More on Race & Politics in 1980s Britain
🚨 NEW! Black British in Cornwall
https://youtu.be/lrIAexK_FII?si=XoN48rGwcN1-4U97
“The British Women’s Liberation Movement (WLM) emerged in the late 1960s, shaped by the radical political upheavals of the time—particularly the 1968 student protests, anti-colonial and civil rights struggles, and the global rise of second-wave feminism. Within the UK, the WLM developed as a decentralized, grassroots movement that brought together a wide range of feminist perspectives: radical, socialist, liberal, lesbian, and Black and Asian feminist traditions. Though ideologically diverse, the movement was united by a shared critique of systemic gender inequality and a drive to radically transform British society.” - People’s History Museum
From 1979 to 1983, the Black Women’s Group (BWG) published the Speak Out newsletter. The newsletter was written collectively by members of the BWG and provided a space to further discuss issues about the relationship between feminism, the women's liberation movement and the Black liberation movement in the UK. The newsletter also published articles related to key campaigns around housing, education, reproductive rights, and politics. Speak Out was anthologized in a book published in 2023, Speak Out!: The Brixton Black Women's Group.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKeHwRQon0e/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
In 1965, Lord Arran proposed the decriminalization of male homosexual acts (lesbian acts had never been illegal) in the House of Lords. The Sexual Offences Act 1967 was accordingly passed and received royal assent on July 27 1967. It provided for a limited decriminalization of homosexual acts where three conditions were fulfilled: 1) the act had to be consensual, 2) the act had to take place in private and 3) the act could involve only people that had attained the age of 21. This was a higher age of consent than that for heterosexual acts, which was set at 16. Additionally, "in private" limited participation in an act to two people. This condition was interpreted strictly by the courts, which took it to exclude acts taking place in a room in a hotel, for example, and in private homes where a third person was present (even if that person was in a different room).
The 1980s in Britain was a decade defined by conflict and change. Under Margaret Thatcher’s government, sweeping economic policies led to deindustrialization, resulting in the closure of coal mines, shipyards, and steelworks that had sustained communities for generations. This upheaval was met with resistance: city-wide riots, strikes and protests marked the social landscape, as the divide between working-class Britain and the rise of the City and big business became increasingly stark. Amidst this turbulence, the 1980s were also a period of extraordinary cultural energy.” - British Culture Archive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0v8eCyZdVM
Theatre
“Throughout the 1980s, British theatre underwent a significant transformation, with influential figures and theatre companies leading the charge in placing activism at the forefront.” - Ardent Theatre Co.
https://youtu.be/dXJMAxxWyF8?si=dJMcAKMaAyG0FK4G&t=50
Cannabis Usage
The Dangerous Drugs Act of 1928 restricted cannabis production, sales, and use. Its usage as a recreational drug was limited until the 1960s and 70s when studies began showing its potential benefits as an effective medicine. With the changing attitudes globally, cannabis arrests increased dramatically in the UK, principally involving white middle class youths with no previous convictions. With the passage of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, cannabis was listed as a Class B drug. In 1979 The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs produces a report which recommended the Labour government downgrade cannabis from Class B to Class C (less potential for harm) under the Misuse of Drugs Act, but the recommendation was rejected. In November 2018, medical cannabis was legalised in the UK for the first time, but recreational use is still illegal to this day. Although, as of 2016, the United Kingdom was the world's largest exporter of legal cannabis.
Drug Policies under Thatcher:
🚨NEW! 1980s British Slang