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.
Place
People migrating and settling in England have transformed our sense of place and our everyday experience of the world around us.
Migrant communities have adopted England's high streets, public spaces and neighbourhoods. They have introduced new patterns of retail, public life and social relations between communities. Globally connected to their places of origin, they have brought their food, clothes and a multitude of other items to the high street. They've made England's streets vibrant and fascinating places of varied cultural experiences.
Streetscapes
The new populations have helped to keep England 'a nation of shopkeepers'. They have introduced a variety and colour never before seen in our street markets and local shops. People can now experience new types of food, exotic fruits, traditional textiles, music and all kinds of products from all over the world.
New communities have revived and transformed markets and high streets across the country. London's Brixton and Whitechapel Markets, Liverpool's China Town, and the ethnically diverse thoroughfares of Leicester's Narborough Road, Manchester's Cheetham Hill Road to name but a few.
Communities and neighbourhoods
Industries in working class towns such as the mills of Bolton and Bradford, and the steel factories of Sheffield, sought cheap labour from populations in South Asia. These newcomers needed spaces where they could recreate their cultural and religious activities. And so new places of worship and communities sprang up across the country. Construction of temples, gurdwaras and mosques heralded a new architectural landscape and visual culture on England's streets.
Today England is perhaps host to one of the world's most diverse collection of South Asian, African and West Indian religions. Many of, if not all of the various denominations of Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Christian and other faiths are represented here.
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.
