ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the similarities and differences between the two countries which are relevant to the race and housing policy area. British blacks are immigrants mainly from poor rural environments and American urban blacks are largely first and second generation migrants from the rural South. A large minority of American blacks and certain sections of Britain’s non-white (especially African Asian) population have a good standard of living and are not notably disadvantaged in relation to whites. In the US at least, there are signs that the middle-class black population is increasing in size. While both countries have what might be called ‘racial polities’, the main political parties have worked hard to dissociate themselves from anything but a liberal position, and all are at least officially committed to implementing civil rights laws. The historical antecedents of Britain’s 1968 Race Relations Act are, not surprisingly, dramatically different. Britain first legislated to protect racial minorities in 1965 following increasing evidence of racial discrimination.
