BRIXTON RIOTS 1981

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  • Interviewee name: Alex Wheatle

  • Alex Wheatle was 18 at the time of the riots and was among thousands of teenagers throwing bricks and bottles at police on Railton Road, which became known as "the Front Line". Now he is an established writer and father of three still living in south London. His award-winning novel East of Acre Lane, published in 2001, was inspired by the Brixton riots - which he describes here.

  • brixton riots alex wheatle

1 Comment so far

from Stuart Prebble 23rd Jun 2009, 07:06

Amazingly illuminating to compare Alex's vivid account of the events with those of Roger, the Police Constable who was called to control the riots. Both have very clear memories of the hatred of the community towards the police, and both describe how the fear on the night was overtaken by the adrenalin of the occasion. You could almost inter-cut the two interviews to get a full picture of the event. I hope others who experienced the Brixton riots, from all sides, will contribute their memories.