Black British

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Black British
From left to right: Beverly Knight, Shirley Bassey, Trevor Phillips
Total population
1.6 million
Regions with significant populations
London, West Midlands, Sheffield, West Yorkshire, Bristol, Greater Manchester, East Midlands
Languages
English, Caribbean English, Somali, others
Religions
Christianity, Islam, others
Related ethnic groups
Negroid, African-Caribbean, African, Afro-Latin American, Afro Australian and African American

Black British is term which has had different meanings and uses as a racial and political label. Historically it has been used to refer to all British nationals of New Commonwealth origin, although more recently commonly defines a British resident with specifically African ancestral origins, who self identifies, or is identified, as "Black", African or African-Caribbean. In some circumstances the word Black signifies all minority populations.^[1] Similar to African immigrants to the United States, Black British also immigrate from other countries.

Currently, Black British is used by the British authorities to mean UK passport holders of African/African-Caribbean origin (e.g. the usage of the Commission for Racial Equality), but is historically used to include others, for instance for British South Asians or others of non-European descent who consider themselves involved in a struggle against white racism.

Historically, the term has most commonly been used to refer to those of New Commonwealth origin.^[2][3][4] Several organisations continue to use the term inclusively.^[5] This is unlike the official British Census definition which adheres to the clear distinction between "British South Asians" and "British Blacks".^[6] The term African British has grown in popularity as an expression used to describe Black British people of specifically African ancestry. In 2005 a poll conducted by Blacknet revealed that African British was the most popular term (40%) for referring to people of African descent in the UK. Also in a poll carried out by Afford (African Foundation for Development) 50% of respondents agreed that African British should be the term adopted.^[7] In the more inclusive sense "Black British" is being used to mean "non-white British". In the more common sense it is a synonym for African British.

Contents 1 History 2 Culture 3 Successful Black Britons 4 Difficulties 5 Alternative usage: Sierra Leone 6 See also 7 External links 8 References

[edit] History

There is a history of African people in Britain since the soldiers of the Roman Empire two thousand years ago.

In Historia Regum Britanniae Book IX , Geoffrey of Monmouth (c.1100 – c.1155) describes how the Anglo-Saxons defeated the British thanks to the help of Gormund, at the head of an army of Africans. However as this is probably a reference to a Vandal ruler of North Africa,^[8] it is hard to assess to what extent these people can be regarded as "Black", given that the Vandals originated as a Germanic tribe who merged with the population of North Africa, not Sub-Saharan Africa.

In late medieval times black Britons generally came from the sea-faring community.^{[citation needed]}

Well-known Black Britons living before the twentieth century include:

• Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, pioneer of the slave narrative
• Olaudah Equiano (also called Gustavus Vassa). He was a former slave who bought his freedom, moved to England, and settled in Soham, in Cambridgeshire, where he married and wrote an autobiography; dying in 1797.
• The composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, born in Holborn in 1875. (mixed race)
• The aristocrat Dido Elizabeth Belle, born in the mid-18th century. (mixed race)
• The grocer Ignatius Sancho who also acquired a reputation as a man of letters.
• The Chartist William Cuffay
• The Spencean Robert Wedderburn
• William Davidson, executed as a Cato Street Conspirator
• George Bridgetower, a Polish born virtuoso violinist, who lived in England for much of his life (mixed race)

The legality of slavery in England had long been questionable following the Cartwright decision of 1569, when it was "resolved that England was too pure an air for a slave to breathe in." However this case did not set a recognized precedent until it was brought up in the Somerset case of 1772 (see generally, Slavery at common law). In the early eighteenth century there are records of slave sales and the attempt to catch Africans described as escaped slaves. The precedent-setting Somerset case concerned a fugitive black Virginia slave James Somersett. Chief Justice Mansfield (whose own niece was of mixed race) concluded that Somerset had become free by setting foot in England. The Black Londoners, who went to Sierra Leone to found the first British colony in Africa, very clearly demanded that their status as British subjects be recognised, along with the duty of the British Royal Navy to defend them.

Despite this, numbers of people with African origins were relatively small, though there were significant communities of South Asians. However the links established because of the British Empire led to increased population movement and immigration.

In a famous case an Indian Briton, Dadabhai Naoroji, stood for election to parliament for the Liberal party in 1886. He was defeated, leading the leader of the Conservatives, Lord Salisbury to remark that "however great the progress of mankind has been, and however far we have advanced in overcoming prejudice, I doubt if we have yet got to the point of view where a British constituency would elect a black man".^[9] This led to much discussion about the applicability of the term black to South Asians. Naoroji was subsequently elected to parliament in 1892, becoming the first M.P. of Indian descent.

Before the Second World War, the largest Black communities were to be found in Britain great port cities: London's East End, Liverpool, Bristol and Cardiff, with other communities in South Shields and Glasgow. The South Shields community (mostly South Asians and Yemenis) were victims of the UK's first race riot in 1919.^[10] Soon all the other towns with significant non-white communities were also hit by race riots which spread across the Anglo-Saxon world. At this time, on Australian insistence, the British refused to accept the Racial Equality Proposal put forward by the Japanese at the Paris Peace Conference, 1919. Australian soldiers placed themselves in the front of the attacks on the Black Community in Butetown, Cardiff.

It was in the period after the Second World War, however, that the largest influx of black people occurred, mostly from the Caribbean islands. This migration event is often labelled "Windrush", a reference to the Empire Windrush, the ship that carried the first major group of Caribbean migrants to Britain in 1948.^[11] The term "Black British" did not come into widespread use until the second generation were born to these post-war immigrants to the country. Although British by nationality, due to friction between them and the white majority, they were often being born into communities that were relatively closed and centred, creating the roots of what would become a distinct Black British identity.

Since the 1980s, the majority of black immigrants into the country have come directly from Africa, in particular, Nigeria and Ghana in West Africa, Somalia and Kenya in East Africa, and Zimbabwe and South Africa in Southern Africa. The African experience in Britain is not a homogenous one. For example, Nigerians and Ghanaians have been especially quick to accustom themselves to British life, with young Nigerians and Ghanaians achieving some of the best results at GCSE and A-Level.^{[citation needed]} It has not been so easy for the growing Somali community, who suffer relatively high levels of social isolation. The rate of inter-racial marriage between British citizens born in Africa and native Britons is still fairly low, compared to those from the Caribbean. This should change over time as Africans become more part of mainstream British culture as second and third generation African communities become established.

[edit] Culture

It has taken many years for the Black British culture to develop and to become accepted in the mainstream. There are still notable differences between Black Britons of different national backgrounds – but that culture has flourished until it has become an accepted and vital part of the culture of modern Britain, shared by those of all backgrounds.

[edit] Successful Black Britons

see also List of black Britons

There are examples of Blacks who have achieved success in practically every field of British life.

An example from television is reporter and newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald, born in Trinidad, who was knighted in 1999. McDonald is now seen as a part of the broadcasting establishment. His clear, confident delivery and serious attitude have made him one of British television's most trusted presenters, winning more awards than any other British broadcaster. Other examples from television are entertainer Lenny Henry and chef Ainsley Harriott.

Michael Fuller, after a successful career in the Metropolitan Police, has been Chief Constable of Kent since 2004. He is the son of Jamaican immigrants who came to Britain in the 50s. Michael was brought up in Sussex where his interest in the police force was encouraged by an officer attached to his school. He is also a graduate in social psychology.^[12]

In 2005 Johnson Beharry, born in Grenada of mixed African and East Indian roots, became the first man to win the Victoria Cross, Britain's foremost military award for bravery, since the Falklands War of 1982. He was awarded the medal for service in Iraq in 2004.

In sport, prominent examples of success include boxing champion Frank Bruno, whose career highlight was winning the WBC world heavyweight championship in 1995. Altogether, he won 40 of his 45 contests. He is also well known in the UK for acting in pantomime. Lennox Lewis, born in East London, is another successful Black British boxer and former undisputed heavyweight champion of the World. Kelly Holmes, who won two gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics, also has black roots, her father being born in Jamaica, while her mother is English. Lastly, the English national football team had seven black or mixed-race players out of a total of 23 players on its 2006 FIFA World Cup roster that competed in Germany.

In music, there are many Black British contributions. Black British music sometimes reflects Caribbean influences or takes inspiration from Black American music. However, Black British music is now developing its own distinctive identity. Grime music was invented in the UK a few years ago and is growing in popularity. It is now common to hear British MCs rapping in a strong British accent.

Black people have made significant contributions to politics and trade unionism, including people such as Bernie Grant, Oona King and Paul Boateng. Paul Boateng became the UK's first black Cabinet minister in 2002 when he was appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Bill Morris was elected general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union in 1992. He was knighted in the 2003 and in 2006 he took a seat in the House of Lords as a working life peer as Baron Morris of Handsworth.

[edit] Difficulties

However there is much controversy surrounding the politics of integrating Britain's black community, particularly concerning crime. For instance, gun crime in British cities (especially Birmingham, Bristol, London, Luton, Manchester, Newport and Nottingham) is considered by many to be linked to black gangs, particularly with Jamaican links. It was reported recently that black people in London are four times more likely to be murder victims than white people. It was also reported that those responsible for the murders and manslaughters are also far more likely to be black. Murders tend to be committed by someone the victim knew. Black people, who according to government statistics^[13] make up two percent of the population, are the principal suspects in 11.7% of homicides, i.e. in 252 out of 2163 homicides committed 2001/2, 2002/3, and 2003/4.^[14] It should be noted that, judging on the basis of prison population, a substantial minority (about 35%) of black criminals in the UK are not British citizens but foreign nationals.^[15]

After several high profile investigations such as that of the death of Stephen Lawrence, the police have often been accused of racism, from both within and outside the service. Cressida Dick, head of the Metropolitan Police's anti-racism unit in 2003, remarked that it was 'difficult to imagine a situation where we will say we are no longer institutionally racist'.^[16] However it cannot be said that there is a general consensus in British society that the police are problematic: According a MORI poll (2003), 70% of Britons are satisfied with the way the police do their job, and only 16% are dissatisfied.^[17]

[edit] Alternative usage: Sierra Leone

Black British is also an identity of Black people in Sierra Leone who consider themselves British. Its origins go back to 1787, when hundreds of London's Black poor agreed to go to Sierra Leone on the condition that they would retain the status of British subjects, to be defended by the Royal Navy.

[edit] See also

• African British
• Black Canadian
• Black Loyalist
• Black people in Ireland
• British African-Caribbean community
• British Asian
• British Somalis
• Caribbean British
• Empire Windrush
• List of black Britons
• Sierra Leone Krio people
• 100 Great Black Britons

[edit] External links

• The Black Presence in Britain
• Blacknet UK
• blackhistory4schools.com
• Black Youth Empowerment UK
• Caribbean community in London
• 100 Greatest Black Britons
• Weaver v NATFHE In the Weaver v NATFHE (now part of the UCU) race discrimination case an Industrial Tribunal upheld a union’s decision not to assist a Black woman lecturer who brought a case of racial harassment against a fellow worker at Bournville College of Further Education because he could lose his job. The Employment Appeal Tribunal upheld the decision.

[edit] References

• The Black Presence in Britain - Black British History

UK Census 2001-2011 "ethnic groups" [1]
"White" • "Mixed" • "Asian or British Asian" • "Black or Black British" • "Chinese or other ethnic group"

v • d • e British Census: Black British
African	Ghanaian • Nigerian • Somali
Caribbean	African-Caribbean