Before the Windrush: Race Relations in 20th-century Liverpool   John Belchem  Liverpool University Press 2014



I read this book in early October 2019. It focusses on Liverpool in
NW England. Because of its role as a port, with its maritime connections,
it meant that it has had a long history of having a diverse population.
This diversity included seamen, especially from China, West Africa and
the West Indies (Caribbean), with U.S. servicemen joining this diversity
in the Second World War.  As a result it was seen as a pioneer with
experience, as immigration to other parts of Britain increased, especially
after the Second World War.

However, this experience actually led to many challenges including
tension between groups, such as black people from various locations,
who were sometimes erroneously seen as sharing a common identity,
as well as attitudes towards children of mixed race, who were often
disparaged as 'half-castes'. Underlying these challenges were issues
related to poverty, particularly concerning the working conditions of
seamen, and racist attitudes, as well as how to deal with those.
As a Home Office (Ministry) document in the 1940s stated:
"The attitude to differences of colour is a matter of personal opinion,
which cannot be regulated by law, but only by education in the wider sense
of the word. It is questionable whether colour discrimination is so rife
as to cause concern."

The book particularly looks at measures which were tried to improve
the situation, particularly various community centres which were proposed
and/or set up. Again, there were tensions related to the differing needs
of various groups. There was also the major issue of whether measures
aimed at certain groups would actually be seen as positive discrimination
or that a 'Colour Blind' policy, based on equality and equal treatment
would be better.

The book is repetitive at times, but that actually helps to reinforce the
points which the author is making, as he shows how other locations,
both in Britain and elsewhere, with increasing diversity can learn from
the experience of places such as Liverpool.


See other books which I have read.