When Sikhs arrived in the UK during the 1950s and 60s, it was a time when discrimination and segregation was prominent in British society.
There were many politicans and campaigns that benefitted from fear mongering. Two key examples include the speech made by Enoch Powell MP and the 1968 conservative campaign in Smethwick, which used the slogan:
"If you want a nigger for a neighbour, vote Labour"
This social context was so prominent and challenging that the Indian-Workers' Association invited Malcolm X to Smethwick, where he spoke against the racist sentiments as part of an activist demonstration.
The daily trials and tribulations were difficult for Sikhs and led to many making changes and sacrifices to integrate. You can learn about various forms and examples of discrimination here.
As the decades passed there were many Sikhs who felt that compromising their religious identity was unacceptable. They began to challenge the norm and fight for their identities.
Two key cases in Birmingham and the Black Country were:
Today, Sikhs have found a number of ways to protect their identity, but they are still required to educate communities on who they are.