Bit of History into Black Britain

Media black britain

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Pressure 1976

The film was directed and written by Horace Ove. Herbet Norville play Tony.

Tony the English-born son of a Trinidadian parents living in Notting Hill, finds himself alienated from his white friends and white values, and follows the lead of a militant older brother into involvement with Black Power, while still being divided by his loyalties and identity.

There were many examples of racism presented within the film.

- When Tony went for his job interview, the interviewer changed personality as soon as he saw Tony was coloured as he thought we would be interviewing a white person.

- Tony was asked questions which discriminate him as a person and judged him quickly when asking is he had been into able trouble.

The film is also showing how Tony is torn between his families way. While food is used to show a clear difference between Britain and their country. It clearly shows how the older generation still have issues from the past on both sides. Where Tony's mother is more hopeful that things have changed. And Sheila's mother who doesn't accept Tony into the house. However the younger generation that have been born after Windrush like Tony knows that the white society still discriminate against him even though he was born in Britain.

Flame in the Streets

Flame in the Streets is a 1961 British drama film directed by Roy Ward Baker.It was written by Ted Willis. The Cinematography and editing was done by Philip Green and Roger Cherrill.

Synopsis : Racial tensions manifest themselves at home, work and on the streets during Bonfire Night in the burgeoning West Indian community of early 1960s Britain. Trades union leader (Mills) fights for the rights of a black worker but struggles with the news that his own daughter is planning to marry a West Indian, much against his own logic and the prejudice of his wife.

The lighting in certain scenes shows that the blacks in a more darker light and the the white in a bright light.

Having white and black people as couples were frowned upon in these times, making life difficult for the couple.

Tensions are high at the Warehouse were both races work. A line between both caused many problems and discrimination which is shown in the film when a speech is made. It would of made an effect on the audience for a white person to stand up for the coloured people, it would of also showed that between both races there wasn't much of a difference between the two as they all worked hard at there jobs.

Later in the film when a fight happen where the white group hassle a coloured man in a car. The white group is represented in a poor light and its makes the audience pity the coloured for being treated badly. However it doesnt show all the whites to be bad as before the fight both races mix while watching the bonfire.

There was still a divide in mixed races as the black stand at the black of the meeting while the whites are forward.

The households of the white family and the married couple show a big difference in life style. The white family's house is very clean big and nice looking. Where as the married couple live in one room that is very run down. This shows a stereotype version of how black people lived compared to white people.

In the movie instead of showing the black people are the bad guys it's shows the white people having the issue. This paints a bad light of the white culture of britain and places sympathy on the blacks.

Sapphire 1959 Trailer

Sapphire 1959

Sapphire is a 1959 British crime film. It was directed by Basil Dearden and produced by Michael Relph and Earl St.John.

It was written by Janet Green, the film focused on racism in London toward immigrants from the West Indies.

The film received a BAFTA Award for Best film. Janet Green also won an award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Foreign Film Screenplay.

Storyline : The film is about a pregnant girl found stabbed on Hampstead Heath. Although she appears to be white, her brother arrives at the police station to give evidence and he is black. It then becomes evident to the police officers that this girl has been passing for white.This film reveals the underlying insecurities and fears of ordinary people that exist towards another race.

The soundtrack to the movie had an influence to the audience creating more of an impact if a black person came on the screen and 'shocked' the audience.

• Families coping with the thought of having a black in their family and how it creates an impact on them all.

• When a black character said 'Me and my kind." This shows that they even split themselves apart from the white people.

• When they say the 'International club' the response 'oh i see they've let the jungle in' it suggests that they didn't think the west indies as people more like animals instead.

• At the end of the film it is shown how uncomfortable it is for the family to be in the same room as the coloured man. Yet again discrimination against coloured men.

Questions

INVESTIGATE WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN BRITAIN BETWEEN

1948 - 1962

British society changed a great deal between 1948 to 1962. In the 1950s large numbers of West Indians arrived in Britain. Between 1948 and 1962 workers from the countries could migrate to Britain without restriction, every Commonwealth citizen was entitled to enter the United Kingdom at will. this happened until in 1962.

· In July 1948 NHS began it was the first one to open was at Park Hospital in Manchester.

·

· Between 1948 and 1970 nearly half a million people left their homes in the West Indies to live in Britain.

· After 1948 unemployment remained very low and the late 1940s and the 1950s and 1960s were a long period of prosperity.

· In the 1950s Poverty was very low.

· In 1952 the population for Britain was at 50 million at least.

· The rights for women had improved after 1948 due to World War 2.

· By the 1950s services accounted for 51% of London’s economy, manufacturing accounted for 42%. Women benefited most from the new office jobs. During the 1950s women came to outnumber men in London's offices, for the first time ever.

HOW WAS THE SOCIAL LANDSCAPE CHANGING?

The 20th century saw a huge change in many aspects of women's lives. Women were gaining new legal and political rights together with more economic and social status. The first half of the century saw women's legal and political rights 'evened up' with men's, although by 1950 many inequalities remained.

A commonwealth citizen who wanted to work and settle in the UK had to obtain Ministry of Labour vouchers, which were issued under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 to 1969. The vouchers were issued in three categories:

Category A: For applcations by employers in this country who has a specific job to offer to a particular Commonwealth citizen.

Category B: For applcations by Commonwealth citizens without a specific job to come to but with certain special qualifications (eg.teachers)

Category C: For all others

HOW DID THE CHANGING SOCIAL LANDSCAPE LEAD TO A ‘RACIALISATION’ OF BRITISH POLITICS?

The influx of immigrants had started to bring a negative impact upon the amount of jobs available for British citizens. The British government tightened reigns in 1962 regarding immigration by setting up a law which meant that only British subjects who had strong links with the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, had the right of abode, the right to live and work in the UK.

REPRESENTATION WORKS THROUGH CONSTRUCTION – HOW WERE BLACK PEOPLE REPRESENTED IN THE FILM?

When watching Flame in the streets black people were represented in a very mixed light. It showed all different impacts of black people immigrating over in the UK. There were different storylines that all linked together to create an half concluded ending.

There was a storyline reflecting West indies working in the factories along with the whites, where discrimination against the blacks working and getting a promotion because of the colour of his skin. It showed a main white character standing up for the rights of West Indies working within the factories. However when it personally affects his family it become clear that he doesn’t fully believe west indies should have total equal rights.

Another storyline are on a family were a white girl becomes involved with a black man from work. When she tells her family of her relationship her mother doesn’t support her yet the father decides to accept her daughters decision and persuades his wife to meet him. Even though the family isn’t on the same page about the situation it is left open for the audience to decide what would happen to the family.

The other plot is a married couple the male black and the female white and pregnant , there household is run down unlike the white family. This is a representation of how the west indie’s lived back in that time.

At the end of the film there is a fight between both races leading to someone becoming seriously injured. This shows that mix between white and black Britain was still an issue.

Task 6 - What is Black British Culture?

When listening to the Radio 1Xtra programme , What is Black British culture? I was really interested to hear the stories of the people arriving from the caribbean and what there idea of Britain was to them and how they are treated once they began to live here permently and what music, food and clothing they like to wear. The dividing line of White line and black line.

Hearing about the 90's and the impact of the Hip-hop and America was interesting because as they spoke they said how their isn't much of a change but there is more a varied style of Black Artists.
They also talk about the stereotype of blacks and how they are loud and talk in slang and that not all black people speak like that and they have friends that are white that 'act' black. They also state their opinion that black people are very stereotyped of first encounters.

I have learnt that when the blacks first arrived that they weren't accepted and were alienated. Now society has taken more to Black british culture and the whites have adjusted to different lifestyles that the blacks have brought over. However the lifestyle of thi