Pressure

-What event occurred in the 1970s and 1980s that represent the presence of racial tensions?



In 1970 a recession caused a widespread of unemployment leaving a significant number of African and Cariiebean people out of work. The struggle the Black British faced caused riots in the 80s in many different places. the riots were a eye opener to members of the parliament of the racial discrimination the Black and Asian society were facing.

-Why do you think Pressure was made?
I think Pressure was made to help people recognize the struggles coloured people in Britain had to face just because of their skin colour. It was made to show how racial discrimination affected the coloured; didnt allow them to have proper jobs, lead them to poverty.

-What examples of racism are represented in Pressure?
.Racism is shown a lot through the police in Pressure. They stopped mainly black people showing their assumptions that all black people are criminals. they also think that all black people carry, deal and hide drugs.
-Tony is shown to have many job interviews as employers do not think he is black because of his name and also his qualifications, however is rejected fromm all of them after the employer has realised he is black.
- racism is also represented in Pressure when the girl Tony fancies (who is white) invites him to her house, but is then thrown out by the landlady as he is black.

How does the theme of collective identity come across in pressure?

The rejection of the Black British by the white brought the black population together making them a somewhat family that help and support each other. this is shown when a group of boys are seen to be sharing food and stealing together. Because of the treatment and discrimination the black population were getting they united together to form a group fighting for equality.

-How do you think Pressure differs from mainstream representations of Black Britain?

The film had a black director which would have heavily influenced the representation of Black Britain. This allowed people ot get an insite of the harsh treatment and conditions Black people had to live with. this is how Pressure differs from other mainstream representaions of Black Britain as other representations of this time do not focus on the struggles the coloured faced but the threat they caused to society.