Submitted by Janine on
A version of this was published in Solidarity 568:
This story of colour bars in the UK railway and bus industries begins after the Second World War, when Britain had a labour shortage and people moved to Britain in increasing numbers from Caribbean countries and elsewhere.
NUR Opposes Racism
Submitted by Janine on
Langston Hughes
Wrote poems in the rhythm of the blues
He gave folk the shivers
With 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers'
Submitted by Janine on
Speaking at an online meeting of rail workers in September, Janine Booth tells the story of the period after the end of the Second World War when black people came to Britain but met opposition from some white workers, until the 'colour bar' was defeated in 1966.
Submitted by Janine on
Rosa Luxemburg
As I'm sure you must have heard
Was jailed and murdered as she would not conform
And preferred revolution to reform
Submitted by Janine on
Herbert Morrison
was moderate and worrisome
He had an appropriate grandson:
Peter Mandelson
Peter Mandelson
could not get a handle on
The passionate, radical, principled and quarrelsome:
rather like his grandfather, Herbert Morrison
Submitted by Janine on
Emmeline Pankhurst
among feminists, ranked first
Until she ruined her story
by becoming a Tory
Submitted by Janine on
Henry the Third
was somewhat absurd
He endorsed the Great Charter
and ignored it thereafter
Submitted by Janine on
Simon de Montfort
got off on the wrong foot
He persecuted the Jewish
but won the Battle of Lewes
Submitted by Janine on
This article was published in RMT News, September 2020.
By Janine Booth, Chair of RMT National Disabled Members’ Advisory Committee
One hundred years ago, two hundred and fifty blind people from across the UK marched from Newport, Manchester and Leeds to London in protest at poverty and poor working conditions.
Submitted by Janine on
I have contributed this short article to Black History Month activities where I work.
Poems of the Harlem Renaissance
- recommended by Janine Booth
