Windrush - Marking The 75th Anniversary

Sue Liburd

Thursday 22nd June is Windrush Day.

However, this year also marks a significant anniversary... 75 Years since the UK Government invited people from the Caribbean to come and help rebuild a decimated post-war Britain.

Many thousands of Caribbean workers contributed to the war effort either as volunteers, members of the armed forces or technicians. Whilst some remained, the majority were demobbed and returned to the colonies after WWII ended in May 1945.

However, Britain needed help to rebuild, and invited people from the Caribbean to come, live and work in Britain to fill significant labour shortages.

The term ‘Windrush Generation’ refers to people who arrived from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1971, when British immigration laws changed.

Although not all of the Windrush generation arrived on the ship HMT Empire Windrush, the ship has become a symbol of the migration.

Windrush: A Brief History

On arrival in Britain many Caribbeans were treated unfairly. They were paid less than white co-workers, had few promotion opportunities and struggled to rent decent accommodation. In many areas, black people in general experienced serious violence against them. They were attacked and had their homes vandalised because of racism - much of this racial discrimination continues today.

This and other factors meant that many Caribbean settlers were forced to live in run-down areas and live modestly with very little money. Despite this discrimination, the Windrush generation continued to work hard to maintain their families, and help build Britain, which they were told was the Motherland.

The contribution of the Windrush generation to the culture and success of Britain is not in dispute. However, there is a scandal surrounding Windrush.

The Windrush Scandal

In 2018 it emerged that the UK Government had not properly recorded details of the people who had been granted permission to stay. The UK Home Office was found to have started to destroy landing cards belonging to Windrush migrants.

This meant that those affected despite living, working, and paying their taxes were unable to prove they were in the country legally.

They were then prevented from accessing services such as healthcare, and housing and had to cease going to work. Simultaneously, the Home Office also started to wrongly deporting people.

An inquiry found the government had made grave errors and had created a “hostile environment” immigration policy. The Government has yet to fulfil its agreed commitments to reverse decisions and compensate the victims of these injustices.

The National Windrush Museum

ABSTRACT is a proud supporter of the National Windrush Museum, a newly formed not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to research, exhibit and preserve the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Windrush generation, their antecedents, and successors.

As one of its originators, our Non-Executive Director Sue Liburd MBE DL is helping The National Windrush Museum build and expand its collection.

Cataloguing the history and legacy of Windrush will take time, dedication and hard work, all of which come with a cost. Donations will enable people from across the world to explore the incredible impact of the Windrush generation for years to come.

Support The National Windrush Museum