Black and Asian histories are a vital part of England’s story. Yet in our books, at our historic sites and in our records they're not well represented.
Origins
Many of our famous institutions and landmarks were formed during the expansion of the British Empire. The Bank of England, the City of London, and the docks of London or Liverpool are all good examples. At its centre lay colonial ambition and the practice of international trade.
The barbaric trans-Atlantic slave trade was an important part of this. Much of the nation's wealth was accumulated directly through these global systems of exploitation. It was then often reinvested in commercial and industrial projects back in England.
Extent of empire
England's modern multicultural population owes much to our imperial past. By the end of the First World War in 1918 Britain ruled the world's largest empire. It encompassed all of what is today India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Large parts of Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Somaliland and significant parts of the Caribbean and South America including Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and British Guiana were also under British control. The empire included many other areas too including Yemen, Hong Kong, Malaya, as well as the so-called dominions of Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Merchant navy recruits
Sailors were recruited to the merchant navy from India, Africa, the Caribbean, Aden and other areas. Many of them established homes in England, often in port cities such as London, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow and South Shields. British Subjects, meaning citizens of the Empire, came to Britain for training.
At that time the English system of education with its universities and colleges was the most sought after within the colonial system. Others came to find work and settled in those areas where their compatriots lived or where they could find work such as Manchester and Hull.
The British Nationality Act
1948 was the year of the British Nationality Act which gave all Commonwealth citizens free entry into Britain. In the years that followed many more people came to England to help re-build the country after the Second World War. Many of these people were invited by the government and other organisations with incentives and official recruitment campaigns.
Economic boom of 1950s and 1960s
Those who made the journey played an important role in the economic boom of the 1950s and 1960s. They often moved to large towns and cities like Birmingham, Leeds and Bradford where there was a demand for workers. The car industry for example, the Post Office, British Railways, London Transport and the National Health Service all relied on migrant workers.
Other migrants came as refugees and asylum seekers, from India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Somaliland and many other countries. Not all had been British colonies, some had other historic links with Britain, such as Eritrea, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. Today people from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia and their families are to be found in most towns and cities throughout England and are engaged in a variety of occupations.
A Brief History of Black and Asian History in England
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Origins
England's modern multicultural population owes much to our imperial past.
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Home
When asked where we come from, our first thought is usually of what we consider to be home.
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Work
In the 1950s there were government led recruitment drives in former colonies.
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Racism and Resistance
People from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia were encouraged by government to come to England, but on arrival often faced racism and discrimination.
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Culture
The identities of people coming to England were and still are, as varied as the number of people arriving.
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Place
People migrating and settling in England have transformed our sense of place and our everyday experience of the world around us.
