Research: Pressure

What event occurred in 1970s and 1980's that represent the presence of racial tension?

Britain was in Deep recession between 1970 and 1980, which caused widespread unemployment throughout Britain. This caused a large portion of Britain's black community already in limited employment to lose their jobs, increasing the already existing racial tension already existing, this caused riots and uprising in Britain's cities such as Liverpool's Toxeth, Bristols St Paul's, Birmingham's Handworth and at the Notting Hill Carnival in London. 

Why do you think Pressure was made?

I think pressure was made, to highlight the struggle of getting a job during the period of 1970-1980's. But also to highlight the struggle against discrimination, prejudice and fitting in for the second generation, of immigration to Britain.  

What example of racism are represented in Pressure?

Racism is shown through the struggle Tony has to find a job, especially in the opening part of the film in the interview. Where the interview automatically assumes that Tony has just come to the country. 

Racism again is also shown when Tony goes to an old friend from schools flat, and the land lady refuses to let him into the house and yell out him to leave before she calls the police. Also there is the scene where the police burst in to the black power groups meeting, and arrest everyone on the grounds they are thought to have drugs, and there is no evidence based upon this, but just because of the colour of their skin. 

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

The theme of collective identity between both cultures in pressure is shown through the use of language and particularly in food. Which is clearly highlighted the division in the first scene of the film, at breakfast between Tony and Colin. Tony eating Bacon and Eggs and Colin eating exotic fruit with a sauce in relation to his cultural identity. This is also shown again when he is with some African-Caribbean friends and Tony wants to get finish and chips rather than the cultural cuisine 'patty', this scene also shows the difference of cultural language when Tony says 'patay' instead of 'patty'. 

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

Pressure differs from the mainstream representations of Black Briton's as it shows the second generation of black Britons born in the UK trying to adapt to the cultures of Britain and being criticise for it. Especially shown when Tony eats fish and chips and an English breakfast.