Black history: Britain and race

The History Hour

BBC

History, Society & Culture, Personal Journals

4.4 • 879 Ratings

🗓️ 9 October 2021

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As part of our British black history coverage we look back at the racism faced by London's first black policeman from his own colleagues. We also hear about the death in police custody of black ex-soldier Christopher Alder. Plus, the intriguing story of a Somali sailor based in the UK in the early 20th century; the heartbreak faced by the children of black American soldiers and white British mothers during World War Two; and the story of Clyde Best, Britain's pioneering black footballer. Presenter Max Pearson also hears from Dr Martin Glynn of Birmingham City University's Black Studies course. Photo: London's first black policeman PC Norwell Roberts beginning his training with colleagues at Hendon Police College, London, 5 April 1967. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to the History Hour Podcast from the BBC World Service with me Max Pearson,
0:04.7	the past brought to life by those who were there.
0:07.6	This week to mark Britain's Black History Month we're looking at race in Britain, including
0:12.3	events that shocked the nation like the death of a black
0:15.0	ex soldier who died in police custody.
0:17.0	I said, well, I just want to know what's happened to my brother, you know, I said,
0:20.6	because I've been told that dad in police custody and he said yeah your
0:24.1	brother dad had been in a fight and due to the injuries he died. Also the British
0:29.2	babies born to black American GIs after the Second World War.
0:33.0	My skin started to darken, and it was obvious that I wasn't his child.
0:38.0	My stepfather, when he realized I was put out in the garden and not allowed to come into the house.
0:45.0	And how even the famous, like football stars, didn't escape the racism.
0:50.0	It was a new thing to see people of color on the field and they jumped on you straight away to see if you
0:57.8	were tough enough to be able to withstand it.
1:00.8	All that to come as we examine the history of the black experience in Britain.
1:05.0	It's a history in which this country can take little pride.
1:08.0	In fact, much of it is shameful as we will hear.
1:11.0	And as we explore these issues, I'm joined by Dr Martin Glenn, who teaches on the Black Studies
1:15.6	course at Birmingham City University.
1:17.6	And we're going to start with Law and Order on the side of The Law. Norwell Roberts joined the police in London in 1967.
1:26.0	As a black man he was put forward as a symbol of progressive policing
1:30.0	amid ongoing tensions between the police and ethnic minorities in the capital.
	...

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