Hello, thanks for joining me today for another Oak Academy history lesson.

My name is Mrs. Knox and I'm here today to guide you through all of the resources you need to be successful with the lesson.

So let's get started.

In today's lesson, we'll be focusing on the Edexcel GCSE topic, the historical environment.

We'll be looking at the topic of Notting Hill and what Notting Hill can tell us about migration.

In particular, today's lesson will focus on black activism in the Notting Hill area, and by the end of the lesson, you'll be able to explain the reasons, the rising tension in the Notting Hill area, and also describe the actions of black activists in the area as a response.

Now, our lesson today, we'll use some key words, so let's take a moment to have a look at those words now.

The first word we'll use in the lesson today is the word interracial.

Interracial involves people of different races.

We'll also use the term black activism in our lesson today.

Black activism is advocating for power from the perspective of those from the black community.

We'll also use the term civil rights.

This is a person's right to political and social freedom and equality.

We will also come across the term the Black Power Movement.

This was a militant ideology that emerged in the United States of America in the late 1960s.

And finally, we'll use the term the Black Panthers.

The Black Panthers were a political organisation created in the United States of America that challenged police brutality.

A British group called the British Black Panthers was founded in 1968.

We're going to get started now on the lesson.

Today's lesson will be in three sections, and our first section we'll focus on the rising tensions in Notting Hill from 1958 until 1959.

The Notting Hill riots broke out in the summer of 1958.

They were triggered by a confrontation involving an interracial couple outside of a tube station on the night of the 30th August.

However, it is important to remember that the riots were not just the result of this one incident.

Racist groups and racially motivated violence had been building tension in the area for years.

Relations between Caribbean migrants and the white working class in Notting Hill were poor, and the metropolitan police had only heightened tensions.

As a result, the black community were often excluded from skilled jobs, banned from clubs and businesses, and forced to live in poorer quality housing.

Furthermore, anti-immigrant groups such as the Teddy Boys and the White Defence League spread racist messages and encouraged violence against the Caribbean migrants living in the area.

Later that night, a mob of almost 400 white people, many of their members of the Teddy Boys attacked the homes of Caribbean people at the Bramley Road in Notting Hill.

They were armed with iron bars, scissors, cricket bats, knuckle dusters, and knives, and over the next six days, petrol bombs were thrown at the homes of black people.

Some Caribbean migrants attempted to fight back to protect their homes and families.

The rioting and the attacks continued every night until the 5th of September.

After the riots, 108 people were arrested.

This included both white and black people.

The Met were keen to play down the riots, claiming that those responsible were simply hooligans, not racists.

Caribbean migrants were shocked at violence and worried for their safety and that of their families.

However, they objected to the events being described by the government as riots, as they argue that they were the victims of an attack and had no choice but to defend themselves.

Okay, let's have a check now of your understanding so far.

I'd like you to answer this question.

Why did the black community object to the use of the term riots to describe what happened in Notting Hill in 1958? Was it because A, they said there were only a small number of people involved in the disturbances.

B, they said their actions were in self-defense, and most of the violence was committed by white Teddy Boys, or C, they said the violence was connected to a personal dispute between an interracial couple.

Press Pause, and when you're ready to hear the answer, press Play.

You should have said that the correct answer was B.

They said their actions were in self-defense, and most of the violence was committed by white Teddy Boys.

Tensions continued to rise in May, 1959 with the murder of Kelso Cochrane, a 32 year-old Caribbean migrant living in Notting Hill since 1954.

Cochrane had been walking home from a hospital appointment when he was stabbed by a gang of young white people.

Again, the Met were reluctant to suggest the murder was racially motivated, instead stating it was a robbery.

This was despite Cochrane's fiance saying he had no money on him at the time.

In the aftermath of the riots, the murder received international attention.

Even though arrests were quickly made and it was widely believed that a member of an anti-immigrant group, the Union Movement was responsible, the suspects were released within hours, and the murderers were never caught.

Over a thousand people attended Cochrane's funeral, and both black and white residents of Notting Hill paid their respects as they were keen to show their solidarity against racial violence.

Norman Manley, the prime minister of Jamaica, visited Notting Hill immediately after the murder of Cochrane to find out what was going on.

He experienced firsthand the racism faced by Caribbean migrants as when he was standing on a street corner in Notting Hill.

He was told by the police to move along as if he was causing trouble.

Actions like these made the black community lose all confidence in the Met and convinced them that if they wanted their rights and lives to be protected, it was up to them to do it, not the police or government.

Subsequently, the Mets actions were an important factor in the rise of black activism in the 1960s.

Here's another check of your understanding now.

Is it true or false? The murder of Kelso Cochrane increased black activism.

Press Pause, and then when you're ready for the answer, press Play.

That's right.

You should have said that the correct answer is True.

But why is it true? Is it because A, the black community concluded they would have to rely on the police for protection, or B, the black community concluded they would have to rely on themselves for protection.

Press Pause, and then when you're ready for the answer, press Play.

That's right, you should have said the correct justification was B.

The black community concluded that they would have to rely on themselves for protection.

Finally, in this section, let's put what you've learned into practise.

I'd like you to match each of the problems with how it affected race relations in Notting Hill in the 1950s.

Press Pause to complete the answer, and then when you're ready, press Play.

Welcome back.

Let's see how you got on.

For the Notting Hill riots, you should have said that it resulted in people feeling unsafe in Notting Hill, but the authorities attempted to avoid labelling the events as racist violence.

For the murder of Kelso Cochrane, you should have said it shocked the local community and united Black and white residents against racist violence.

And finally, you should have said for racism in the Met, that this led to an increase in black activism as all trust had been lost that the police would offer protection.

Well done if you got them all right.

We're ready now to move on to the second section of our lesson today, and in this section, we'll be looking at Claudia Jones and the Caribbean Carnival.

Claudia Jones was a Trinidadian woman who was active in the US Civil Rights Movement, organising rent strikes against landlords who purposefully overcharged black people.

Due to her role in black activism, the US government had her imprisoned and then deported in 1955.

Jones moved to Britain in 1958 where she set up the "West Indian Gazette", Britain's first major black newspaper.

The paper gave a voice to the black community in London and was soon regularly read by over 15,000 people.

It showcased the cultural achievements of black writers, musicians, and artists, and provided balanced and informed commentary on race relations in Britain.

Here's a quick question for you now, which movement in the USA was Claudia Jones involved with? Was it A, the abolitionist movement, B, Black Lives Matter, C, the Civil Rights Movement, or D, the Environmental Movement.

Press Pause and then when you're ready for the answer, press Play.

You should have said the correct answer was C.

Claudia Jones was involved with the Civil Rights Movement in America.

As a direct response to the 1958 riots Jones wanted to celebrate Caribbean culture and improve relations in Notting Hill by bringing the community together through a carnival, a traditional Caribbean celebration.

The first Caribbean carnival sponsored by the "West Indian Gazette", took place in the St.

Pancreas Town Hall in Kings Cross on the 30th of January, 1959.

The event was held indoors since it was not as hot as it would've been in Trinidad and was televised on the BBC.

Caribbean culture had previously been alien to most British people, but the Carnival allowed everyone to appreciate the diversity migrants brought and dispelled many myths about the black community ultimately improving race relations.

After Jones's death in 1964 Rhaune Laslett, a Londoner with Native American Heritage organised small scale Carnival Street event for the children in her playgroup.

Laslett then teamed up with Michael X, the founder of the Black Power Movement in the United Kingdom.

Not to be confused with Malcolm X from the USA, the plan was to develop a festival.

This became an annual celebration, and by the mid 1970s, it had grown into the Notting Hill Carnival.

Today, the Notting Hill Carnival is the biggest street festival in Europe, attracting over 1 million people and generating millions of pounds.

All right, it's time for another check of your understanding now.

Let's try this True or False question.

The Caribbean Carnival helped to improve race relations in Notting Hill.

Is that true or false? Press Pause, and when you're ready for the answer, press Play.

You should have said the correct answer was True, but why is the answer true? Is it because of A, the celebration of Caribbean culture helped to bring different communities from the area together, or B, the celebration of Caribbean culture was a popular event for the black community to enjoy? Press Pause and then press Play to hear the answer.

Well done if you said the correct justification was A, the celebration of Caribbean culture helped to bring different communities from the area together.

Finally, in this section, let's put what you've learned into practise now, by answering this question, you need to describe two ways in which Claudia Jones tried to empower the black community in Notting Hill.

You could use these starter sentences to help you.

Press Pause to complete your answer, and then press Play when you are ready to see what you could have written.

Let's have a look now at how you got on.

You might have said that one way Claudia Jones empowered the black community in the Notting Hill area was by setting up the first major black newspaper in Britain, the "West Indian Gazette".

This gave a voice to the black community in London and was read by over 15,000 people.

Another way, Claudia Jones empowered the black community in Notting Hill was through the creation of the Caribbean Carnival.

This involved the celebration of Caribbean music, fashion, and culture, and brought people from different communities together.

The carnival later evolved into the Notting Hill Carnival, which still exists and is extremely popular today.

Let's move on now to the final section of the lesson today.

In this section, we'll be looking at the British Black Panthers.

Although Jones's Caribbean Carnival was a huge success, there was still little to no legislation to prevent racial harassment or discrimination in the 1960s, so many felt black activism needed to continue new.

In 1968, the British Black Panther Party, the BBP was founded.

Members were willing to confront the police for discrimination and prejudice, and believed that black people had the right to defend themselves using force if necessary.

The BBP was inspired by the Black Panthers in the USA who also campaigned against police brutality and for civil rights.

The BBP used the same symbols as the American Black Panthers as they believed the campaign against racism was an international struggle requiring coordinated global action.

They set up schools and workshops to teach black children about their history, helping to build a sense of pride in their community.

They hope that by doing this, the next generation would feel empowered to defend their communities in the face of discrimination and make it more likely that young people would become politically active.

The BBP also helped black people find better jobs, housing and healthcare.

And by the early 1970s, the BBP had around 3000 members, mostly based in the Notting Hill and Brixton areas.

Time now for another check of your understanding.

Let's have a go at this question.

Why was the British Black Panther Party set up? Was it because of A, to put pressure on the police to find the killers of Kelso Cochrane? B, to put pressure on the British government to pardon those involved in the Notting Hill riots, or C, to put pressure on the British government to go further with laws to protect against racial discrimination.

Press Pause, and when you're ready for the answer, press Play.

Well done, If you said the correct answer was C.

The British Black Panther party was set up to put pressure on the British government to go further with laws to protect against racial discrimination.

Here's another quick check of your understanding now.

With a partner, discuss the reasons why the BBP used the same symbols and imagery as the Black Panthers in the USA.

Press Pause whilst you have your discussion, and then press Play to see what you might have discussed.

Welcome back.

Let's have a look at what you could have discussed.

You could have said that the BBP was inspired by the Black Panthers and the Black Power Movement in the USA.

They shared the same goal of campaigning for civil rights for black people, having the same symbols showed their united front.

And finally, you might have discussed that they believed racism was an international problem, which could best be solved through cooperation and coordinated global action.

Finally, in today's lesson, let's have a look at this final task.

You need to read Laura's statement and provide three more examples of how black activists raised awareness of racism and discrimination.

Let's have a look to see the example that Laura gave.

Laura says, "Members of the Black Panther party raised awareness of racism and put pressure on the government to introduce civil rights legislation by confronting the police." You need to come up now with your three other examples of how black activists raised awareness of racism and discrimination in the '50s and '60s.

Here are a few ideas to help you.

You might want to mention carnivals, education, and newspapers.

Press Pause now and then press Play to see what you could have written.

Welcome back, let's see how you got on.

You could have said that, "In Britain in the '50s and '60s, black activists raised awareness of racism and discrimination in several ways.

For example, Claudia Jones started a newspaper called the "West Indian Gazette" in 1958, which gave a voice to the black community in London and meant that the government took race relations more seriously.

Another example, also set up by Jones was the Caribbean Carnival in 1959, this celebration of Caribbean culture allowed British people to have a better understanding of the black community.

Jones' Carnival also dispelled misconceptions and fears and made people realise their prejudices had been unfounded, ultimately improving race relations.

And finally, another example was the British Black Panther Party's campaign to teach black children about their history and help them take pride in it.

The aim was to encourage the next generation to defend their community if they encounter discrimination, and also to increase support for black activism in the future.

We've now reached the end of today's lesson, so let's have a recap of what you should have learned today.

The Notting Hill riots in 1958 and the murder of Kelso Cochrane in 1959 increased racial tensions in the Notting Hill area.

Claudia Jones and other black activists sought to improve race relations in the aftermath of these events through initiatives like the "West Indian Gazette" and the Caribbean Carnival.

The Carnival was very successful and evolved into the Notting Hill Carnival, which still exists today.

The British Black Panther Party was a black activism group who had been inspired by the Black Power Movement in the USA.

They campaigned against racism and discrimination and for civil rights in the 1960s.

Well done for all of your hard work in the lesson today.

I hope you feel that you've mastered this topic.