Ethnicity and Miinorities - Nov 13th

1965 Race Relations  Act

• Ends discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnic or national origins
• Outlaws discrimination in public places

                    -> legislation considered weak by labour backbenchers and anti-racist groups

                    -> did not cover housing and employment & racial discrimination not a criminal offence.

 1968 Race Relations Act

•  reinforces 1965 Act 
• extends measures to employment & housing.

1976 Race Relations Act

• incorporated previous legislation &defined direct and indirect discrimination
• outlawed racial discrimination in the work place and at school, in provision of goods and services,
• created CRE (Commission for Racial Equality) to investigate unlawful discrimination.   But tightened immigration standards.

 Stephen Lawrence 1974 -1993

 

A black British man from South East London.

Was murdered in a racist attack while waiting for a bus on the evening of 22 April 1993.

 

 Two of the 5 perpetrators were convicted almost 20 years later in 2012.

 Race Equality strategy, Race Relations Amendment/Act, 2000

 

• A public enquiry was ordered into the death of Stephen Lawrence conducted by Macpherson
• Following Macpherson's report, the 1976 Act was amended in 2000 to include the police for the first time.
• Public bodies must promote race equality & prevent race discrimination.
• Efforts to increase minority ethnic staff.

 British population by Ethnic group

•   White population: 55 M 
• Total Asians: 4.4 M

–Indian 1.5

–Pakistani 1.2

–Bangladeshi 450,000

–Chinese 420,000

•  Total Blacks:4.9 M

 Lifestyles of Ethnic Minorities 

• Household size: largest for Bangladeshi and Pakistani
• Employment: Indians were least disadvantaged & Bangladeshis most disadvantaged.
• Home ownership: Indians &Pakistanis higher / Caribbean and Bangladeshi rented houses
• Cars: Highest for Indians lowest for Bangladeshi

• Ability to speak and read English: greatest among Indians and least among Bangladeshis
• Patterns of religious affiliation: 

                   - Nearly all Pakistanis and Bangladeshis Muslims
                   - Indians split between Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims.

•   - Caribbeans mainly Protestant or Catholic