The Politics of Race in Britain and South Africa

Black British Solidarity and the Anti-Apartheid Struggle

Elizabeth Williams

• Publisher: I.B. Tauris
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781780764207
• eBook ISBN: 9780857739513
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: 20th Century History
• Index: History

The postwar government of South Africa, led by H.F. Verwoerd, implemented wide-ranging racial segregation laws, beginning the open policy of apartheid in one of Africa's most prosperous and internationally influential states. During the apartheid era, the British government faced an uneasy dilemma: while repudiating apartheid laws it maintained an ambiguous stance towards the South African government. As black South Africans were reduced to the status of non-citizens after the 1970 Citizenship Act, increasing numbers of exiles and fugitives were finding refuge in Britain, which was now home to a growing anti-apartheid protest movement. This is the first book to examine the British support for the anti-apartheid movement among its own black communities. Elizabeth Williams highlights the connection between domestic anti-racism struggles and the struggle in South Africa, showing how black Britons who were themselves fighting racism in British society identified and expressed solidarity with black South Africans during the Apartheid years. Williams further assesses the way in which Black communities in Britain viewed Margaret Thatcher's support of South Africa despite the international call for sanctions. Featuring the work of acclaimed documentary photographer and civil rights activist Vanley Burke, this will be an essential book for students and scholars of race, British history, international relations, post-colonial studies and South African history.

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• 1. The West Indian and African Roots of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in Britain
• 2. 'Enemies of Apartheid ... Friends of South Africa': The British Government and the Anti-ApartheidMovement, 1950s-80s
• 3. The ANC, PAC and Opposition to Apartheid in Britain, 1960s-80s
• 4. The Anti-Apartheid Movement and the Formation of the Black and Ethnic Minority Committee during the 1980s
• 5. Partners in Protest, Black Solidarity with the Anti-Apartheid Struggle, 1970s-80s
• 6. Black Radical Solidarity with the Anti-Apartheid Struggle, 1970-90
• 7. Conclusion
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Plate Section
• Back Cover