Afro-Caribbean Notting Hill Carnival
In the 1950’s Notting Hill was an area with high rates of crime and high housing shortage and tensions began to rise between the white working – class and the black migrant residents, which later led to the riots. Archives digitised by the University of Warwick found documents which showed that attacks started by white youths, also known as the ‘teddy boys’ on the ‘Caribbean people and properties, followed by counter – attacks by members of the Caribbean population.’ The Afro – West Indian Union based in London issued a response to the ‘racial assaults in Nottingham and London’. The statement issued blamed the ‘British government for creating the conditions which led to the attacks and calls for co-operation from the British labour movement’.
Ethnicity and Class - Notting Hill Carnival
As a response to the riots, the Notting Hill Carnival started by Trinidadian journalist and activist Claudia Jones who then went on to found The West Indian Gazette which was a big step in her fight for equal opportunities. Carnival began as a BBC televised and indoor event before it became an outside event in August 1966, which now attracts more than 1.5 million people every year between the weekend of the 30th- 31st August.
Hugh Muir focused his article on Notting Hill and what carnival reveals about gentrification and diversity. He highlights the drastic change from a ‘tremendously deprived area’ with a demographic of ‘poor white working – class and cash – poor black arrivees’ and the seismic change that has occurred since then. Notting Hill is now home to the likes of politicians such as Michael Gove and David Cameron – who have helped to run the country. The new middle – class residents of Notting Hill who ‘hate the carnival hit the road to spend bank - holiday weekend elsewhere’ and often complain to the newspapers, only coming back when the celebrations are over. Graham. P Martin conducted a study on neighbourhood change and super – diversity. Participants in his study raised their concerns about the carnival , and not surprisingly there was a correlation between ‘people’s attitudes and ethnicity and through class and residence.’ Those living close to the carnival mentioned ‘feeling at risk of violence or of crime’ over the two days during the carnival, although the middle-class respondents used an apologetic tone when explaining their opinion. The study also revealed that individuals believed those who were more hostile about the event were the ones who were middle – class newcomers to the area, whereas the already settled middle – class residents were less so. The settled middle – class residents described the way the modest middle – class newcomers felt about the carnival as ‘apparent displays of cultural capital in distinguishing themselves.’
In the borough of North Kensington, Notting Hill has seen a stark ‘contrast between spatially proximate areas’ although this should not be extremely surprising considering the social differences in the area. Martin Albrow was the President of the British Sociological Association and his theory was based upon civil society. Albrow wrote, ‘The Global Age : State and Society Beyond Modernity’, in which he comments on class and ethnicity , saying ‘ a co-present diversity of lifestyles and social configurations’ may co – exist in a locality ‘but not thereby create a local culture of community’.
Over the years, media outlets have continuously demonised Notting Hill Carnival and therefore have created fear- mongering based on the so – called dangers of attending and being near it. Ciaran Thapar a writer for GQ tries to shine a light on the positive sides of the carnival and what the real and raw story is behind it. Attendees of the event explain that it was first started as a way to celebrate their ‘caribbean heritage’ dressed in colourful and cultural outfits, dancing or playing musical instruments. Although, reporters have been keen to comment on the dangers of attending the event, such as drugs and violence, rather than ‘promote the wealth of positive stories that emerge from the weekend.’ This is as a result of an overwhelming stereotype of the Black British culture within the UK as being involved in criminal activity, rather than being seen as an innocent community. Hostility has also been stirred up by the ‘draconian policies and harsh rhetoric of the current conservative government’, with the current Prime Minister, Boris Johnson using the n word to describe black people and said that ‘seeing a bunch of black kids makes alarm bells off in his head’ in his old column and that he was more likely to be attacked by a group of black youths over white youths. Boris Johnson has a long record of having racially fuelled views and a ‘hatred towards black people and minorities’ said Labour opposition, Diane Abbott in 2019 and she describes him as being unfit to lead the UK let alone be an MP.
Conclusion
Notting Hill carnival is one of the most populat in the world. People from different countries come here every year to see fantastic performance and costumes. The carnival is led by the Afro – Caribbean community and it is now ‘one of the biggest street festivals in Europe.’
