European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 16, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Secl Simf Cut Simp it half vow of Guyana and 10-year police Veteran on patrol in London. Being Black and British by Maureen Johnson associated press Lifton Robinson stepped off the boat from Jamaica in 1944, bursting Wilh Pride in his Royal air Force uniform a colonial lad come to tight Lor the Mother country. The Black youth announced he was British and a group of Dock workers burst out laughing. It is laughter that has rung in my bars Many limes since says Robinson now 60, it was he first Lime i realized that Here were people who were not prepared to recognize you can be Black and forty years later the question remains for Britain s non whiles immigrants mainly rom the former colonies in the West indies India Pakistan and Bangladesh who now number 2.4 million of the 56 million britons. Technically yes you can be Black and British. Psychologically perhaps no says Robinson now Deputy chairman of the commission Lor racial Equality a stale funded watchdog body. Since Peak immigration in the 1950s and 1960s, Little has changed fundamentally for Many non Whites living uneasily or resentfully Al the Edge of what they see As a racist society. Blacks and asians As people from the Indian subcontinent Are known fill the Low paying jobs and Are virtually non existent in the top echelons of the civil service. Non whiles have an unemployment Rale of 20 percent double that of while according to a 1985 Survey by the department of employment. Racial violence is on the increase particularly in London districts with High asian populations where Swastika like signs of the Neo racist and White National front Are daubed on Walls. London police say 1,937 racial Al tacks were reported in 1985,422 More than in 1984, and Black groups say they Rose again in 1936. But official figures have yet to be released. Among the country s 468 judges Only one is non White a sikh immigrant from Kenya in East Africa. However non whiles Are gaining in Confidence and status. Though no political party has non Whites among its top leaders the most notable Advance by non Whites is their movement Inlo politics via the main opposition labor party in the 1980s. They form Only 4 4 Pec cant of Trie population but Are concentrated in big cities where their political Power is growing. Outside politics Ivra Blacks have High profile jobs on to networks. Black athletes such As olympic decathlon Champion Daley Thompson and heavyweight boxing contender Frank Bruno feature in advertising As Well As the sports pages. In the arts Salman Rushdie v.3. Naipaul and his late brother Shiva Naipaul All of Indian descent rank among Britain s most acclaimed contemporary writers. Anglo Indian actor Ben Kingsley wan an Oscar for his film portrayal of Mohandas Gandhi. A Black is the Deputy Leader of the biggest labor Union. The 1,4-million member transport and general workers Union. And the while establishment partly jolted by widespread rioting in High immigrant districts
