ABSTRACT
Racial residential segregation is well documented empirically, but less often the focus of theoretical scrutiny. Arguing against such neglect, this chapter explores, from an historical perspective, some legislative and political aspects of the segregation of ‘racial’ minorities in Britain. Focusing primarily on those whose family histories originate in the New Commonwealth and Pakistan, I use the term ‘black’ to describe people of both South Asian and Afro-Caribbean appearance. Although this label masks important cultural differences-which Peach (1984) and Robinson (1981) show are important axes of residential differentiation within black communities-my starting point is in black people’s common experience of segregation from the majority of white Britons.
