In moments of disheartenment and fear, particularly in the wake of the ongoing violence and race riots across the UK, it is deeply important to remind ourselves that our communities have faced many challenges and discrimination throughout history. However, time and time again, those same communities have overcome the adversity thrown their way through remarkable strength, resilience and organised resistance. 

As has been evident these past few surreal weeks, history has a bad habit of repeating itself. During the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, ethnic minorities in the UK and around the world, faced significant challenges including racial discrimination and economic hardship.​ In response, several movements emerged that played a crucial role in advocating for their rights and improving their conditions. These movements, along with the struggles and successes they achieved, provide inspiration for present day advocacy and resistance. They are a testament to the power of community-led action in confronting racial bias and systemic oppression.

In order to counter the false narratives others have constructed about our identities, we must embrace our rich heritage and the enduring power within us. Our ancestors have risen again and again, and it is time we lean into our generational strength and remember what it means to be part of their ongoing story.

By understanding these legacies, we can find inspiration and guidance as we face challenges that are eerily similar to the past. Their resilience and achievements offer a powerful reminder of who we are and the strength we carry forward into our own struggles for justice and equality.

1. The Mangrove Nine (UK)

The Mangrove Nine were a group of Black activists who were arrested and tried for inciting a riot in 1970 after protesting against police brutality and racial discrimination at The Mangrove, a Caribbean restaurant in Notting Hill. The restaurant was a cultural hub for the local Black community and had been subjected to frequent police raids. 

Their trial lasted 55 days and involved various challenges by the Nine to the legitimacy of the British judicial process.They were all acquitted of the most serious charges and the trial became the first judicial acknowledgement of behaviour motivated by racial hatred within the Metropolitan Police. The case brought significant attention to the racial discrimination faced by the Black community. Although the nine were found guilty of minor charges, the trial exposed systemic racism and led to greater awareness and reforms within policing practices.

2. The Southall Black Sisters (UK)

The Southall Black Sisters emerged in the 1980s in response to the specific struggles faced by South Asian and Black women and their families in Southall, including domestic violence, discrimination, and lack of support services. 

SBS quickly made headlines with their campaign against the UK government’s virginity testing of Asian brides—a policy aimed at exploiting patriarchal traditions to control immigration. During the 1990s, the organisation took a stand against restrictive immigration rules that trapped non-British women in violent marriages, eventually persuading the government to make crucial concessions. Additionally, they were pioneers in highlighting the plight of women abandoned abroad by their husbands. A recent court case, influenced by SBS’s advocacy, ruled that such abandonment constitutes domestic abuse, allowing women to return to the UK and apply for Leave to Remain. 

The Southall Black Sisters’ work highlights the importance of addressing intersectional issues and providing support for marginalised groups. Their work exemplifies the power of grassroots organising and the importance of community solidarity.

3. The British Indian Workers’ Association (BIWA-UK) (1960s-1970s)

Established in the early 1960s, the British Indian Workers’ Association (BIWA) was founded to tackle the exploitation and discrimination faced by South Asian workers, particularly in the textile industry. The association’s mission was to improve working conditions and advocate for workers’ rights.

BIWA played a crucial role in organising strikes and protests to address the harsh working conditions experienced by South Asian labourers. Their efforts not only brought greater awareness to the exploitation of immigrant workers but also contributed to the development of stronger labour rights protections.

The work of BIWA highlights the power of collective action and grassroots organising in combating economic and labour injustices. Their advocacy serves as a powerful example of how organised efforts can lead to meaningful improvements in working conditions and labour policies.

4. The Ongoing Palestinian Liberation Movement

The Palestinian Liberation Movement has been a central force in the struggle for Palestinian self-determination and rights. Figures like Leila Khaled, known for her role in the hijacking of aircraft to draw international attention to the Palestinian cause, Hanan Ashrawi, who has worked as a political leader and spokeswoman, Mohammed and Muna El-Kurd, who have been campaigning to raise global awareness on Israeli policies of apartheid and settler colonialism in East Jerusalem, Bisan and Motaz who have worked tirelessly in documenting and bringing to light the genocide of Palestinians, have all been crucial to the Palestinian cause. 

This movement’s focus on self-determination and the intersection of national and gender justice offers guidance on advocating for justice and equality. It is a cause close to the hearts of millions of Muslims around the world, inspiring advocacy and actions individually, as well as collectively. 

5. The Civil Rights Movement (USA)

The Civil Rights Movement in the United States was central to the fight against racial segregation and discrimination in the 1960s. Rosa Parks, a Black woman, became a symbol of resistance when she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. Her act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a major campaign against segregation. Meanwhile, Ella Baker, a grassroots organiser, helped to shape the movement’s direction by advocating for community-based organising and leadership.

The lessons from this movement are clear: individual acts of bravery and effective community organisation can drive significant change. Parks’ defiance and Baker’s strategic vision demonstrate how bold actions and collective effort can pave the way for progress.

7. The Anti-Apartheid Movement (South Africa)

The Anti-Apartheid Movement was a global effort to dismantle the racially oppressive system of apartheid in South Africa. A nurse and anti-apartheid activist, Albertina Sisulu was at the forefront of this struggle, along with numerous other ANC leaders like Nelson Mandela. Sisulu worked tirelessly to mobilise women and local communities against apartheid. She was affectionately known as Ma Sisulu, and is often called a mother of the nation. 

Her activism underscores the importance of solidarity and international support in confronting systemic oppression. The global outcry against apartheid and the collective actions formed across various communities were crucial in ending the regime. 

7. The Black Panther Party (USA)

The Black Panther Party, founded in 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, addressed both racial and gender injustices in the United States. The party was known for its community programs, including free breakfast programs for children and health clinics, alongside its advocacy for self-defence and civil rights. Leaders like Angela Davis and Kathleen Cleaver were crucial in expanding the party’s focus to include gender issues and broader social reforms.

The Black Panther Party’s combination of direct action and social services illustrates the effectiveness of addressing immediate community needs while simultaneously pushing for broader systemic changes. 

8. The Bangladesh Quota Movement and Student Protests (2024)

In recent years, the Bangladeshi people have been protesting against the quota system, a method that categorises and limits government jobs based on merit and various other categories, demanding fairer recruitment practices. On the 15th of July 2024, thousands of Bangladeshi students blocked major intersections and the police precinct in Shahbagh, a popular square in Dhaka, as a form of peaceful protest. The protests intensified and turned deadly, as the state used violent force on peaceful protestors. This outraged the protestors who doubled down on their demands and their sacrifices culminated in a significant student-led demonstration that led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 7, 2024.

The Bangladesh Quota Movement shows that collective student activism can drive political change and address systemic issues. The Bangladesh experience offers hope and inspiration for communities facing injustice all over the world.

9. The Aba Women’s War of 1929 (Nigeria)

The Aba Women’s War, also known as the Aba Women’s Riots, was one of the earliest and important examples of anti-colonial resistance led by women in Africa. In November 1929, thousands of Igbo women in southeastern Nigeria organised a series of protests against British colonial authorities. The British authorities, unfamiliar with the local customs and social structures, attempted to extend their economic control by taxing the Igbo women and planning re-evaluation of property, which would have further exploited their communities. These women, many of whom were traditionally involved in trade and agriculture, were outraged by the imposition of direct taxation and saw this move as a direct attack on their autonomy and livelihoods.

The women gathered in large numbers, using a traditional practice called “sitting on a man,” which involved singing, dancing, and openly criticising the colonial officials. The movement quickly spread across southeastern Nigeria, involving over 10,000 women and disrupting colonial rule. Though the British authorities responded with violence, leading to the deaths of many women, the protests eventually forced the colonial administration to abandon their tax plans.

The Aba Women’s War is a powerful example of how grassroots resistance, particularly by women, can challenge oppressive systems. This movement reminds us of the strength and courage found in unity and collective action, especially in the face of systemic injustices. 

The Aba Women’s War remains a powerful example of indigenous women’s leadership in resisting colonialism and fighting for their rights in West Africa.

10. Chipko Movement (India)

The Chipko Movement began in the 1970s in the Himalayan region of India as a grassroots environmental protest against deforestation. Villagers, led predominantly by rural women, would literally hug trees to prevent them from being cut down by contractors, thus the name “Chipko,” which means “to embrace or hug” in Hindi/Urdu.

The movement began in 1973 when a group of peasant women, led by activists like Gaura Devi, staged a non-violent protest by hugging trees in their village of Reni to prevent loggers from felling them. This movement was not only an act of environmental protection but also a direct challenge to the colonial and patriarchal systems that had marginalised indigenous and rural communities. The forests were crucial to the livelihood and cultural practices of these communities, and their destruction threatened their very existence.

The Chipko Movement gained international attention and became a symbol of environmental activism and indigenous rights.  It demonstrates that local communities, especially women, can lead the charge in protecting their natural resources. It reminds us that change can start from the ground up.  The success of the Chipko Movement led to a ban on tree felling in the region and inspired similar movements across India and beyond.

As the UK attempts to deal with the rise of the far right, othering of immigrants and hatred and fear mongering of refugees, the legacy of cultivating solidarity and activism of these resistance movements remind us that change is possible through a variety of actions, if taken collectively. These movements serve as an inspiration for a roadmap for continued advocacy and empowerment. With proven track records of who was on the right side of history and who was on the wrong, it is up to us to not only take comfort from these stories, but also have belief in the strength of our DNA’s resistance to fascism.