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15 July 1966: Colour bar scrapped
Published 4 weeks ago
Description
On this day, 15 July 1966, national rail operator British Rail scrapped a "colour bar" preventing Black workers from higher paid employment at Euston station in London. At the time the bar was supported by unions but a Black train guard, Asquith Xavier, campaigned to overturn the bar, eventually finding some support in Parliament.
Xavier was a member of the Windrush Generation who moved to Britain after World War II. In 2019 many of those who moved with him were to be criminalised and deported by the government.
Despite the success of his campaign, when Xavier was promoted he faced racist abuse and had to work with a police guard, eventually the stress took its toll and he died in 1980.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8683/british-rail-scraps-colour-bar
Learn more about Black British workers' struggles in this book: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/the-making-of-the-black-working-class-in-britain-ron-ramdin
Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
Xavier was a member of the Windrush Generation who moved to Britain after World War II. In 2019 many of those who moved with him were to be criminalised and deported by the government.
Despite the success of his campaign, when Xavier was promoted he faced racist abuse and had to work with a police guard, eventually the stress took its toll and he died in 1980.
More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/8683/british-rail-scraps-colour-bar
Learn more about Black British workers' struggles in this book: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/the-making-of-the-black-working-class-in-britain-ron-ramdin
Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory.
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