Remaking Britain into A Multi-Racial Society: Lonely Londoners

I. West Indian Perceptions and Realities of the Mother Country During the World War II Era
A. From A Warm to Cool Reception
1. World War II intensified historical pattern of travel from the Caribbean and India to Britain:
a) students completing university or professional training; seamen serving in the merchant fleet; activists seeking relief from contradictions of colonial rule
b) recruited heavily, especially in Caribbean and India, to serve in the military and/or military related industries (Military Recruitment Posters)
c) welcomed as defenders of Britain during national emergency, but expected to return home
2. Post-war period conveyed conflicting messages about the place of people of color from the empire and its successor states:
a) Parliament passed the 1948 Nationality Act which entitled all subjects to enter Britain as well as extended rights of citizenship
b) recruited to staff the various public services associated with the nascent social welfare state, i.e., regional hospitals of the National Health Service, London Underground, etc.
c) campaign to keep Britain “white”

II. Samuel Selvon and Lonely Londoners
A. Creating a Voice for Black Britons
1. Empire shaped life and career as a writer (Author Photograph from Back of Book):
a) born in British Trinidad in 1923
b) began writing career while serving in the Royal Navy during World War II
c) edited literary magazine in Trinidad before he traveled to London in 1950
2. Published Lonely Londoners in 1956(Image of Cover of Novel):
a) unmasked the experiences of West Indians in Britain after World War II
b) described the remaking of the social landscape of British society
c) discussed race relations at a moment when political leaders and leading institutions failed to lead.
B. Creating A Sense of Place in Britain (Trinidad: Maracas Bay & Port of Spain)
1. Imagining the Mother Country (Colonial Architecture of Trinidad):
a) architecture of Britain
b) membership in Anglican Church
c) subjects of the Crown (Elizabeth II at Coronation and Black Elizabeth from Colors Magazine #4)
2. Chain migration established a pattern of mobility from the Caribbean to Britain:
a) circulation of information through letter writing, newspapers, and word of mouth kinship networks
b) content of information ranged from availability of work, housing, location of family/friends, preparation/provision for voyage and arrival in London, appeals for money or to return
c) station serves as a node in a network of relations that link the West Indies to Britain, i.e., family, friend, opportunists (Waterloo Station Poster, Windrush Passenger List, Passenger Photos: image 1, image 2).
(Selvon references: pp. 23 & 26)
3. Adjusting expectations to experience of living in the city:
a) becoming independent through inter-dependence
b) creating community out of individual experiences
(Selvon references: pp. 35, 37, 39 & 40).