Collective Identity- Pressure

What event occurred in the 1970s and 1980s that represent the presence of racial tensions?
The 1970s and 1980s were decades of conflict in British society. It was a period of widespread unemployment which seriously affected the economically less prosperous Black-British community. Discrimination and poverty were also issues that sparked a series of riots in Black-British communities such as Brixton, Tottenham and Notting Hill Gate.

Why do you think Pressure was made?
Pressure was made to show a social awakening of young, black British men and women. It focuses on the changing attitudes of White British people on Black British people. It also shows the changing economical and political climate of Britain in 1970s and 1980s. This is shown through Tony's brother Colin in the film Pressure. He tries to get young black people to join together to change the system, the way black people were treated everyday in their society. The film also highlights the difficulty of getting a respectable job as a young black person despite having many qualifications. The characeter Tony is shown to have difficulties getting a job as a secretary mainly because he is black, and his friends who are white got a job as soon as they left school.

What examples of racism are represented in Pressure?
Racism is shown very clearly in Pressure. The first example we see is when Tony explains that he has been going to numerous job interviews since he left school but as soon as he leaves the interview, he never hears back from them. Further example is shown when he goes to a interview and because his name looked English on paper the employer assumes he must be white, and because he is black he is not given an opportunity.
Another example is, when Tony goes with his friend Sheila to where she is presumably renting a room with a white woman, and she refuses to let Tony in her house when she sees him. However when she is questioned why, she doesn't give a clear reason except for 'I just don't want them kind of people here'. This suggests that young Black people in the 1970s-1980s were all thought of as criminals who do harm to the society.
Lastly, the scene where Colin and his group have a meeting with young black people in a community hall and a group of police arrest a lot of them for no reason particularly. They also portray black people badly in the newspapers by claiming that many white people were injured by black people when it was the reverse that happened. This shows that the police thought they could do whatever they wanted to black people and if they didn't like how they were treated they will be forced to leave the country. It was a way of making black people feeling uncomfortable without saying anything.

How does the theme of collective identity come across in Pressure?
The theme of collective identity is shown at the breakfast scene when Colin accuses Tony of trying to be white by eating Fish and Chips instead of the traditional Caribbean food. He says 'this is what we eat back home' he tries to encourage Tony to be part of the collective identity of Black British people by eating the same foods they all eat.
Similarly, Colin tries to encourage to join him in campaigning for Black rights because he is black. Colin tries to explain to explain to Tony that he can't be black and still be influenced by white culture, he has to represent his Black culture.

How do you think Pressure differs from mainstream representations of black Britons?
The film Pressure tries to show Black Britons as victims instead of the representation that most young black people are violent and dangerous. Black people in the film are showed in uncomfortable situations where they have to fight to get any solution. For example the young American woman that helps Colin with their campaign is beaten for no reason as she tries to do something important for the Black British community.