Pressure Homework Task

1. What event occurred in the 1970's and 1980's that represent the presence of racial tensions?
During the 1970s and 1980s the new generation of black British children were growing up in Britain. Their parents came over with Wind-rush years, their children are the generations that are actually British and were being brought up just as British children were. It shows racial tensions as they were having to grow up with their parents ideologies and the British ones they had been taught. Tensions were growing due to the white British society not fully accepting the black British society. Also the fact that they were now British also and should be treated exactly the same as any other British child growing up in Britain.

2. Why do you think 'Pressure' was made?
I think 'Pressure' was made as an indication to everyone in Britain that these racial tensions existed and that there is no point hiding away from them. Also I think to give many white British people the outlook of the black British community and how they exist in Britain and to give us an outlook in to the prejudices they face daily. 'Pressure' has a lot of sympathy for the black British community in it, trying to prove that they should be given more of a chance, I see this due to the fact they chose to talk about how hard it is for the next generation. Cementing the fact that these children are British and just because their family may come from the West-Indies from the Wind-rush years they are still born in Britain. It proves to me that this film was made to wake-up the arrogant white society in Britain who think they can be prejudice towards the black society as 'Pressure' tries to prove these children and teenagers are apart of our country and it is our issue to make sure they have the same rights as their white peers.


3. What examples of racism are represented in 'Pressure'?
Their are many examples of racism present in the film, Such as the fact Tony not being able to go in his friends let room due to the landlady, Miss. Hawkins just because he is black. Tony's cannot seem to get a job, yet he is vastly intelligent. As the interviewer in the beginning scene seems to be trying to get rid of Tony the whole interview, proving just like all of his other interviewers they were not interested due to his appearance. His white friends even divulge in to some light racism, saying how easy he has it because he came to England got an education and now doesn't have to work, they even state they Tony must not be looking for work. The white mechanic also calls black people "you people", also stating that white and black are not the same just because not all black men get called to do national service, like white men do. His brother Colin even suggests that a white education tries to suppress black kids. Tony and his friends get abandoned by there own parents for not having a 'white' attitude to life, as if the 'white' attitude is the only way and that is far superior. Finally the policeman says "The law is not concerned with you and your lot."

4. How does the theme of collective identity come across in 'Pressure'?
The theme of collective identity is shown through 'Pressure' as you do have the strong image of the black community sticking together, such as finding their own surroundings and social events. As they go to church together and their are even specific clubs just made for the black community. I do not think any of this is by choice per say, but instead is a result of being pushed of society by the white community. 'Pressure' does work well to show collective identity, as Tony and his white friends are represented to really get along and look out for one another. This theme comes along when his friend Shelia sticks up for him against her racist landlady Miss. Hawkins. Also when Tony is with his white friends he seems to be doing fun activities and you can tell a mixed race society is where he wants to belong. Whereas when he is with his black friends he gets in to trouble and they are being made to be perceived as loitering trouble makers. Thus meaning it creates a great platform for a wide range of collective identities, supporting the theory that we should be a mixed society to function better for the young black society within Britain.

5. How do you think 'Pressure' differs from mainstream representations of black Britons?
'Pressure' gives you a personal outlook in to the specific lives of the black community in Britain, it shows you how the older generations from the wind-rush years are heavily taking on British ideologies in attempts to be completely British. Also how the younger generations of the black Britain's are finding their own country to feel like a foreign land to them. It sympathises with the black British community heavily and demands the attention from the British society and explains that they are not all thieves and criminals. Also that if they are committed of these crimes there are serious reasons for this sometimes, that they are heavily misunderstood. I personally think 'Pressure' is a brilliant eye-opener to the white British people proving that we need to start treating the black British community as apart of Britain. It takes all of the typical mainstream representations and mainly prejudices they had against the black society and tells you in detail why any of these can happen. Painting a much less threatening picture and more of a misunderstood society, that need to be brought far more in to the British society.

Research homework: Britain 1948-1962

 Representation works through construction- How were black people represented in the film?

Black people were represented badly throughout the majority of the film, however Sapphires brother is a doctor which shows to many they are regarded highly, as he was able to obtain an impressive job especially in that era. Although it may be simply to deem the older generations as racist and unwelcoming to black people. As the old women that let out their rooms only to white people, stating it would offend their other clients. The father being heavily racist, showing that it was an issue they had and gave to their children, as his daughter became heavily racist under his influence. Black people are represented as highly different and outsiders, tension is created in the film when a black person is amongst white people. They are represented as an highly undesirable race to be within Britain as in many cases they were not allowed nice rooms to let even if they did have the money. In the clubs in which many black people would enjoy themselves at they were seen as rebels and slightly reckless, as if they were simply there to make trouble, as they were portrayed as dangerous, as the film mentions knife fights. On a whole a lot of the time throughout Sapphire by some of the actors the black community were represented as a drain on their resources and an inconvenience As the some of the British public portrayed within Sapphire seemed unwelcoming and ungrateful towards any sort of help from a black person, especially the sister.

Considering your research and film analysis- How does the film put across a sense of collective identity of Black British people?

From my research and film analysis it showed that Britain itself was moving along and in many ways picking herself back up and thriving. However the Black British in society seemed to be losing their spirits to ever growing prejudices against them. As during WW2 many people from the West-Indies were welcomed in Britain, to only find that now they have out stayed there welcome. That they were only wanted by many whilst the white British men were away. Showing that the film presents a collective identity of feeling unwanted and in a so-called motherland that is nothing like they thought. In the film Black British people do stick together in many ways and this shows just how out casted they were within society that they even needed their own clubs to enjoy themselves in.

Research Homework: Britain 1948-1962

Investigate what was happening in Britain between 1948-1962

There are many social and political factors that happen throughout this time period that sculpted the way for a new Britain that was ever changing it's identity.

Firstly on 1st Jan 1948 - British railways are nationalised to form British Rail.

5th July 1948- The beginning of the NHS (National Health Service). The first one to open was Park Hospital in Manchester, by the health secretary Aneruin Bevan.

In 1948 Britain also saw a massive influx of people immigrating to Britain, this is a continually expansion in the British population stretching all three decades and beyond, it was particularly people from the West-Indies.However Also in the 1950's their were mass immigrations of the Asian community towards Britain.

It is important to point out the closeness in years after the second world war, as Britain would of been in a state of dire repair and hardship for many of the general public.Although rationing lasted several years after WW2, specifics such as tea rationing lasted until 1952, sweet rationing til 1953 and finally meat and cheese rationing til 1954.

By the 1950's poverty figures had plummeted in many senses, as "absolute poverty" had almost disappeared from Britain. This is a state in which you can not afford to eat the right diet or buy clothes.

The Korean war began on 25th June 1950, this meant British soldiers being deployed again and such a sort time after WW2.

In 1960 Britain's population hit around the 53 million mark.

During the 1960's it was the first time in which almost all households had electricity.

Coronation Street first aired in 1960, this is important as it was a show that would depict elements of society and it's issues and portray them in to the most dramatic extents.

Live trans-Atlantic satellite television via the Telstar satellite was made possible in 1962.

In the 1960's tower blocks were used as a housing solution due to the shortage caused by WW2 and the increased population.

How was the social landscape changing?

The British society was changing the hierarchy after WW2 was changing, as always there was the upper classes in charge however there were many more in society that were perhaps middle class who had fallen in to the working class category. As poverty did strike, a lot of people lost husbands, jobs and houses meaning that their source of money was not coming in. Thus meaning a lot more people fell in to the lower ranks of the British class system.

Women were treated far differently after WW2 as many of them took on the roles the men did whilst they were away fighting. This meant more work for women in the future, that people now accepted that they could do a lot more jobs than before expected.

Their was in influx in immigration throughout these decades, meaning that Britain was in the early stages of becoming a vast multi-cultural society. The use of tower blocks as a solution for an increased population is evidence to a vastly growing Britain. But however showing that the working class were growing the most in Britain creating an initial imbalance in the class system. Meaning there would be a far bigger working class that would change the social views of the country to be more in favour of working class issues, such as housing and other costly issues.

How did the changing social landscape lead to a "racialisation" of British politics?

Due to the influx in the working class society, the issues revolving the working class were pushed to the forefront of the British governments agenda. Tackling the issues surrounding the working class would have to deal with the expanding population, mainly due to immigrants. The government found they needed to look in to these newcomers ideals and prospects within Britain, this is were housing and such comes under the agenda. The racialisation aspect meant the British government were trying to make an issue of race within British politics. Both leading parties Labour and Conservative felt they needed to try and appeal to immigrants coming to Britain. Meaning a racialisation was created in which they both fought against each other in trying to make better policies for them. Policies involving better housing, social welfare reform and new job opportunities. In the general election of 1959, the public were in favour of the Conservative party and there policies.