BRITAIN’S ETHNIC MINORITIES
Britain – multinational society
ETHNIC MINORITIES
o about 3 millions population (more than 5%)
o 45% of them were born in Britain
o can rise to 7% because of high birth rate
o London – centre of immigrant communities
o 160 languages and dialects are spoken by children in London schools
REASONS FOR COMING
o in search for better economic opportunities
o to escape political persecutions
o to escape religious persecutions
FIRST IMMIGRANTS
o from Europe
o 17th century – Huguenots
o 18th century – workers from Ireland – industrial revolution
o 19th century – poor farmers from Ireland – after the Great Famine
JEWISH PEOPLE – one of the oldest ethnic groups
o 19th century – refugees from persecutions in Eastern Europe
o 20th century – refugees from Nazi persecutions
IMMIGRANTS FROM OUTSIDE EUROPE
o 17th – 19th century
o black people brought as domestic servants, farmer slaves from Caribbean – seamen, settled in London, Liverpool, Bristol, Ports
o people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Africa, Chine
SUBSTANTIAL IMMIGRATION 1950’s
o people from:
o Afro Caribbean
o Christians
o English – their mother tongue
o in England – better job opportunities (crafts, transport, athletes, musicians)
Immigrants from India, Pakistan – peak in 1960s
o Asians:
o better opportunities of employment and education
o variety of religious and cultures
o variety of native languages
o work in factories, public services, own business
o now – big Asian middle class – professionals, businessmen
Until 1962 Commonwealth citizens had always been free to enter Great Britain.
o 1962 – first legislation to control immigration was passed
o 1968 – further restrictions
o 1971 – entry from all countries is controlled by Immigration Act
o majority of those accepted spouses or dependants of British citizens
IMMIGRANTS
o the highest concentration – Great London – 71% of all the minorities
o and six metropolitan countries
o few in Scotland
o very few in Northern Ireland
o higher unemployment rate
o children – move likely to need help in education
o difficulties – unfamiliarity with British society, different culture, racial discrimination
LEGISLATION AGAINSTRACIAL DISCRIMINATION
o 1968 – Pace Relations Act
o discrimination in employment, housing, education, unlawful
o 1976 – law strengthened the Race Relations Act – introduced concept of indirect discrimination
Concepts of racial discrimination:
o direct discrimination – because of the colour of the skin
o indirect discrimination – employer don’t realise that discriminate sb
o reverse discrimination – in favour of one minority of group
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