Across the universe: Racial violence and the post‐war crisis in imperial Britain, 1919–25

Abstract

The race riots which occurred in the British ports in 1919 can be understood in a broader context ‐ the multiple conflicts which struck the British Empire in the aftermath of the First World War. These greatly influenced the way in which the outbreaks were perceived and dealt with. The repercussions of the riots were felt in the colonies, especially in the West Indies. The major means used to regulate the entry of black people to inter‐war Britain, the Aliens’ Order of 1925, a distant response to 1919 fitted into a well‐established pattern of colonial legislation, which was racist in intent rather than in the letter. I benefited from giving this paper in Manchester, Milan and Aberystwyth, as well as at Liverpool. My friends Ed. Countryman and Marika Sherwood helped me a good deal with encouragement, comments, references and a little dissent. Another friend, Merfyn Jones, gave me leads on Liverpool and many people at the various seminars I spoke to, particularly at the Vlth Biennial Conference in Early American History at Milan, made helpful comments or provided encouragement; Robin Blackburn, David Brion Davis, Eric Foner, Neville Kirk, Peter Linebaugh, Leon Litwack, and June Namias. I often talked about riots, especially those of 1919, with my friend Jane Morgan. As I finished the first draft of this paper she fell mortally ill. I would like to dedicate it to her memory, and to Ken in his loss.