Catalogue Number
NMLH.1994.168.119/2
Object Name
Poster
Title
Unity Against Racialism poster
People
Enoch Powell
Events
Rivers of Blood speech
Date
1975
Description
Large white poster, with black and white photos, and red and black writing. In red writing, on the top right it says "WANTED multi-racial education, equality, democracy, racial harmony." Beside this, on the left there is a monochrome photograph. There is a Black child smiling with his arm round a white child, who is also smiling. This photo is supposed to symbolise "racial harmony", but this type of image for anti-racism is very outdated and reductive. This imagery was very common in the 1980s, but is reductive, and does not provide any context or nuance to racism and anti-racism. Underneath this photo it says "NOT WANTED, hatred, violence, discrimination, intimidation. " Next to this, there is a photo on the right of a National Front rally. It is a group of white men holding union jacks and there is a large banner with the "NF" logo. The National Front was a far-right fascist political party in Britain. It reached its height of popularity in the 1970s. In the mid to late 1970s there were many acts of racial violence from NF members towards Black people, and other people of colour. The party is a white supremacist group with eugenics and conspiracy theories underpinning its central ideologies. Support increased during the 1970s due to an influx of Black and Asian immigrants coming into Britain. The bottom of the poster says "UNITY AGAINST RACIALISM" in large red letters. In smaller print at the bottom of the poster, it says "A National student committee Communist Party Poster. Printed by w.o.w (T.U.) 467 Caledonian Road, London N7. (01 609 0211).
