The Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963 was a four month event that ended the ‘colour-bar' at the Bristol Omnibus Company, ensuring that there would (officially) be a no discriminatory hiring policy for bus drivers and conductors in the city #AcademicChatter

In April, 18 year-old Jamaica Guy Bailey had his app to the Omnibus company rejected on the grounds that they only hired white men. At the time, there were about 7000 West Indians living in Bristol.

Landmark book on Black Bristol - Ken Pryce, Endless Pressure (1979)

Two diff West Indian orgs took up the cause, The Bristol West Indian Association and the Bristol West Indian Development Council. From the newspaper archives, it seems they had diff approaches.

Clipping from the Guardian, May 6 1963

(Apologies, this is not yet transcribed)

Reading that Paul Stephenson was seen as a 'troublemaker' was shocking to me. Paul Stephenson is revered in Bristol for his work on race relations, starting with this boycott. This goes back to my overarching questions-our collective memory does not care to remember this.

Here (The Observer, May 5 1963) we see [what i think is a fabricated] animosity between the white working class in Bristol and West Indians. Had a twitter convo about this with @NeilMaggs2 @TonyDDyer last month https://twitter.com/ZakiyaMedia/status/1278400717510844417?s=20

*** I had planned to chat a bit about this today but will leave it there

I have a chapter in the Journal of West Indian Lit next spring where I really get into detail discussing the 'white riots' of 1958, #ClaudiaJones and the West Indian Gazette and Afro Asian Times newspaper.

By August 1963, it was clear that what the Bristol Omnibus was doing was illegal, especially since the company had recently been taken out of private hands.

The bus boycott worked. Bristol's bus jobs (in theory) were desegregated

From the Guardian, Aug 23rd 1963

Book recommendation: novel by Desmond Ward, Bring on the Blacks, about the Bristol Bus Boycott. If memory serves right, Desmond worked at or volunteered with @bristolmuseum . Can you remind me please, @KGarvey20

After the ruling in Bristol, bus drivers and conductors in London 'ketch dem fraid' (got afraid) and tried to ban immigrants from applying. Really, my guy?

Clippings from Daily Mirror follow...

In 1963, busmen in the capital tried to get the Ldn Transport Board to rule that immigrants were not welcome in the sector.

Point of Info - industries and craft trades that had strong unions were MOST resistant to desegregated work. This was VERY true of journalism in 50s,60s.

While London DID have to operate under the same official anti-discrimination stance, immigrant drivers were still given grief. Poignant picture and report from DAILY MIRROR, February 15, 1964

One of my grandfathers came to England to build the railroad in the late 50s. I cannot help but wonder (and hurt for) what he is likely to have faced.

Raise a glass, say a word, send an offering for your ancestors this evening