Research

• Investigate what was happening in Britain between 1948-1962
• How was the social landscape changing?
• How did the changing of social landscape lead to a 'racialisation' of british politics?
• representation works through construction- how were black people represented in the film?
• considering your research and film analysis- how dose the film put across a sense of collective identity of black people?

There were race riots in London in 1958, between 1948 and 1962 workers from colonies could migrate to britain without restriction. West indians migrated to britain. Until 1962 every commonwealth citizen was entitled to enter the united kingdom at will. This right had been freely exercised for many years but it was only in the 10 years from 1952 onwards that substantial numbers of people from the commonwealth began to think of settling in britain.

From watching Sapphire and Flame in the streets the social landscape in both films were the same. Both films were about a relationship between black and white people and people reactions to them. In Sapphire it even lead to murder. I think that Flame in the streets showed more of a progress towards black and white people coming together, for example the film showed white and black kids in the same classrooms as each other also white and black workers together.

The two films put across a sense that white people were still unsure about living in a society with black people. Both families in the two films were against a family member going out with a black person. The families were worried about what other people would think of them and if they will get shunned from their local community. In flame in the streets white people and black couldn't get along peacefully together. Ending in a big fight.

In the films black people were represented quite badly for example in Sapphire one of the officers didn't want to shake the black mans hand. Also a quote from the film Flame in the streets said "black and white don't mix their ways, habits." " Live like animal, 6/7 children". In todays society this is racist, but back then it happened more because black and white people didn't get along with each other.