British civil rights: intersectional struggles (1950s–70s)

Olive Morris was active in campaigns Campaign A series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial or political aim. supporting Black women in south London in the 1970s, including those who were homeless and had been abused. She represented intersectional Intersectional Relating to different social categories such as race, class and gender and the way that these can combine to result in additional disadvantage or discrimination. struggles in terms of race Race Any one of the groups that humans can be divided into based on physical differences regarded as common among people of shared ancestry. , gender Gender Identifying as male or female, especially with reference to social and cultural differences, rather than differences in biology. and class.

Morris was a founding member of the Brixton Black Women’s Group, which offered advice and support to women in the community. She also co-founded the Organisation of Women of African and Asian Descent and was a member of the British Black Panther British Black Panthers The British version of the American group that fought for equal rights for African Americans. movement, who took militant Militant A person who uses, or is willing to use, force or strong pressure to achieve their aims, especially to achieve social or political change. action to defend people’s rights against racism.

This photograph shows Morris in her home in Brixton, south London in the early 1970s. 

Look closely at the portrait. What might it tell us about Morris and her activism Activism The activity of working to achieve political or social change, especially as a member of an organisation with particular aims. ?

This photograph was taken at 121 Railton Road, Brixton, in 1973. At this time, Morris was squatting Squat To live in a building or on land which is not yours, without the owner's permission. in this house with other friends and fellow activists Activist A person who works to change something that affects our lives or the world we live in. . This meant they were living there without permission from the owner of the property and without paying rent.

In the 1970s and 1980s, people who chose to squat Squat To live in a building or on land which is not yours, without the owner's permission. in a property that was not being used were not breaking the law. Morris was central to the squatters Squat To live in a building or on land which is not yours, without the owner's permission. ’ campaign Campaign A series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial or political aim. of the 1970s, which protested against the lack of affordable homes for people like her to live in.

Jayaben Desai is known for leading a strike Strike To refuse to work in order to improve pay or conditions. at the Grunwick factory in northwest London, in the 1970s. The majority of the workers at the factory, including Desai, were South Asian women who had migrated to East Africa before migrating to Britain.

The Grunwick factory exploited Exploit To treat a person or situation as an opportunity to gain an advantage for yourself. these workers. They were paid low wages for long hours and were humiliated and intimidated. The workers were not allowed to join a trade union Trade union An organisation of workers, usually in a particular industry, that exists to protect their interests, improve conditions of work, etc. . This meant there was no organisation to help make sure they had reasonable pay and working conditions.

In August 1976, Desai went on strike. Over 100 of her co-workers followed. Desai helped gather huge support for the strike from thousands of workers and trade unions across Britain.

The protest Protest Saying or showing that you are against something. attracted national attention and came to symbolise the struggle of both women and South Asians in Britain.

This portrait shows Desai picketing Picket A person or group of people who stand outside the entrance to a building in order to protest about something, especially in order to stop people from entering a workplace during a strike. near the Grunwick factory. 

Look closely at the portrait. What might it tell us about Desai and her activism Activism The activity of working to achieve political or social change, especially as a member of an organisation with particular aims. ?

This photograph would have been seen in a newspaper.

The Grunwick strike Strike To refuse to work in order to improve pay or conditions. attracted a lot of attention from the media. Some newspapers were sympathetic towards Desai and her co-workers. But the media generally showed the strikers Strike To refuse to work in order to improve pay or conditions. as small, passive Passive Accepting what happens or what people do without trying to change anything or oppose them. and ‘non-British’. This reinforced the stereotype of South Asian women at the time and undermined their identity as members of the British workforce.