Catalogue Number
NMLH.2023.82
Object Name
Poster
Title
Black People's organisations
Date
1972-1982
Description
The Poster Collective was a collective formed in 1971 at the Slade School of Art,  a group formed to initially produce posters in response to the miners strike and on the wars in both Vietnam and Ireland. It was formed on the basis of developing a coherent visual style, which addressed the political issues of the time. This included the armed struggles against colonialism in Africa, the struggle of women for equal rights and the continuing struggle against racism. The collective was active in the 70's and 80's, producing posters on a wide range of issues, including for educational purposes. The group was not-for-profit and used a variety of hand-printing techniques to create their posters. This is a laminated paper poster; it has a white background with red and black text. The title of the poster says "Black People's organisations campaign against "SUS." There is a large image of a white barrister wearing a wig with his thumb down. There is an image of smaller person underneath the
judge. There is red text underneath the thumb; on the left side it reads "SUS of loitering with intent." The right side reads, "Freedom for Black youth and others from SUS." The rest of the poster text reads "Public hearing, Sunday July 16, at 5pm. West Green Community Center. Stanley Road, N22. Chairperson-Lord Gifford-speakers - Gwen Bart lawyer Bernie Grant Local Councillor, Judith Powell youthworker." There is a sticker on the back of the poster which says "Designed and printed by the poster-film collectice. Circa 1970-80s.' Sus was a police discretionary power to arrest anyone they suspected of loitering with inten to commit a crime. This started in 1824 under the vagrancy act. It was enforced heavily from the sixties, against Black people, particularly younger Black men. This became prominent among the rise of the national front, and rising racism in the 1970s. Campaigning and protests against SUS developed; The Black People's organisations Campain against SUS (BPOCAS) was a
broad coalition of Black groups and lawyers launched in 1978. Their campaigning led to discussions about SUS in the government. The campaign 'scrap sus' was led by Mavis Best and Paul Boateng. The sus law was also a contributing factor to the array of protests, uprisings and riots against racism. The law was repealed in 1981, but issues of racist over-policing and racialised surveillence is prevalent today.
