March 27th: Today’s Feature

March

Dr Paul Stephenson - Part 1

Paul Stephenson OBE (born 6 May 1937) is a community worker, a prominent figure known for his activism and dedication to fighting for civil rights for the British African-Caribbean community in Bristol, England.

In 1963, Stephenson took a stand against the Bristol Omnibus Company's discriminatory practices by leading a boycott to protest their refusal to hire Black or Asian employees.

The boycott, which lasted for 60 days and garnered support from thousands of Bristol residents, ultimately led to the company lifting its colour bar in August of the same year.

Stephenson gained national recognition in 1964 when he staged a protest at a public house, refusing to leave until he was served, which resulted in a trial for failing to vacate a licensed premises.

His tireless efforts and campaigns played a crucial role in influencing the passing of the first Race Relations Act in 1965, marking a significant milestone in the fight against racial discrimination.

Stephenson's contributions have been widely acknowledged, and he was honoured as a Freeman of the City of Bristol and appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009 for his outstanding service to the community.

Early Life

Born in 1937 in Rochford, Essex, Paul Stephenson had a unique heritage with a West African father and a British mother. Interestingly, his maternal grandmother, Edie Johnson, was a renowned actress during the 1920s. At a young age of 3, he was evacuated to a care home in Great Dunmow, Essex, where he spent a significant part of his childhood, staying there for seven years.

As he progressed in his education, he attended Forest Gate Secondary School in London, where he stood out as the only black student in the entire school. Following his schooling, he served in the Royal Air Force from 1953 to 1960. Later, in 1962, Stephenson obtained a Diploma in Youth and Community Work from Westhill College of Education in Birmingham. Subsequently, he relocated to Bristol and embarked on a career as a youth officer for Bristol City Council, making history as the city's first black social worker.

Bus boycott

In January 1955, the local branch of the Transport and General Workers Union witnessed a resolution passed by the Passenger group, which represented those working in Passenger Transport. This resolution stated that the Bristol Omnibus Company should not employ coloured workers as bus crews. However, it wasn't until 1961 that the Bristol Evening Post published a series of articles exposing this discriminatory practice. While the union denied the existence of a colour bar, the company's general manager, Ian Patey, admitted to it during a meeting with the city's Joint Transport Committee. Patey justified the company's policy by claiming that the introduction of coloured crews in other cities had downgraded the job, leading existing white staff to seek employment elsewhere.

In response to this discriminatory practice, members of Bristol's West Indian community, along with the city's first black youth officer, Stephenson, established the West Indian Development Council. Their aim was to combat this form of discrimination. Inspired by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a "whites only" bus in Montgomery, Alabama, Stephenson discovered that the bus company was indeed enforcing a colour bar in 1963. This discovery led to the organisation of the Bristol Bus Boycott, which aimed to challenge this unjust policy.

As an articulate and university-educated individual, Stephenson emerged as the spokesperson for the boycott. The campaign quickly gained nationwide media attention and garnered support from Bristolians of all races, as well as influential figures such as Tony Benn, the MP for Bristol East, and Harold Wilson, the leader of the Labour opposition. After 60 days of protest, on August 28, 1963, the same day Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, DC, the bus company finally surrendered. In September, Raghbir Singh became Bristol's first non-white bus conductor, marking a significant milestone in the fight against racial discrimination.

To commemorate the Bristol Bus Boycott, a plaque was unveiled inside Bristol Bus Station in August 2014. This plaque serves as a reminder of the courage and determination displayed by those who fought against racial injustice and discrimination in Bristol. The boycott stands as a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of challenging discriminatory practices in society.

Continued in Part II