Celebrating 75 years of the Windrush – Jo’s Story

What does Windrush personally mean to me? 

My father-in-law was one of the many migrants who came to England in 1948 searching for a better way of life, he settled here and married a white English lady and helped re-build England after the World War, his many stories about his life fascinated me and sometimes broke my heart about the hardships, discrimination, and racism he experienced. Some common misconceptions about the Windrush generation were that they were here to take their jobs, their women, they were dirty, their food smelt, they were unruly, and their music was too loud. 

For that reason, many were forced into low paid manual jobs even though they were skilled, they were discriminated against in the workplace, spat at and beaten in the streets, kids were bullied in schools, and many could not rent houses with signs like “No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs”  displayed at the windows, can you imagine how hard that must have been for them.  I want to turn that negative into a positive and celebrate the Windrush generation and remember them for all they have achieved amongst some unbearable hardships they faced. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this and i hope you enjoy it!

So, what is Windrush day and why is it Celebrated – National Windrush Day on 22^nd June 2023 marks the 75^th anniversary of the arrival of over 500 immigrants from the Caribbean and celebrates their contributions and achievements.

Why do we celebrate Windrush Day- We should never forget World War II and the devastation it caused.  Migrants helped re-build England after the devastation that bombs caused and the loss of skilled workers. Migrants from all nations provided invaluable skills and labour. It is a day to remember, celebrate and honour the contributions that individuals made to British Society.

How can I celebrate Windrush Day: There are many ways to celebrate Windrush Day, both on the day itself and throughout the year. Here are some ideas:

• Attend a Community Event - There are so many of these happening - click here to find a list of events

• Visit a Museum, Exhibition or Archive

• Take Park in Educational activities- Click here to watch this video on the Windrush

• Support Windrush Related Campaigns and causes

• Why not cook some Caribbean food and celebrate with your friends and family. Some of Jamaica’s national food is Akee and Saltfish or Curry Goat Rice and peas, recipes can also be found on YouTube