1968: It was legal to deny housing or employment based on race - Asian Massive Crew Community 2002/2020
Home Control Panel Gallery Chat Room Arcade Eye Candy Projects Multimedia Networking Search Sign Up

Advertisements



★ ♥ ★ A Multicultural Community that unites people from all over the world ★ ♥ ★
Go Back   Asian Massive Crew Community 2002/2020 > PROFESSIONS / EDUCATION > Social Studies > History
Forgotten Your Password? Register
User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools

1968: It was legal to deny housing or employment based on race
  #1  
Old 25-06-2019
balti's Avatar
balti
Wild Poster
balti is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,535
balti will become famous soon enough
My Mood:
Status:
Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive

1968: It was legal to deny housing or employment based on race


In a 2014 Radio 4 series, Kavita Puri heard the stories of some of the pioneering migrants who arrived in Britain from the Indian subcontinent in the 1950s and 1960s. She heard their first impressions of a country that once ruled them, and learns of the curiosity and kindness with which they were met. Their stories had a personal resonance for Kavita, whose father, Ravi, came to Britain in 1959, and went on to become an award-winning engineer.

Here, Kavita explains why this forgotten period in history is so important…

Q: How many people came to Britain from the Indian subcontinent in the 1950s and 60s, and why?

A: In 1951 there were 43,000 people of Indian and Pakistani descent in Britain, and by 1961 there were 112,000. So you’re talking about a tiny number of people. It was predominantly men who came in the 50s; once they decided to settle here their wives began to come from the 60s.

After 1948 there was an open door immigration policy. Britain looked to its former colonies for people to help reinvigorate the economy by working in the factories and foundries. Speaking to people who came in the 50s, many will say they did the shifts that the indigenous population didn’t want to do.

There was goodwill towards them at that time, because they were needed. But as their number grew, people’s perception changed.

In 1962 the Commonwealth Immigration Act came into force. [This controlled the immigration of all Commonwealth passport holders, except those who held UK passports. Prospective immigrants now needed to apply for a work voucher, graded according to the applicant’s employment prospects.]


There was racism. It was legal to deny housing or employment based on race, nationality or ethnicity until 1968, which is shocking, as it is so recent. But many other people were met with a lot of kindness. And racism was not always overt.

Q: Why is this episode of history so interesting?

A: This is a forgotten period of history, and it’s about a generation that is dying. It’s also an important part of British history, as these pioneers led the way for the three million South Asians who live here today. It’s a story that has not been told. I grew up with stories of Indian people arriving in Britain with just a few pounds, and sewing extra money into their saris. But I didn’t believe they actually had just £3 – I thought it was just a metaphor for ‘they arrived with very little’. If you came from Pakistan you could bring just a few pounds more. But when I did some research, I found out it was true. Obviously, £3 then is not the same as £3 today – it was the equivalent of about £50, which would have covered your board and rent for one week. But that’s just one week.

They had all these imaginings of what Britain would be like, but the reality was often very different.


https://www.historyextra.com/period/...in-from-india/


It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.
Aristotle
Reply With Quote

5 Lastest Threads by balti
Thread Forum Last Poster Replies Views Last Post
34th anniversary of the genocide of Kashmiri... Topics & Posts For Public Viewing balti 0 1 24-02-2024 17:35
UK Prison Population Statistics Topics & Posts For Public Viewing Asiansoul 2 3 24-02-2024 16:23
What are your thoughts on Bageshwar Baba? Topics & Posts For Public Viewing MahaRani 5 6 30-03-2023 06:44
Purchasing power of USA dollar will decline! Topics & Posts For Public Viewing Asiansoul 5 6 20-04-2022 06:16
Erdogan’s Political Journey: From Victimised... Europe balti 0 1 11-01-2022 04:14

Reply
Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ayodhya - Hindus Deserve Lord Ram's Temple; Nobody Should Deny Them That | Shazia raajveer Topics & Posts For Public Viewing 0 02-02-2019 04:36
Robert Baron (Freiherr) von Heine-Geldern (1885 - 1968) KALKI History 2 28-04-2015 16:32



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Bookmarks

 
New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT +1. The time now is 00:43.

www.Asian-Massive-Crew.co.uk  | www.Asian-Massive-Crew.com  | www.AsianMassiveCrew.com  |   www.AsianMassiveCrew.co.uk  

 Graphics, Design & Layout  by Web Designerz - The Power To Create..!

Copyright © 2002 Onwards  www.Kalki.co.uk  | Website Hosted by Reality Host

   

DISCLAIMER: Every reasonable effort has been made, to make this site a peaceful yet an entertaining venue. 
The creator nor it's staff shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person, company or entity whatsoever, 
with respect to any loss, damages or misunderstandings arising from any information or speculation contained
in any of the topics and its updates. Each member is responsible for his/her own thoughts of action when expressed!