Introduction
The Importance of Collective Struggle
Campaigning for, and against, Legislation
Confronting the Racism of Politicians
Supporting Global Struggles against Injustice
Directions for Learning
Introduction
Involvement in anti-racist campaigns formed a significant element of IWA activity. Much of this activity focused on racist politicians and practices, legislation and international causes and took place in workplaces, pubs and bars, and on the streets. In the struggle for racial equality, the IWA found that acknowledging and working with other organisations and international movements was essential to furthering the cause. Its work was thus able to influence struggles for social justice on a local, national and global scale.
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The Importance of Collective Struggle
Partnerships with other organisations, both black and white, were important for the Indian Workers Association since they enabled greater numbers of people to be brought together for important anti-racist campaigns. The joining together of black organisations strengthened the position of black people in Britain by creating a united voice against discrimination. The production of pamphlets, the organisation of major demonstrations, the sharing of platforms during public meetings and the issuing of statements were just some of the ways different groups worked together.
The major alliances that the IWA was involved in were the Co-ordinating Committee Against Racial Discrimination, the Black People's Alliance and the Black People's Committee Against State Brutality. Jagmohan Joshi was a key figure in the establishment and success of these three alliances.
The organisations participating in these coalitions were many and varied, but were equally committed to furthering racial justice. Amongst them were:
- Anti-Apartheid Movement
- Bangladeshi Workers Association
- Pakistani Workers Association
- Pakistani Welfare Association
- West Indian Workers Association
- Movement for Colonial Freedom
- Black Liberation Front
- Kashmiri Workers Union
- Irish Connolly Association
- Afro-Asian Caribbean Association
- Awaz
- West Indian Standing Conference
- Methodist Mission
- Universal Coloured People's Alliance
- West Indian Gazette
Other alliances in which the IWA was involved included the pressure groups CARL (Campaign Against Racist Laws), CARF (Campaign Against Racism and Fascism) and AFFOR (All Faiths for One Race.)
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Campaigning for, and against, Legislation
Many demonstrations were organised in opposition to the stream of immigration legislation that was enacted by both Conservative and Labour governments during the 1960s and 70s. The closing of Britain's borders to people who had previously been British subjects but were no longer deemed desirable was viewed by many as motivated by racism. The 1971 Immigration Bill, which introduced the controversial idea of 'patriality', provoked a major demonstration organised by the Black People's Alliance, which was hailed by the Press as "the biggest ever race demonstration in Britain". More than 30 coaches were hired by both the Indian Workers Association and Pakistani Workers Association to take supporters from Birmingham to London. Some 5000 people came together: Black Panthers of Notting Hill, Sikh bus conductors from Wolverhampton, Students, trade unions and civil liberties groups marched from Hyde Park to No. 10 Downing Street, demanding the withdrawal of the proposed Bill. Although ultimately unsuccessful in its aim, the demonstration succeeded in giving voice and uniting thousands of people, both black and white, in the anti-racist cause.
Lobbying for legislation to outlaw racial discrimination was also important for the Indian Workers Association. During the 1950's and '60's it was widely reported that an unofficial 'colour bar' operated in Britain against migrants from the Commonwealth. Many hotels, bars and clubs refused to admit or serve black and Asian people, and racial discrimination commonly occurred in the allocation of housing and the provision of education and employment. In 1965 the first piece of legislation against racial discrimination in Britain (the Race Relations Act) was introduced. As it came into force, Indian Workers Association members, along with students from Birmingham University, acted as ‘guinea pigs’ on pub crawls which tested the operation of Birmingham's colour bar. Correspondence in the IWA archives reveal how the Indian Workers Association reported establishments discriminating against black and Asian customers to the newly established Race Relations Board. The Act however did not go far enough, and the IWA continued to lend its voice to calls to strengthen legislation over the years that followed.
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Confronting the Racism of Politicians
In addition to demonstrating, the IWA campaigned against the racism of politicians. The notorious 1964 municipal and parliamentary elections in Smethwick saw the issue of 'race' used explicitly in a political campaign for the first time in Britain. Racist propaganda and inflammatory activities whipped up fear and anti-immigrant sentiment in the town and the Indian Workers Association felt that it was vital that the community took action against this and made their voices heard. One of the most direct ways in which it enabled this was by getting Indians out to the polls to vote against the Conservatives. Indian women had an important part to play in this:
"…Indian Workers Association went to every Indian worker, got every Indian voter to the polling booth, I know an Indian woman who came from London to work with my wife and other Indian women to take them to the booths…"
Although Peter Griffiths - the Conservative candidate - was elected, the power of black voters was to become a useful tactic in fighting for the community's rights and needs. It was recognised that if they stood together and voted in their interests, black voters had the potential to bring about significant change. A statement issued during the 1966 elections by the Indian Workers Association, along with the Pakistani Welfare Association and the West Indian Standing Conference, again urged supporters not to vote in All Saints and Sparkbrook because of the attitude of Labour MPs Brian Walden and Roy Hattersley towards immigration.
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Supporting Global Struggles against Injustice
Since it viewed racism and class oppression as universal, international racism and imperialism were as much a concern for the Indian Workers Association as racism in Britain. Anti-apartheid campaigning was a significant part of IWA activities and the IWA worked with the Anti-Apartheid Campaign and the Movement for Colonial Freedom to highlight the issue of apartheid in South Africa to people in Britain. One particularly successful campaign - the 'Stop the 70 tour' - involved protesting against the tour of South African cricketers to Britain. A flyer jointly issued by the IWA and the Pakistani Workers Association draws attention to the shared struggle against inequalities in both South Africa and Britain. The campaign was successful and the tour stopped.
Other international causes supported by the IWA included minorities and oppressed groups in India, the United States, Northern Ireland, Vietnam and Palestine. Papers relating to these campaigns can be found in the IWA archives.
The sheer variety of the campaigns the IWA was involved in required a vision of social justice which was based upon solidarity with other organisations and peoples. Fighting for social justice was not simply about anti-racism for Indians or black people in Britain but was about the recognition of a common bond between all oppressed people and was rooted in a universal working-class consciousness. IWA struggles were thus not simply struggles for Indians by Indians, but claims for equality based not upon ethnicity alone, but upon being human.
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Directions for Learning
Since 1965 legislation has been passed to deal with racial discrimination. There has also been a range of legislation dealing with other inequalities in Britain. You may consider researching the history of the struggles that people have undertaken against sexism, homophobia, religious discrimination and disability discrimination.
The IWA collaborated with other organisations to highlight the plight of families who were affected by immigration legislation. A number of flyers in the IWA collections, which you might look at, highlight anti-deportation campaigns (including those of Viraj Mendis and Som Raj) and provide a starting point from which to learn more about the human cost of the immigration Acts.
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Author: Sarah Dar
Image: Indian Workers Association protest against the National Front in Saltley, 1978
[Birmingham City Archives: MS 2141/Digital Images]
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