Food of Love

One of only four girls from the 160 children in her primary school to pass the eleven plus, Sylvia Vetta was the first in her family to enjoy higher education and got to enjoy that post-WWII wonder: upward mobility. While battling racism in Smethwick in the West Midlands during the most racist election in British history, changed her life. The slogan bandied by the supporters of the Conservative candidate was, ‘If you want a n***er for a neighbour, Vote Labour.’ By chance she met Indian-born Atam Vetta. Being less than 21 years of age, her boss could legally inform her parents of her young man and his racial background without Sylvia knowing of it. Sylvia and Atam married anyway and 55 years later, they’re still married. When Sylvia married Atam, mixed relationships were rare and viewed with hostility, not just in the UK. In 1966, they were illegal in South Africa and in most of the southern states of the USA (until Loving v Virginia). In India they are not illegal, but many upper-caste Indians do not approve of marriage outside of caste. Sylvia’s story embraces a revolutionary change in attitudes in the UK. Marriages and partnerships like hers are no longer rare and it is predicted that by 2075, the majority of the population will be of mixed ancestry. She was plunged into a challenging new reality. Through Atam, she learned about glass ceilings for ethnic minority Brits. Atam’s research in quantitative genetics confronted institutional and individual racism with the knowledge that discrimination had been justified by scientific racism. Atam set about helping to expose those lies. Nine months in the USA opened her eyes to the probability that she was more disadvantaged by being a woman than being married to a man of colour. Changing career from teaching to business, she entered into a world where women were mostly excluded. Sylvia set about changing that, creating a vibrant and successful business career. Peppered with facts and research, Sylvia’s life showcases th