Asians in Britain: Problem or Opportunity?  

1978

BBC, Commission for Racial Equality

9/11/2022

Dr. Bhiku Parekh lecture recording at Hull University - in which he discusses colonialism, the different reasons Asians come to Britain, and why they often stay longer than they had originally intended. He analyses various types of discrimination and pr ejudice, and suggests that greater understanding and acceptance of the immigrants by the British could result in their own cultural enrichment. 

The British Campaign to Stop Immigration (Original) 1976-02-28

1976

British Community Programme Unit 

9/11/2022

Self-made programme arguing against immigration in Great Britain made by a right-wing group. (NFA Catalogue) In this vox pop the interviewer talks to white people in southall talking about not having "enough room" "full up" and there being "far too many immigrants in this country" 

The British Campaign to Stop Immigration (Original) 1976-02-28

1976

British Community Programme Unit 

The narrator introduces the film as a film about race not discrimination, and that it 'merely' wishes to highlight how the migration of people to britain from other parts of the world has been detrimental to the country since the cultures and habits are 'incompatible' with british values. he describes the people of colour as "aliens". it then goes on to a further vox pop of white people in southall broken up with music. 

The British Campaign to Stop Immigration (Original) 1976-02-28

1976

British Community Programme Unit 

A young person is interviewed about migration and describes the 'magnitude' of the people moving to britain and the cival unrest it is causing. rather than 'blaming' the people migrating he blames the politicians and parties that 'allow them to enter'. He spesks about being a member of the national front as a means of retaining his 'national identity' which he feels will be destroyed under hegemony of any other political party. 

The British Campaign to Stop Immigration (Original) 1976-02-28

1976

British Community Programme Unit 

Lady Jane Birdwood descries being "particularly worried about the effort to stop descrimiation by the use of legislation" she makes a weird comment about bacon and sausage and "preffering ones own race" 

The British Campaign to Stop Immigration (Original) 1976-02-28

1976

British Community Programme Unit

dark music and sounds of national front protests in manchester and bradford, with further vox pops of attendees who describe people of colour as 'invading' etc 

Immigration - The End of the Line? (Original) 1979-10-25

1979

BBC 

newscast talks about new legislation to stop people immigrating. and describes the fear and concern the issue arises. It uses lots of racial slurs about 'black muggings' and the 'smell of curry'. It 'seeks' to understand what can be done to 'calm racial tensions' through legislation 

Immigration - The End of the Line? (Original) 1979-10-25

1979

BBC

Ann Dummett talks about 'keeping out' a particular type of person and the narrator describes statistics for people settling in britain - in all 43,000 - 3/4 of the people who went to see liverpool play everton last week - or the amount employed by the home office - to put in context 

Immigration - The End of the Line? (Original) 1979-10-25

1979

BBC

Peter Tomkins talks about illegal immigrants and racial profiling in this context being non existant within the home office. some slight bad sound quality mid way through...

Immigration - The End of the Line? (Original) 1979-10-25

1979

BBC

Ann Dummett talks about finding it 'difficult to restrict immigration', the narrator then speaks about the pledges by the government about cutting down figures - male fiances, elderly relatives, wives and children etc. 

Immigration - The End of the Line? (Original) 1979-10-25

1979

BBC 

Dudley smith talks about grandparents being 'deposited in birmingham or lambeth' after living in the punjab asll of their lives - and that therefore suppposedly making them unhappy. 

Immigration - The End of the Line? (Original) 1979-10-25

1979

BBC 

Dudley talks about guest worker status and alex lyon counteracts by speaking about it being inhumane to tell someone they must leave britain now that they no longer are working. 

Immigration - The End of the Line? (Original) 1979-10-25

1979

BBC

Professor William Brass talks about statistics of immigrant population increase as people have children - the narrator then describes how many people will be living in britain at the turn of the century, but that it wouldnt be accurate to describe these population increases as being "sswamped" as thatcher described. what people are worried about, however is 'saturation' of POC within particular areas - such as the inner city etc. Dudley disagrees with this sentiment describing them/ the situation as "festering sores", while prenlasheft sees race relations being fractured further by this attitude 

Enough is Enough 1983-03-08

1983

International Broadcasting Trust

woman describes poverty and it being relative in the context of coventry. the narrator describes the city as once being the picture of prosperity but it now being a place of great socioeconomic decline - 1/5 people out of work. there are interviews with people about the changes in the city and poverty being central to that. one woman talks about "the minorties having plenty" while the old age pensioners having very little, after working in the factories all their lives. another says it all roots back to unemployment. 

Enough is Enough 1983-03-08

1983

International Broadcasting Trust

more interviews with people about redundancy and unemployment 

Enough is Enough 1983-03-08

1983

International Broadcasting Trust

there are many faces to poverty in a city like coventry.. there is apathy and dispair and also resistance anf ighting back and the search for change. theres an interview with a young person who has been encouraged to start his own zine rather than signing on.. 

Enough is Enough 1983-03-08

1983

International Broadcasting Trust

intervewees talk positively about fighting for equality etc. . . 

Enough is Enough 1983-03-08

1983

International Broadcasting Trust

OAPS Singing 

Additional Information/ Details

Granda TV World in Action: Interview with Margaret Thatcher by Gordon Burns (30.01.1978)

1978

BFI

http://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/153997277

Thatcher talks about immigration as Britain being ‘swamped’ excerpt at: 0.30-1.29

The Day That Changed The Face 1980

1980

BFI

Report from the series Skin on the background of local politics and the aftermath of the 1979 Southall riots following an anti-fascist demonstration.

Immigration Control 1978

1978

BFI

Foundry worker Dara Singh spends twelve back breaking hours a day at work and sends as much money home to his family in the Punjab as he can. He’s not seen them for ten years because UK immigration denied them entry. The Coventry MP William Wilson outlines tales of heartache from across the Midlands. None tug the heart strings more than the man who, years before DNA testing was discovered, is unable to prove his son really is his boy.

Coventry North West by Election

1976

BFI

In 1976 Coventry had the highest unemployment rate of any city in the Midlands. The once prosperous car factories were in crisis as British Leyland lost millions and Chrysler sank under a wave of never ending industrial strife. Add to this a by-election with a former Jaguar manager hoping to win for Labour and two extreme right wing parties aiming to stir up the protest vote. nice footage of coventry.

Arts Centre

1980

BFI

At Cannon Hill Park in Birmingham the Midlands Arts Centre reverberates to the sounds of Asian music and dance. A group of young people are taking their first tentative steps in learning Bharathanatiyam dance whilst the renowned Tara Arts group has taken over the main stage to rehearse a play about the Raj. The Asian Arts Action Group is behind the event that showcases Asian culture in the Midlands

Indian Sweets and Savouries

1982

BFI

Hilary Minster was an actor who turned to presenting for Central TV’s Here and Now programme. Here we find him on Belgrave Road in Leicester, one of the top curry centres of Britain, searching for great vegetarian food. Mr Gupta’s Chaat House comes up trumps but, if that wasn’t enough, he goes on to one of the city’s ever popular sweet marts where he discovers how the traditional and highly calorific treats are made.

Indina Sweets

1979

BFI

Reporter Tony Maycock is unwisely allowed behind the counter of the Sheeren Kada sweet centre at Moseley in Birmingham. It’s not a pretty sight as he helps himself to the wide variety of sweet treats on offer. Maycock walks all over the cultural meanings behind some of the sweets like a school boy let loose in, well, a sweet shop. With hands and face stuffed he appears to be in favour although you’ll be wishing he didn’t keep saying he was going to be sick.

Additional Information/ Details

Virk’s Poetry, 1972

Virk, H.S

2004

Coevntry Archives

15 tracks of Virk’s poetry.

Additional Information/ Details

Birmingham Museums Trust – Interview with Avtar Singh Jouhl About IWA Birmingham

Birminham Museums Trust

2022

Interview with Avtar Singh Jouhl about IWA Birmingham: Track 03 Unfair Wages / No Trade Union. Avtar talks about the difference in pay he was receiving and that there was no union at the foundry.

Track 04 Organising a Trade Union

Avtar talks about the difficulties in organising a trade union for Indian workers.

Track 05 Organising a Trade Union (continued)

Avtar talks about organising the Birmingham Branch of the Indian Workers Association.

Track 06 Job Discrimination / Higher Education

Avtar talks about pay for skilled and unskilled work and his plan for higher education.

Track 07 Commitment to the Indian Workers Association / Chilblains

Avtar talks about changing his plans for higher education and his commitment to the Indian Workers Association and easing the pain of chilblains in his hands.

Track 08 Organising the Birmingham Branch of the Indian Workers Association

Avtar talks about the Indian Workers Association and lobbying Parliament against a proposed Immigration Bill.

Avtar Singh Jouhl interview

Janwant Photobooks

1970

Collection of interviews with Avtar Singh Jouhl about his childhood, moving to birmingham and affiliation with IWA

Additional Information/ Details

Battle of Digbeth, 1978 (Except from Rudy Boy Film 1980)

1970

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40xflgQhDXU

Excerpt taken from The Clash – Rudeboy Film (1980)

Additional Information/ Details

National Front Demonstration in Birmingham

1976

(15 May 1976) A violent clash took place between police in Birmingham, England, and a thousand leftwing demonstrators. Members of the anti-immigrant National Front were demonstrating outside a prison in support of Robert Relf, who was jailed for refusing to take down a sign advertising his house for sale to an English family only. Police were trying to keep leftwing marchers away from the National Front protest. The ironic fact was that Relf had been moved to another prison the night before.

Additional Information/ Details

National Front Demonstration in London

1977

13 Aug 1977) Rioting at a National Front march in the London borough of Lewisham, between anti National Front demonstrators, National Front supporters and police

Additional Information/ Details

Southall Anti-National Front Demo 22.04 1979

1979

This is a small news clip covering the clash between the police and the predominantly asian community in Southall, London. The National Front had chosen to hold an election meeting in the town hall. Coming during a period of when race relations were at a low, the local community were incensed that an outwardly racist group chose to hold a meeting in their locale.

Rudies Come Back or The Rise of Two Tone 12.03.80

1970

Areana Television

Documentary on the rise of 2-tone music, a blend of black and white “British” music which is highly popular in the UK at the moment, and featuring the founders of the sound, Coventry bands The Specials and The Selecter.

Additional Information/ Details

Racism in Britan, The Danger of the Right, British Movement, British Far-Right This Week 04/12/1980

1980

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2AYk4aBbIo&list=PL7WD0g9dS3jn_ixiGShyiSLgHsplZhGVI&index=64

Some extracts from the original report or a Thames Television ‘TV Eye’ investigation into the alarming growth of the right wing ‘British Movement’ 

‘TV Eye’ speaks exclusively to one of its members about the workings of the movement.

What is Prejudice? Racism in the 80s

1981

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKcCGs86M2M

Here Today, Here Tomorrow – Story of British Asians

Directed by: Kaplan, J. Presented By: Mohyeddin, Z.

1979

Here Today, Hear Tomorrow. One of the early programmes about the British Asian community, (mainly Pakistani). Broadcast around 1979 on mainstream British TV. It was directed by the Pakistani artist, Zia Mohyeddin and filmed mainly in Birmingham. It then led to the weekly programme, Here and Now.

Additional Information/ Details

Racist in East London Asian Community

1979

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyuw50IYk4A

Filmed in1978 by Thames Televisions ‘Our people’ programme – This extract looks at the struggles the local East End Asian community faces against the rise of racist attacks and the growth of the National Front. First shown in Thames Television in 1979

Additional Information/ Details

Enouch Powell Interview, This Week, 07/10/1976

This Week

1976

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuH8kb1u1ig&list=PL7WD0g9dS3jl7WdSHZrKpyZ1GbH0LZi7Y&index=7

Controversial British Politician Enoch Powell MBE, explains to Thames Televisions’ This Week’ programme the complexities of voluntary repatriation and why he is in favour of tighter immigration control. Start at around 3.19

Additional Information/ Details

Margaret Thatcher becomes PM

4 May 1979

Global Radio UK Ltd. 

11th October 2022

Thatcher on Immigration

1978

Global Radio UK Ltd.

11th October 2022

Coverage of Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher’s speech to the Young Conservatives on immigration. Thatcher attacks smoke screen socialists who accuse the party of racism when it brings the immigration problem into the open, and arguing racial harmony can only be maintained by cutting immigration. Male reporter not identified.

Blair Peach death in Southall

1979

Global Radio UK Ltd.

Barbara Groom reports on the lying in state of teacher Blair Peach and procession later today to crematorium, following his death in the Southall riots in West London after violence flared between Anti-Nazi League protesters and police. Speaking are: Vishnu Sharma, Indian Workers’ Association; Bert George, TGWU (on bus services in area if violence flares)

Police blamed for Southall riots

1979

Global Radio UK Ltd.

Vishnu Sharma, President of the Indian Workers’ Association in Southall, where he blames the police for violence at a Anti-Nazi League demonstration in Southall during which protester Blair Peach died in suspicious circumstances.

Racial hatred man acquitted

1978

Global Radio UK Ltd.

John Kingsley Read, former chairman of the National Front, was acquitted by a high court judge of using racist and inflammatory language, and for his comments about the death of a young Asian man.

Gandhi’s election defeat

1977

Global Radio UK Ltd.

Indira Gandhi visits Southall during demonstration

14 November 1978

Global Radio UK Ltd.

David Jarvis reports on a rowdy demonstration in Southall, West London, during a visit by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

ATV Today: 18.12.1978: Aftermath of Bombings in Coventry

1978

Mace Archives

https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-18121978-aftermath-bombings-coventry

Nice shots of the central town – including environmental sounds of the space at the time. Maurice Buck – constable of Coventry police speaks about crime and policing well. 

Here and Now: 00.02.1981: Sidney Stringer School

1981

Mace Archives

Interviewer Paula Ahlouwalia visits to find out what the ‘unique flavour’ of Sidney stringer is. She interviews teachers (including headteacher A. Jones) and pupils and many speak about how the school has been central to improving race relations and is a place of ‘racial harmony’. There are shots of children singing, dancing and performing in the rehearsals for the school [production and the wizard of oz. As well as shots and sounds of school children in the school.

Central News: 13.04.1983: Aerial Views of the West Midlands

1993

Mace Archives

Shots of Coventry cathedral, and the sitar and drum being played during the funeral. Views of the casket and people attending. With the sound of the instruments creating nice acoustics. 

ATV Today: 07.20.1976: Anti Immigration Campaigner Robert Relf

1976

Mace Archives

Anti-immigration campaigner Robert Relf furthers his challenge to the Race Relations Board by erecting another racist sign in the garden of his Leamington Spa home.

Here and Now: 09.10.1980: Arts Centre

1980

Mace Archives

Zia Mohyeddin report about an arts and crafts exhibition organised by the Asian Arts Action Group at the Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) at Cannon Hill Park in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Left Right and Centre: 06.02.1978: Wolverhampton Racism

1978

Mace Archives

Bob Hall reports from Wolverhampton where tensions are simmering a week after violent clashes between gangs of black and white youths. (5mins in tory politician on thatcher speech igniting further racial tensions)

ATV Today: 09.02.1979: Coventry Tourism

1979

Mace Archives

Views of the Spon Street area of historic buildings which it has been suggested could be developed further. Views of old canal in poor condition. Geoff Meade piece to camera outside Coventry Cathedral. Interview with Doctor Richard Denman of the Heart of England Tourist Board about the attractions of the city for tourists, with its famous cathedral and Spon Street, a conservation area with its very old buildings and the plans to redevelop the canal waterways in the city. Vox pops in the city centre about what Coventry people think of the idea of attracting more tourists.

ATV Today: 13.12.1979: The Coventry Sound

1979

Mace Archives

A report by Tony Maycock looking at the specials and the selector recording their new album in a Coventry studio and talking about the ‘coventry sound’.

ATV Today: 02.12.1976: Asians Living in Coventry Hold Exhibition

1976

Mace Archives