The Interaction between Race and Colonialism: A Case Study of the Liverpool Race Riots of 1919- Roy May and Robin Cohen.
Roy May and Robin Cohen discuss the main causes and reactions of the Liverpool Riot of 1919 and argue that racism in Britain is deep rooted and stems from the British Empire. May and Cohen argue that they have created a clearer, more coherent image of the factors contributing to the riots through their use of primary sources. Their work is important when studying the Liverpool riot as it underlines the key causes and frames the societal context of the post-war period.
Within this article May and Cohen identify four main factors which can explain the outbreak of violence that occurred in Liverpool in 1919. Firstly, the fear of miscegenation is underlined as many white people showed hostility to relations between white women and black men, a good example of this is from Sir Ralph Williams, a colonial administrator who condemned such relations in written in The Times. Moreover, the concentrated black population in the south side of Liverpool is identified as having acted as a catalyst for hostilities between races which led to violence and this can be seen expressed in newspapers such as the Liverpool Echo. Thirdly, May and Cohen maintain that the riots should not be viewed as the work of hooligans or deviants from any side as this can excuse the involvement of white workers and their violence against black people, and can downplay the experiences of the black population. Finally, the competition for employment after the first world war is highlighted as a main cause for the disturbances, the mass demobilisation of soldiers increased competition for jobs. Aside from the four main factors identified, May and Cohen make the point that racism in Britain is deep rooted within the British Empire, this argument is maintained throughout the article.
May and Cohen utilise newspapers to reveal common societal views and perceptions and to highlight the events that unfolded. Newspapers are useful in drawing connections between events that have occurred and their reactions from different perspectives. Key terms that have been used within this article include repatriation, this was prevalent scheme in Britain during the riots, aimed at dispersing the riots, and dictated that black people should be sent back to their country of birth, this is important because it centres black people at the root of the causes of the riots.
Ultimately, May and Cohen’s account of the Liverpool riots is useful in detailing the multiple causes and factors contributing to the outbreak, it is also important in identifying different reactions and perspectives on the events that occurred, the use of newspapers within the article has aided this. Additionally, it is important that May and Cohen have highlighted the connection between racism in Britain and its origin in the British Empire.
Hi Georgie, this is a good summary of the May and Cohen article. You mention the main arguments that the article looked at, bringing out the importance of Empire as a wider context to the widespread negative white attitudes against black colonial people at the time of the riots. You also rightly mention the use of newspapers by the authors. This is important and is where the denial of the riots as hooliganism originates since the rioting was often described as the work of young white hooligans rather than being linked to economc and social issues at the end of the war.