Peter Fryer, Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain (London: Plutopress, 2018), 381.
[3] HERNON, IAN. “The Notting Hill Race Riots.” In Riot!: Civil Insurrection From Peterloo to the Present Day, 170-84. LONDON; ANN ARBOR, MI: Pluto Press, 2006. Accessed March 31, 2020. doi:10.2307/j.ctt18fs8hm.21.
[4] Panikos Panayi, The Impact of Immigration: A Documentary History of the Effects and Experiences of Immigrants in Britain since 1945 (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1999), 15, https://content.talisaspire.com/gold/bundles/5dfb5d250cb4c365837c9fc4.
[5] Panikos Panayi, The Impact of Immigration: A Documentary History of the Effects and Experiences of Immigrants in Britain since 1945 (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1999), 15, https://content.talisaspire.com/gold/bundles/5dfb5d250cb4c365837c9fc4
[6] Panikos Panayi, The Impact of Immigration: A Documentary History of the Effects and Experiences of Immigrants in Britain since 1945 (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1999), 15, https://content.talisaspire.com/gold/bundles/5dfb5d250cb4c365837c9fc4
[7] Peter Fryer, Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain (London: Plutopress, 2018), 382.
[8] Panikos Panayi, The Impact of Immigration: A Documentary History of the Effects and Experiences of Immigrants in Britain since 1945 (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1999), 18.
Marve's Blog 