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Learning pathway

1. Windrush

2. Notting Hill Riots

3. Bristol Bus Boycott

4. Rivers of Blood

5. Mangrove 9

6. Stephen Lawrence

7. Windrush Scandal

Write a narrative account analysing the developments to civil rights in the UK

Civil Rights – What was happening in Britain?

Retrieval Practice – What do you think was so effective about the Civil Rights Movement in the USA?

1939 - 1945: World War Two

21 June 1948:

The Windrush

26 Jan 1949: Nationality Act

29 Aug - 5 Sept 1958:

Notting Hill Riots

Apr - Aug 1963:

Bristol Bus Boycott

1968:

Race Relations Act

20 Apr 1968: Rivers of Blood Speech

16 Dec 1971:

Mangrove 9 Trial ends

22 Apr 1993: Stephen Lawrence is murdered

July 1997:

Macpherson Report

2012:

Hostile Environment Legislation

Total war and rebuilding

New industries eg NHS and Transport

Military needs

Decline in empire

Where could Britain find more workers?

The Commonwealth - an international association of the UK and other countries which were previously part of the British Empire.

When did the Windrush arrive?

How many people were aboard?

Where have the passengers come from?

What jobs did the passengers have?

Where were most people heading?

Why did some not have an address?

What problems did the Windrush Generation face?

How much was a ticket?

When did the Windrush arrive?

21 June 1948

How many people were aboard?

1029

Where have the passengers come from?

Caribbean

What jobs did the passengers have?

Mechanics, carpenters, tailors, engineers, welders, musicians, RAF, boxers, housing domestics etc.

Where were most people heading?

London

Why did some not have an address?

Some had no fixed plan or accommodation.

What problems did the Windrush Generation face?

Finding somewhere to live.

Racism.

How much was a ticket?

£28

A few weeks after the Windrush had docked, the Government passed the 1948 Nationality Act which created the category of ‘Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies’ and full rights of entry and settlement in Britain to people from the colonies.

This Act granted citizenship and right of abode in the UK to all members of the British Empire and by 1956, more than 40, 000 people from the Caribbean had moved to the UK.

The Nationality Act

The Nationality Act was…

This influx ended with the 1971 Immigration Act, where Commonwealth citizens lost their automatic right to remain in the UK.

However the Commonwealth citizens, which included the Windrush Generation, that had arrived prior to this and were already living in the UK were given indefinite leave to remain.

And so when I came to London in 1969, I was so shocked because I thought it was so dirty, broken down and there was so much smoke.

The beginning of 1969. It was really depressing. Course I had to remember that we were invited to come and rebuild Britain after the war. So it’s understandable that the place seems to be in such a mess. So we settled down and went to school for the first 3 months without going on the wards. And eventually we went on to the wards as student nurses.

It was a very hostile environment. Most of our patients were white. Throughout my 3 years of nursing, they were very rude and ignorant about the rest of the world. They didn’t know where Trinidad was. They kept saying what part of Africa? What part of Europe is Trinidad?

I used to cry and I rang my mother in Trinidad and I told her this place is awful. It’s cold, it’s damp, it’s grey, it’s dirty and broken down. And about the people who were so rude and horrible. And I want to come home. And she said “come home to do what?” She said “listen. I did not send you, you did not go to London to like the city or to like the people. You went for a purpose, to have a rewarding and fulfilling future and make something of yourself. You didn’t go to like people and if they don’t like you that is their problem anyway.” Then I got to grips with myself and one day a white patient called me a ‘monkey’ and a black something. And I said listen. I am sick of you calling me names. I said I am Black. For 21 years I know I’m Black. So tell me something I don't know.

What did Jasmine not like about London?

What does she say about the patients she treated?

What advice did her mother give her?

How did she respond to being called names?

23/05/2025

1. Why does Mr. Jordan believe his headquarters will reduce racial violence?

2. What does he believe is the biggest problem with immigration?

3. What is his solution?

It will give white people a peaceful outlet

Interbreeding, which will lead to the downfall of British ‘culture and civilization’.

Stopping further immigration and repatriating people who have already migrated and settled

23/05/2025

On the day the Empire Windrush docked in Essex in 1948, 11 Labour MPs sent this letter to the Prime Minister asking that black immigration to Britain be limited.

‘The British people fortunately enjoy a profound unity without uniformity in their way of life, and are blessed by the absence of a colour racial problem. An influx of coloured people domiciled here is likely to impair the harmony, strength and cohesion of our people and social life and cause discord and unhappiness among all concerned.

In our opinion colonial governments are responsible for the welfare of their peoples and Britain is giving these governments great financial assistance to enable them to solve their population problems. We venture to suggest that the British government should, like foreign countries, the dominions and even some of the colonies, by legislation if necessary, control immigration in the political, social, economic and fiscal interests of our people.’

David Olusoga, Black and British: A Forgotten History, (2016), pp. 495-496.

Civil Rights – What was happening in Britain?

Retrieval Practice – What was Windrush? Why did it happen?

The 1958 Race Riots of Notting Hill

Many West Indian immigrants settled in the Notting Hill area, in part because of the low rents that they were able to find in large “houses of multiple occupancy” (HMOs). Many of these HMOs were cramped, dirty and unsafe environments, due to landlords making alterations to allow them to house more people. However, new immigrants were able to find employment in low-skilled and manual labour jobs. This put them in direct competition with many of the white working-class residents of the Notting Hill area.

Why did West Indians settle in Notting Hill.

Describe HMOs.

What kind of jobs did immigrants do?

Why did this anger white working class residents?

Racial tensions began to grow in areas across the UK, including areas of London such as Notting Hill.

There was an increase in attacks committed by white youths against black residents in the area, and there was a notable increase in graffiti containing slogans such as “Keep Britain White”.

On the 24th August, a group of around 10 white youths committed six serious assaults against members of the West Indian community in the Notting Hill area.

What happened as a result of an increase in racial tensions?

What happened on 24th August 1958?

The rioting in Notting Hill was triggered by a violent attack on a white Swedish woman called Majbritt Morrison. Majbritt’s husband was Jamaican and she was attacked by a gang of white youths. She was struck with an iron bar and had items thrown at her. During the attack, she was also subject to a number of racial insults which referred to her husband.

Following the attack, the gang continued to move through the neighbourhood targeting homes that they knew to contain Afro-Caribbean residents. By the evening, a group of around 300 – 400 white “Teddy Boys” had gathered.

Over the course of a weeklong spree of rioting, around 140 people were arrested. The majority of those who were arrested were white youths, however a number of black people were also caught carrying weapons. Ultimately, 108 people were charged with crimes relating to the riots, including; grievous bodily harm, possessing offensive weapons and rioting.

What triggered the attack on Majbritt Morrison and what happened to her?

Explain what happened after the attack.

Whilst sentencing some of those involved, judges decided to give particularly harsh sentences in an attempt to act as a deterrent to others who were considering similar actions. Some of those who were involved were given 5 year sentences and fines of up to £500. This was a substantial fine in the 1950s.

How were the people involved punished?

Civil Rights – What was happening in Britain?

Retrieval Practice – Describe the racial tensions in Notting Hill in the late 1950s

The rioting in the area caused a breakdown of trust between the police and the African-Caribbean community. The African-Caribbean community claimed that police had not taken their fears seriously. They argued that many of the black people who had been arrested during the riots were only acting in self-defence.

However, the rioting did lead to the hugely popular Notting Hill carnival. The first carnival was held on 30th January 1959. This carnival gave the West Indian community the opportunity to celebrate their heritage. Although it was a small-scale event compared to the current Notting Hill carnival, it was televised on the BBC. Britain’s first black newspaper editor, Claudia Jones, hosted the event and aimed to use the carnival to improve race relations in London.

Although there are still some racial tensions in the area, things have improved since the low point at the end of the 1950s. Whilst there is still a large African-Caribbean population in the Notting Hill area, there are now large communities from Eastern Europe as well. Work continues in the Notting Hill area to ensure that all communities are able to live together in harmony.

Explain the positive and negative consequences of the Notting Hill Race Riots.

A spring afternoon in 1963. Eighteen-year-old Guy Bailey arrived on time for his job interview. Bailey was well qualified for the post.

He strolled up to the front desk. He told the receptionist why he was there. She looked up at him. "I don't think so," she said.

Bailey thought she must be mistaken. "The name is Mr Bailey," he told her.

The receptionist stood and went to the manager's office. Bailey heard her call through his door: "Your two o'clock appointment is here, and he's black."

The manager shouted back from inside his room: "Tell him the vacancies are full."

Bailey protested. There was an advert for applicants in the local paper only the day before. Just an hour ago, his friend had rung the same office and been told there were plenty of jobs.

"There's no point having an interview," said the manager, still in his office, refusing to come out and meet Bailey's eyes. "We don't employ black people."

What happened to Guy Bailey?

What do you think a ‘colour bar’ is?

Colour Bar - a social and legal system in which people of different races are separated and not given the same rights and opportunities.

Record this definition in your book.

Why was there a colour bar on the Bristol Buses?

What examples of racism can you identify in these sources?