I think that racism grabs the most attention simply because it is the most visible...My conclusion is that nearly all bigitory stems from the fear of difference...
I think its unfair to judge the generations of the 50's or 60's for their apparent ignorance. All very well in these times of media and communication for us to nod our heads and tut tut. They were probably looking back and being all self righteous about the Germans or the Black & Tans and so it went on back over each generation. How do you not know that something you are doing now and taking for granted will not seem deeply offensive to the next generation. Boxing as a sport, smoking in pubs.... how could you Grandad !
TBH I have absolutly no idea where all that came from, none at all, can only assume you have toataly missed the point of the thread, either that or just an angry young man.
i can beat that - I had a reel to reel - taped every episode of Monty Python holding the mic to the tv speaker... sort of a 60's youtube..
I bet you used real butter on your bread too Syd. http://www.tellyads.com/show_movie_vintage.php?filename=VA0746
no probs - I like the young man bit though, probably only 10 yrs younger than you !! I remember buying 5 Park drive, bazooka joe bubblegum, no chinese or indian - the only takeaway was the chippy..out of newspapers ! Holidays in Seahouses or Blackpool - no overseas stuff then! I think we may have come a long way in some respects but in other ways life was good then. probalby because of a big close family around me - makes a big difference !
there was a Chinese in Sunderland by high st swimming baths, and another on Crowtree road before they pulled it all down for the bus station and leisure center.
The Chinese just down from the old fire station, was closed down when dogs heads were found in the yard.
Syd, Nice article on your past but must say that when I was growing up we never classed ourselves as boy or girl it was always lad or lass. You must have gone to grammar school to talk so posh!!!!! The only time I heard boy was at school when the teacher would shout 'boy, you blithering idiot get out here....just before you would get the cane" When I was growing up the only black faces we used to see were the men coming out of the pit on the way to the pit baths. We had no experience of people from other countries. If you came from Coxhoe or another one of the local villages you were a foreigner....we weren't as worldly as we are now. I live in the US now and have many black friends including folks who have moved here from all parts of the globe. One good thing though is that when I talk to someone from say Uzbekistan I always use the common language of football and there is instant communication just goes to prove that there is a common language without bigotry.