Peter Fryer (18 February 1927 – 31 October 2006) was an English Marxist writer and journalist. Among his most influential works is the 1984 book Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain.

Early life

Peter Fryer was born near Hull on 18 February 1927. He was the son of a master mariner. He was awarded a scholarship to attend Hymers College in 1938. After joining the Young Communist League in 1942, he left school in 1943 to become a reporter on the Yorkshire Post.

Journalism and books

In 1948, Fryer joined the staff of the Daily Worker, becoming its parliamentary correspondent and covering foreign affairs. He also contributed to the American paper of the same name.

Hungarian Tragedy

In 1949, he reported on the show trial of the Hungarian communist László Rajk, who had falsely confessed to being an agent of Tito and others. After Rajk's execution and eventual "rehabilitation" early in 1956, Fryer felt guilty about having reported the coerced confession, and gave a letter of resignation to his editor, Johnny Campbell. Campbell persuaded him to continue working for a year's notice period. He wrote a book about the uprising, Hungarian Tragedy (1956). Fryer was expelled from the Communist Party for criticising Hungarian Tragedy's suppression in the "capitalist" press. Many members left the party during the crisis that followed. the journal of The Club, a Trotskyist organisation led by Gerry Healy, and with Healy was a founder member of the Socialist Labour League. He soon parted company with Healy, however, and worked away from organised politics until 1985, when he wrote a weekly column for the Workers Press. He maintained a long standing interest in black history and music. Peter Fraser wrote of Fryer: "In 1981, he attended a conference on the history of blacks in Britain to deliver a paper on black musicians. He went away convinced that the larger story needed to be told."

His interests eventually led to him writing the substantial and influential book, Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain (1984). This book discussed the long history of black people in Britain as well as the racist structures that were created by white British capitalists for their own economic benefit. Some critics such as Ziggi Alexander came to feel mutual respect and value Fryer's contributions.

References

  • Peter Fryer and Hungarian Tragedy and other writings on the Hungarian revolution 1956 at Index Books.
  • "A Bibliography of the Books and Journalism of Peter Fryer (1927–2006)". Scissors & Paste Bibliographies.
  • "Hungarian Tragedy – Peter Fryer"
  • Peter Fryer and the Politics of Black British History by Christian Hogsbjerg, International Socialism, 172 (2021)
  • "Peter Fryer Internet Archive", marxists.org.
  • (2007) "Peter Fryer, 1927–2006", Critique, 35:2, 297–302, DOI: 10.1080/03017600701446306.