Administrative/biographical history

Black Sections, the Labour Party movement for African Caribbean and Asian people, was established in 1983. Four Black Sections members were propelled into the House of Commons four years after the demand for greater representation was first tabled at the Labour Party conference in 1983. This material is part of the Bernie Grant Archive (Ref: BG/P/11/5).

Scope and content

Comprises records such as the minutes of the Black Sections Steering Committee; constitutions; Black Sections newsletters; publicity leaflets; published booklets; press clippings; reports and other supporting papers relating to the formation and operation of Black Sections within the Labour Party. Papers also document significant issues such as Bernie Grant's pioneering role in advocating Black Sections in the Labour Party; general lobbying efforts aimed at greater black representation; publicity monitoring and organisations; recruitment drive to encourage Black and Minority Ethnic individuals to join and vote for the Labour Party; the establishment of the Black and Asian Socialist Society; as well as records relating to the historic meeting of Birmingham District Black Sections - held [April 1987] in defiance of the Labour Party ruling banning black sections and threatening to expel members promoting them.

Quantity

8 folders.