Race relations montage

Clifford and Monica Hill have a long history of working in the field of Race Relations. They were pioneers in working among immigrants in Britain and Cliff wrote his first book on modern race relations – ‘Black and White in Harmony’ at the time of the Notting Hill riots in 1958.

In the 1950s & 1960s they led churches in inner-city London working amongst the ‘Windrush Generation’. Cliff did weekly broadcasts to the Caribbean on the BBC Overseas Service and many television programmes in Britain. In 1962 Cliff visited the West Indies on behalf of the British Council of Churches to build up relationships and carry out research at the time of their independence. They favoured integration but recognised the importance of building up autonomous churches to a point of equality in many ways

In the 1970s Clifford and Monica moved to East London and extended their work to include immigrants from Africa and the Indian sub-continent.

Later, in the 21st century, they set up the Zong Project in 2007 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade and the work of the Clapham Group of Abolitionists led by William Wilberforce.

They followed this with further work investigating the legacy of slavery in 21st century Britain and setting up the Movement for Justice and Reconciliation (MJR). 

C&M has many archival documents relating to the different aspects of this subject. These are gradually being digitalised and will be added here when available.

Windrush Generation Race Relations

  • Early work among immigrants in London - 1950s
  • Official visit to West Indies - 1961
  • 1960s working in Tottenham and visit to the West Indies

Immigration and Integration

  • Research for the Institute of Race Relations, London
  • Publication of books on integration and prejudice
  • Assisting the recognition and establishment of new cultural churches
  • Teaching of literacy and EFL to African and Asian immigrants

The Zong Project and the Legacy of Slavery in the 21st Century

  • The Zong Project
  • Movement for Justice and Reconciliation (MJR)
  • Legacy of Slavery Studies