91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ

Current Students and Staff

// Events

Upcoming events

Black History Month: 'Has Britain a Colour Bar?': Britain's first race relations TV programme

  • 16 October 2024
  • 4.30pm-5.30pm

About this event

'Has Britain a Colour Bar?' first aired in January 1955. The original Radio Times listing read: "The recent immigration of many thousands of West Indians has focused attention on the problems of our coloured citizens. Have we the jobs for them - or the houses? Do we give them a fair deal?"

In this session, Marcus Collins revisits the first British television programme about ‘race’ relations. 'Has Britain a Colour Bar' (1955) is an eye-opening (even jaw-dropping) documentary about the experiences of West Indian, African and South Asian people who settled in Birmingham. The programme will be introduced by Marcus Collins, Reader in Contemporary History at 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ, who has delved into the BBC archives to find out why the programme was commissioned, how it was filmed and what impact it made on ‘race’ relations in 1950s Britain.

The session will feature clips from the original documentary, The full programme can be viewed on .

  • Contact details

  • Booking information

    • Free
    • Booking required? Yes
    • Book here

// Quick Links

// Web Portals

// Reporting systems

// Latest News

16 September 2024

91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ staff member completes 1,500-mile Rome2Home cycle challenge in aid of Wishes 4 Kids

Richard Bebbington, HR Product Manager within the IT Services team at the University, and his wife Ange have completed their remarkable 1,500-mile Rome2Home cycle challenge in support of the charity Wishes 4 Kids.

16 September 2024

Temporary car park closure notice: 24 September - 1 October

We would like to inform staff of an upcoming temporary closure to the car park in front of the Brockington and Schofield Buildings on the 91ÌÒÉ«ÊÓƵ campus (Car Park 18).

13 September 2024

Professor Will Seal

We are very sad to inform you that Emeritus Professor Will Seal, has died.

// Stay connected