This collection of essays was put together with a view to furthering the study of the history of immigration into Britain. Naturally enough, a good deal of attention in recent years has been directed at 'race relations' in Britain from the 1960s onwards. As Peter Fryer's study, Staying Power (1984), has shown, there is a rich and important history of black settlement before these years and its significance in shaping responses towards more recent migrants has still to be adequately evaluated. We are constantly being reminded of the legacy of empire and its importance in terms of influencing current policy and attitudes.