Struggles for a Past: Irish and Afro-Caribbean histories in England, 1951-2000

    Research output: Book/ReportBook

    Abstract

    Immigration and racism are amongst the most controversial topics
    in English society. This book provides an accessible account of post-war
    immigration but it also critiques the language of racial, ethnic and
    cultural difference that emerged to understand racism. Combining
    history and social theory, Struggles for a past makes a genuine
    contribution to debates on English identity, historical memory and
    contemporary multiculturalism.

    This book explores how Irish and Afro-Caribbean immigrants were
    represented in post-war English culture. Beginning with the 1951 Festival
    of Britain, it illuminates how dominant perceptions of the national
    past helped to construct immigrants as outsiders. Those outsiders were
    understood to pose ‘race’ problems that required management and
    intervention. Race relations work had serious shortcomings but it also
    offered immigrant groups a space and a language to construct their
    heritage and to deploy historical narratives in pursuit of social justice.
    In cultural and educational projects, immigrants and their children
    struggled for their pasts and won recognition as ethnic groups.
    Yet, as they did so, they became trapped by an ethnic historicism that
    closed down the possibilities of social justice for all.

    Written in an accessible manner, and combining history, sociology
    and education, this book will appeal to students and general readers
    interested in the history of race ideas, in historical memory and the
    future of social justice.
    Original languageEnglish
    PublisherManchester University Press
    Number of pages275
    ISBN (Print)9780719084805
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Struggles for a Past: Irish and Afro-Caribbean histories in England, 1951-2000'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this