“The National Windrush Monument” by Basil Watson in Waterloo Station, London-
Hi everyone, I took a brief break to focus on some art projects I am hoping to share with you shortly, however I felt I needed to blog about something quite important today. Firstly I was disturbed by Trump's comments last week regarding Ukraine and President Zelensky, when discussing the war and wanting their minerals, because I guess there always has to be something in it for him (looking back on his “Taking over Gaza” comments) for him to do something humane and decent. However there is something on my side of the pond that I wish to bring to the forefront as it concerned me when I watched this YouTube video below.
https://youtu.be/h9CIzsd9ot0?si=suX96OpMqYMG_e6J (Maximilien Robespierre- Repealing the 1965 Race Relations Act? Reform UK's Rupert Lowe Sparks Controversy)
Taken from the "Never mind the Ballot" podcast from Reform UK, an active politician for their party Rupert Lowe (AKA the next Oswald Mosley) makes some questionable comments around how to tackle immigration involving the repeal of the "Race Relations Act of 1965". The strange thing about this is that this act itself has already been repealed and replaced as it evolved over the years, becoming the "Race Relations Act 1968", then the "Race Relations Act 1976", and after an amendment in the year 2000, it finally became the "Equality Act 2010", which in a nutshell is a law that makes it illegal to treat people unfairly due to these nine following characteristics; Age, Disability, Gender reassignment, Marriage and civil partnership, Pregnancy and maternity, Race, Religion or belief, Gender or Sexual orientation.
Meaning what Rupert Lowe really wants to do is strip every one of their human rights, by using the fear of immigrants as a way of doing so. It is quite obvious that he used the old name of this act to garner more people to his ideology of fearing immigrants with as "us vs them" rhetoric forgetting that it was immigrants like my Gran who helped to rebuild this country after World Wat II, many of which had fought for their Queen and country also during that time. In fact the British government actively encouraged people from the Commonwealth, particularly from the Caribbean, to fill labour shortages in key industries, and sectors such as construction, transport, and Healthcare. (My Gran worked for the NHS, just like the 265,000 members of staff today that are immigrants)
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics/june-2023 (NHS statistics on its workforce in the UK)
So with that I would like to take a deeper dive into the UK's journey towards racial equality in the next few paragraphs. Marked by both progress and persistent challenges, at the heart of this matter lies a series of landmark legislations that I mentioned above known as the Race Relations Acts.
Born from a growing awareness of systemic discrimination, these acts have shaped the landscape of British society, even if the work in my opinion is far from finished. Rewinding back to the early 1960s, the UK was experiencing increasing immigration, and with it, a stark rise in racial discrimination. The initial response (the "Race Relations Act of 1965"), was a tentative first step that outlawed discrimination in public places such as restaurants, which was a vital move, but its reach was limited. A whisper of change, rather than a roar where a need for stronger action was required. Thus three years later, the "Race Relations Act of 1968" arrived, which further pushed this significant leap forward by tackling discrimination in crucial areas like employment and housing, recognizing that equality was not just about access to pubs, but access to a livelihood and a home (my Gran told me once that she endured signs saying "No Blacks" when she wanted a place to rent after arriving in the UK from Jamaica). It also established the Community Relations Commission, a body tasked with fostering better community relations in the UK.
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2024/05/06/no-irish-no-blacks-no-dogs-irish-times-readers-recall-encountering-notorious-signs-in-britain/ (“No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs”: Irish Times readers recall seeing notorious signs in Britain)
However, the most impactful of these early acts was arguably the Race "Relations Act of 1976". This legislation aimed to create a more comprehensive framework, strengthening anti-discrimination laws across the board. It brought about the Commission for Racial Equality, a body with real teeth to enforce the law and promote equality. Then, at the turn of the millennium, the "Race Relations Act Amendment 2000" took a crucial step, placing a positive duty on public authorities to promote race equality, which was not just about avoiding discrimination; but also about actively working towards a fairer society, providing a framework for challenging discriminatory practices, and giving individuals plus communities a means to fight for their rights.
These acts also sparked conversations and shifted societal norms, challenging ingrained prejudices, and promoting a more inclusive understanding of British identity, by finally laying the groundwork for future equality legislation, culminating in the “Equality Act 2010”, which consolidated and strengthened anti-discrimination laws around so much more than just race. In my opinion these acts represent crucial milestones, marking the UK's ongoing, if sometimes faltering, journey towards a truly equal society. They stand as a reminder that change is possible, and that the pursuit of justice is a continuous process that I hope will not be undone by those who only want what is best for themselves, at the cost of many through spreading hatred, bigotry and lies.
References:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjev2j70v19o (Trump calls Zelensky a “dictator” as rift between two leaders deepens- BBC News)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_Relations_Act_1965 (UK Race Relations Act 1965 outlined)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_Relations_Act_1968 (UK Race Relations Act 1968 outlined)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_Relations_Act_1976 (UK Race Relations Act 1976 outlined)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_Relations_(Amendment)_Act_2000 (UK Race Relations Act Amendment 2000 outlined)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equality_Act_2010 (UK 2010 Equality Act outlined)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Mosley#:~:text=In%20May%201940%2C%20after%20the,and%20two%20residences%20in%20Ireland (Oswald Mosley)