Multi-Cultural Manchester

The Race Relations Act of 1965 set up the Race Relations Board to encourage racial harmony, prevent racial discrimination, and deal with complaints. Manchester Councillor, Bernard Sydney Langton, was appointed to the first Race Relations Board. The Greater Manchester County Record Office (with Manchester Archives) holds his papers relating to his work with the Race Relations Board, 1965-1968 (ref: GB127.M784/7/1-13). The main records of the Race Relations Board are held at the National Archives.

Bernard Langton was also involved in the establishment of the Manchester Council for Community Relations. This was set up in partnership with the Home Office, City Council and local ethnic minority groups as an independent voluntary sector organisation. Over time, it became involved with issues of racial discrimination and the enforcement of the Race Relations Act. The Greater Manchester County Record Office (with Manchester Archives) holds his papers relating to his work with the Manchester Council for Community Relations, Jul 1965-Apr 1966 (ref: GB127.M784/10/1-2). We also hold some copy minutes of the Executive Committee and various sub-committees, 1968-1971 (ref: GB127.M184/Box 41-42)

The Manchester Room@City Libary holds the printed material for the Manchester Council for Community Relations:

• Mezzo: the Story of Manchester Council for Community Relations (MCCR 1990) (362.84 Me (010))
• Newsletter (Quarterly) 1967-Apr 1971 (f307.06Ma1)
• Race for homes: housing and coloured Mancunians [sic] (MCCR, ?1969). "Outlines results of surveys carried out in 1968 by the Fair Housing Group of the Council" (331.833 Ra4)
• Robin Ward, Coloured families in council houses: progress and prospects in Manchester in Manchester [sic] (MCCR 1971) (331.833 Wa4)
• Annual Reports, 1966-1988, incomplete (301.45Ma45)
• Agenda 2010 Annual Reports: 2000/2001 & 2002/2003 (qR305.8MAN(654))
• Agenda 2010: Improving Race Equality in Manchester (QR 305.8MAN(721))
• Racial harassment in Manchester and the response of the police, 1980-1985 (MCCR, 1986) (Q305.8RA)

See also 'Strangers in Our Midst' 1958