On October 25^th 1968 a new Race Relations Act gained royal assent. It introduced important new legislation to make it illegal to refuse housing on the grounds of race, colour, ethnic, or national origins in England, Scotland, and Wales. It was intended to strengthen the 1965 act which it replaced, specifically to cover both housing and employment. Although many regarded the act as insufficient in its scope and powers, it forms an important moment for us to consider during Black History Month.

The act, in part, prompted Enoch Powell’s infamously abhorrent Rivers of Blood speech. For this he was promptly sacked from his Conservative shadow cabinet post by party leader Ted Heath. In fact, Powell’s dangerous rhetoric referred directly to the act. It also made illegal the racist signage of the kind that said, “No Blacks. No Irish. No Dogs.”

Great Social Significance

James Callaghan, (then Labour Home Secretary) said during one of the Bill’s readings in Parliament, “The House has rarely faced an issue of greater social significance for our country and our children. We are discussing a subject which is heavily charged with emotion, in which there is nothing easier than to fan the flames of suspicion and resentment or of fear.” He added, “We are called upon to lead the country and our fellow men and women away from a prospect of strife and enmity and towards a society in which we shall live in freedom and in peace with each other, no matter what may be our race or our colour.” *

Focusing on housing, he went on to say that people of colour suffered from “grave disadvantages on matters like housing and jobs. To remove those disadvantages and place them on the same footing as their fellows is not to create a privileged class. What the bill is concerned with is equal rights, equal responsibilities and equal opportunities, and it is, therefore, a bill for the whole nation and not just for minority groups. Its purpose is to protect society as a whole against actions which will lead to social disruption, and to prevent the emergence of a class of second-grade citizens.”

Windrush Generation

Some context to this is found in a Britain that was rebuilding itself following the Second World War. This depended on immigration, significantly from the Caribbean, to fill many roles which were needed. A prominent symbol of this is HMT Empire Windrush, a ship that brought a group of people that became the Windrush Generation. Therein lies another story of recent times…

The words of these politicians echo across decades of history, reminding us that this work is not done, and there are still divisive forces afoot. The Race Relations Acts have now been repealed and superseded by the Equality Act 2010. However, we still find that people of colour are one group of people who disproportionately experience housing issues and homelessness.

Work Continues

At Caring in Bristol, we believe that everyone has a right to a safe, warm, and secure home. This helps to create a foundation for wellbeing and enhances our quality of life. We believe that legislation and system change are needed to remove barriers to people of colour, and other groups of people, from accessing the homes that they need. In 1968, the Race Relations Act tried to do this. Sadly, there is still some way to go, but it’s important for all of us to demand that we live in a society where homelessness is eradicated. Homelessness is an issue for all of us, but it impacts on some of us more than others. This can’t be right. This is why Caring in Bristol provides support in communities across Bristol to prevent and address homelessness. Integral to this is addressing the inequalities that people face.

The theme of this year’s Black History Month is “reclaiming narratives.” In our work with people of colour facing or experiencing homelessness, we place their voice, experience, and aspirations at the centre of our support. Only by doing this can we support them to solve their housing issues in a way that feels acceptable and authentic. There is still much to do to remove the barriers that people face, but our commitment is to work tirelessly until this happens…

More about Black History Month here: BHM Website

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*House of Lords Library Briefing, “Race Relations Act 1968: 50th Anniversary”

**Blog image shows a community Windrush Mural to commemorate St Paul's Carnival an City Road / Campbell Street, St Paul's, Bristol (Artist unknown, 2019)