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.