蜜芽传媒

On December 8th 1965, Britain's first Race Relations Act came into force, making racial discrimination unlawful in public places. The law was later strengthened.

Sam King MBE, who's 89 and originally from Jamaica, came to the UK aboard the cruise ship, the Empire Windrush, in 1948. He was Mayor of Southwark in 1983.

Speaking to 蜜芽传媒 Radio 5 live, he recalls the "neo-fascist people" who thought 鈥渃oloured people should not live in Britain". They overlooked the fact 鈥渨e volunteered and helped their country through the war鈥�, he says. Mr King spoke of the equal opportunity laws that meant his children could go to school and learn and become 鈥減art of the system today鈥�.

Sam King鈥檚 son, Michael King, was born in the UK and went to school in Dulwich. They experienced a 鈥済reat deal of racism鈥�, he says, for example, "one woman would come out and spit at me and call me rude names鈥�. Michael thinks things have improved, 鈥渢hat would be illegal now鈥� he says, adding 鈥淚 think we鈥檝e come a long way鈥�

Sam King鈥檚 granddaughter Dione Macdonald says that it is because of the experiences of her father and grandfather that she has the 鈥渟trength and the insight鈥� to stand up for what is right today. She says she is 鈥渆xcited to be a part of continuing to build a better society鈥�.

This clip is originally from Phil Williams on 5 Live on Monday 7 December 2015.

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