Roy Hackett facts for kids

Lurel Roy Hackett was a brave activist born in Jamaica. He worked for many years to fight for equal rights for the British African-Caribbean community in Bristol, England.

Roy Hackett was a main organizer of the Bristol Bus Boycott. This protest was against a rule that stopped black and Asian people from working as bus drivers or conductors. The boycott helped lead to the Race Relations Act of 1965. This was the first law in the UK to stop unfair treatment based on race.

He also helped start the Commonwealth Co-ordinated Committee (CCC). This group created the St. Paul's Carnival, a big cultural event in Bristol. Roy Hackett received an MBE award in 2020 for his important work.

Early Life and Journey to Britain

Roy Hackett grew up in Trench Town in Kingston, Jamaica. He worked hard in different jobs, like an insurance broker. But it was still tough to earn enough money for food.

In 1952, he traveled to Britain by ship. He was part of the Windrush generation. These were people who came from Caribbean countries to help rebuild Britain after World War II.

Roy lived in Liverpool, London, and Wolverhampton before moving to Bristol. On his very first day in Bristol, he faced racism. Boarding houses would not rent him a room because he was black. He ended up sleeping in a doorway that night.

Fighting for Fair Bus Jobs

A plaque remembering the Bristol Bus Boycott.

In 1955, a union for bus workers made a rule. They said that black and Asian people should not be hired as bus staff. This was even though the bus company needed more workers.

The rule became public in 1961. Many black communities were very upset about it. In 1962, Roy's wife, Ena Hackett, applied to be a bus conductor. She was fully qualified but was still turned down because of her race.

Roy Hackett, along with Owen Henry, Audley Evans, and Prince Brown, formed a group to fight this unfair rule. They were inspired by Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott in the United States. They decided to start their own protest in Bristol.

The Bristol Bus Boycott Begins

The group announced the Bristol Bus Boycott on April 29, 1963. They told people not to use the buses. This protest quickly got attention across the country.

Important politicians supported the boycott. Tony Benn, a Member of Parliament, said he would not use the buses. Harold Wilson, who would soon become Prime Minister, also spoke out against the unfair rule.

The organizers compared their fight to the segregation happening in the US. They wanted to shame the authorities into changing the rules. They also caused disruption by protesting at bus depots and along bus routes.

Success and New Laws

On August 28, 1963, the manager of the bus company announced a big change. He said they would now hire black and Asian workers. This was a huge victory for the boycott.

It happened on the same day that Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech in the United States. The evening before, bus workers had voted to allow "suitable coloured workers as bus crews."

Soon after, Raghbir Singh became Bristol's first non-white bus conductor. Other black and Asian men quickly followed him.

Community Leadership and Carnival

After the bus boycott, Roy Hackett remained a strong leader in his community. He helped and guided many people in Bristol. He continued to work with young people.

In 1962, Roy Hackett, Owen Henry, and Clifford Drummond started the Commonwealth Co-ordinated Committee (CCC). Their goal was to improve life for people in St Pauls and beyond. They wanted to encourage everyone to live together and have equal chances.

From 1968 to 1979, the CCC organized the St. Paul’s Festival. This event later became known as the St. Paul's Carnival. Today, it is one of the biggest festivals of its kind in Europe.

Roy Hackett once said, "I was born an activist." He believed it was his duty to challenge racism whenever he saw it.

Personal Life and Legacy

Roy Hackett married his childhood sweetheart, Ena, in 1959. They had three children together.

A painting of Roy Hackett is part of a mural in St Pauls, Bristol. This mural is called Seven Saints of St Paul's. It honors the people who led the Bristol Bus Boycott.

Besides his MBE award, the Jamaican High Commissioner recognized him for his community work. In 1993, he received Royal Maundy Money from Queen Elizabeth II at Bristol Cathedral.

Roy Hackett passed away on August 3, 2022, at the age of 93. His funeral was a very important event in Bristol, with hundreds of people attending to honor him.