This film is part of Rentals
Blacks Britannica
British racism is discussed in the context of the class struggle in this powerful American documentary.
Director: David Koff
Overview
This film, made for American television, has been described as "a harsh, relentless and passionate indictment of the British ruling class." It discusses the history of Black people in Britain since the era of colonialism, which led to mass migration to the UK, through to the 1970s, a time in which the film describes the Black community as being "the new underclass" of the British working class.
Blacks Britannica was commissioned by US public broadcaster WGBH (Boston), as part of its World series. The intention of the weekly series was "to help Americans take off their special American glasses and look at the world through the eyes of others." However, Blacks Britannica generated controversy among WGBH's executives and its transmission was postponed until a re-edited version had been produced. The programme's executive producer, David Fanning, later told Newsweek: "I was concerned with the film's endorsement of a Marxist viewpoint." This is the re-edited version held in the BFI National Archive.
Related
Lives of Artists Not Wives of Artists Lives of Artists Not Wives of Artists
Campaigning film 1984 46 mins Director: Sue Aron, Monika Morawietz and Rowena Rowling
Five women artists, including Paula Rego, contest the "hierarchy of art forms" in the male-dominated art world.
Born in-a Babylon Born in-a Babylon
Documentary 2000 35 mins Director: Nicolas Chaudeurge
A portrait of Rastafarians living in Tottenham at the start of the new millennium.
Immigrants Immigrants
Documentary 1965 25 mins Director: Peter Davis and Staffan Lamm
A fascinating, unsettling study of immigration in 1960s English cities.
Negro next Door Negro next Door
Current affairs 1965 27 mins Director: Peter Robinson
The white residents of a Leeds suburb express their troubling thoughts on their new black neighbours.
Mixed Marriages Mixed Marriages
1958 14 mins Director: Rollo Gamble
Broadcaster Daniel Farson explores different points of view about interracial marriages from 'ordinary' people.
Sid's Family Sid's Family
Documentary 1972 49 mins Director: Nick Gifford
You know Seven Up, but have you heard of Sid's Trilogy? See life through Jamaican-born father Sid's eyes in this 70s doc
Good Father Good Father
Documentary 1980 59 mins Director: Nick Gifford
You'll be delighted to meet Sid Williams and his six children, from Montpelier in Bristol, in this engaging documentary
The Taste of Mango The Taste of Mango
Documentary 2023 75 mins Director: Chloe Abrahams
Sleepwalking into submerged depths of memory, a mother’s dream and a daughter’s beckoning, this fascinating film tenderly untangles the knots of the past.
2073 2073
Documentary 2024 83 mins Director: Asif Kapadia
Oscar-winning director Asif Kapadia's unsettling drama-documentary delivers a powerful commentary on the state of the world today… and tomorrow.
A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things
Biopic 2024 88 mins Director: Mark Cousins
A striking portrait of an artist deserving of greater recognition, directed by Mark Cousins (A Story of Film).
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat
Documentary 2024 150 mins Director: Johan Grimonprez
Johan Grimonprez’s involving film essay, anchored by the rhythm of American jazz, reveals disturbing truths about the decolonial struggle between global political powers.
No Other Land No Other Land
Documentary 2024 92 mins Director: Basel Adra, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal and Yuval Abraham
This powerful documentary from a Palestinian-Israeli collective might be one of the most important films of this year.
Small Things Like These Small Things Like These
Drama 2024 99 mins Director: Tim Mielants
Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy delivers a stunning performance as a coal merchant who discovers horrific secrets about his local convent.