Of course the authorities could reassert control. The riots were not going to bring down the government or the system as a whole. But they did force the authorities to at least pay lip service to the alienation of young black people. They were key to winning equal opportunities policies, even if it was largely a token. The biggest gain, however, was in creating a sense of unity.
Racism remains, of course.
But we turned a corner in 1981. The Right to Work Campaign called for a picket of the conference. As the march came through the town, an organised group of around 70 skinheads gathered on the route but didn't join the march. We respect them because they beat the police in St Pauls, Bristol. This was met with a tremendous cheer of support from the skinheads.