Black British

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Black British, is a term usually used to refer to black people in Britain, who come from a wide variety of African and Caribbean nations. The term "English Black" is occasionally used for the Black British in England.

Contents

1 History
2 Culture
3 Integration
4 Alternative usage: Sierra Leone
5 See also
6 External links
7 References

History

There is a history of black people in the islands for hundreds of years, the first possibly being soldiers of the Roman Empire. In late medieval times they generally came from the sea-faring community. One well-known Black Briton in history is Olaudah Equiano (also called Gustavus Vassa). He was a former slave who bought his freedom, moved to England, and settled in Soham, in Cambridgeshire, where he married and wrote an autobiography; dying in 1797. Other notable historic Britons with black roots include the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, born in Holborn in 1875, and the aristocrat Dido Elizabeth Bell Lindsay (born in the mid 18th century), both of whom were of mixed race.

There were never any black slaves in Great Britain, with the Cartwright Decision of 1569 ruling it impossible. This was contested in case in 1772, but confirmed by Chief Justice Mansfield, who held that fugitive black Virginia slave James Somersett had become free by setting foot in England.

However, some suggest that the legal status of those Blacks who lived in Great Britain was dubious ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}. There were up to 14,000 black people living in Britain by 1770, many working as servants without pay ^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}. However, despite this amount of people with black origins in the country, the term Black British did not come into widespread use until the second generation were born to post-war immigrants to the country. Although British by nationality, due to friction between them and the white majority, they were often being born into communities that were relatively closed and centred, creating the roots of what would become a distinct Black British identity.

Culture

It has taken many years for the Black British culture to develop and to become accepted in the mainstream. There are still notable differences between Black Britons of different national backgrounds – but that culture has flourished until it has become an accepted and vital part of the culture of modern Britain, shared by those of all backgrounds.

Integration

Successes

There are examples of Blacks who have achieved success in practically every field of British life.

An example from television is reporter and newsreader Sir Trevor McDonald, born in Trinidad, who has was knighted in 1999. McDonald is now seen as a part of the broadcasting establishment. His clear, confident delivery and serious attitude have made him one of British television's most trusted reporters. He has won more awards than any other British broadcaster. Other examples from television are entertainer Lenny Henry, and celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott.

Michael Fuller, after a successful career in the Metropolitan Police, has been Chief Constable of Kent since 2004. He is the son of Jamaican immigrants who came to Britain in the 50s. Michael was brought up in Sussex where his interest in the police force was encouraged by an officer attached to his school. He is also a graduate in social psychology.http://www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/alumni/notable_alumni/interviews/Fuller_interview.html

In 2005 Johnson Beharry, born in Grenada of mixed African and East Indian roots, became the first man to win the Victoria Cross, Britain's foremost military award for bravery, since the Falklands War of 1982. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for service in Iraq in 2004.

In sport, prominent examples of success include boxing champion Frank Bruno, whose career highlight was winning the WBC world heavyweight championship in 1995. Altogether, he won 40 of his 45 contests. He is also well known in the UK for acting in pantomime. Lennox Lewis, born in East London, is another successful Black British boxer and former undisputed heavyweight champion of the World. Kelly Holmes, who won two gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics, also has black roots, her father being born in Jamaica, while her mother is English. Lastly, the English national football team has seven black or mixed-race players out of a total of 23 players on its 2006 FIFA World Cup roster competing in Germany.

In music, there are many Black British contributions. Black British music sometimes reflects Caribbean influences or takes inspiration from Black American music. However, Black British music is now developing its own distintive identity. Grime music was invented in the UK a few years ago and is growing in popularity. It is now common to hear British MCs rapping in a strong British accent.

Difficulties

However there is much controversy surrounding the politics of integrating Britain's black community, particularly concerning crime. For instance, gun crime in British cities (especially Manchester, Nottingham, London, Newport, and Bristol) is considered by many to be linked to black gangs, particularly with Jamaican links. It was reported recently that black people in London are four times more likely to be murder victims than white people. It was also reported that those responsible for the murders and manslaughters are also far more likely to be black. Black people, who according to the National Statistics http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=273; accessed 21 May make up two percent of the population, are the principal suspect in 11.7% of homicides, ie. in 252 out of 2163 homicides committed 2001/2, 2002/3, and 2003/4; table 3.6 of Home Office publication "Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System 2004" although it should be noted that, judging on the basis of prison population, a substantial minority (about 35%) of black criminals in the UK are not Black British but foreign nationals. Chapter 9, tables 9.1 - 9.4, of Home Office publication "Statistics on Race and the Criminal Justice System 2004"

After several high profile investigations such as that of the death of Stephen Lawrence, the police have often been accused of racism, from both within and outside the service. Cressida Dick, head of the Metropolitan Police's anti-racism unit in 2003, remarked that it was 'difficult to imagine a situation where we will say we are no longer institutionally racist'. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lawrence/Story/0,,941167,00.html

Conversely, the black community itself is often held to task for automatically labelling any criticism as racist, thus making it difficult to honestly and directly address the problems of integration.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

Assuming that successful integration requires an understanding of the attitudes, norms, and fears of the society into which it is trying to integrate, any automatic rejection of criticism could prevent the black community from addressing problems involved in integration.^{[[Citing sources citation needed]]}

Alternative usage: Sierra Leone

Black British is also an identity of Black people in Sierra Leone who consider themselves British. Its origins go back to 1787, when hundreds of London's Black poor agreed to go to Sierra Leone on the condition that they would retain the status of British subjects, to be defended by the Royal Navy.

External links

[Blacknet UK]

References

[The Black Presence in Britain - Black British History]

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