Looking Back (Being and Memory): Bristol Bus Boycott Origins

When Rosa Parks sat down in April 1963, Bristol stood up—marching for jobs and equality. And on the day they defeated the Colour Bar, Martin Luther King had a dream. This positive, peaceful protest laid the pathway for the Race Relations Act 1965, the UK’s first-ever anti-racist law.

Standing on the shoulders of giants, Bristol Bus Boycott Origins honours those who led and were involved in the Boycott of 1963. Origins celebrates the resistance and resilience of the original pioneers who arrived from the Caribbean in the 1940s to 1960s, overcoming overt racism to help make the mother country great again.

Powered by Curiosity UnLtd, Origins is part of an ambitious three-year initiative called Bristol Bus Boycott 360. It marks the 60th anniversaries of three of the UK’s most significant civil rights movements:

• 1963 – Victory of the Bristol Bus Boycott
• 1964 – One-man sit-in at the Bay Horse Pub by Paul Stephenson
• 1965 – The 60th anniversary of the Race Relations Act

Curiosity UnLtd is committed to delivering this through 360 positive actions. Thanks to the support of 93 civic, corporate, and community changemaking partners, we have already co-created 283 positive actions.

Featured Films in Bristol Bus Boycott Origins

📽️ Lost Voices (14m 50s) – Uncovering the untold stories of the women behind the Boycott. (Provided by Unite the Union Southwest)

📽️ Beyond the Scars (12m 30s) – Revealing the man who sparked the movement. (Provided by As It Is TV & Bristol Culture)

📽️ We Rise (11m 13s) – A music video co-created with Bristol Bus Boycott pioneers, inspired by a visit to Parliament. (Co-produced by ACE Music, Bristol Beacon & Curiosity UnLtd)

Through these films, Bristol Bus Boycott Origins sheds light on the individuals who took a stand, their sacrifices, and their impact on Britain’s civil rights history.

We hope you enjoy our short films. And if you’re inspired by our work and want to get involved, or have an epic idea lets connect@CuriosityUnLtd.com.

This film presentation is part of the series Looking Back (Being and Memory), in response to Barbara Walker: Being Here, the major exhibition at Arnolfini for spring 2025.

Barbara Walker

Barbara Walker is a British artist described by art historian Eddie Chambers as “one of the most talented, productive and committed artists of her generation.” Her first major survey exhibition is shown at Arnolfini, Bristol in Spring 2025.

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