ABSTRACT
In the discussion of postwar racism the role of the state is often ignored or treated as insignificant. Katznelson, Glass, Hiro and Foot for example have all argued that the state played a negligible role in the development of postwar racism until the 1958 ‘riots’ (Katznelson 1976:129-31; Glass 1960:127-46; Foot 1965:233; Hiro 1973). Katznelson’s account is one of the most influential. He sees the 1958 ‘riots’ as representing the demise of a ‘pre-political’ period during which ‘race only touched the periphery of political debate’. This chapter will show that, on the contrary, the state took a major role in constructing black immigration as a ‘problem’ and in so doing reinforced a conception of Britishness grounded in colour and culture (as expressive of colour). Racist policies and practices were an integral part of this construction; the right of black people to enter and settle in the United Kingdom freely was circumscribed by government actions.
