Disclaimer: The Windrush Generation is for educational purposes and this post is about the Windrush Generation. This story of the Windrush, to the best of my knowledge, may contain errors and omissions. I am not a professional historian or a history teacher. This is strictly informational. Please read this post at your risk. The focus of this blog can change at any time and will not affect the quality of the blog.

There is a strong influence of the Windrush Generation in the UK, whether it’s through history, culture, or legacy. The Windrush generation has shaped the culture of black British communities and modern British society.

This topic is significant because they have contributed a tremendous amount of dedication and work to Britain. The laws passed by the British Government through the Windrush Scandal have also humiliated them.

This scandal relates to the time when they arrived in the UK between 1948 and 1971, immigration laws, documents, and racism targeted at the Windrush generation.

Despite the unnecessary attack and the challenges, the story of the Windrush generation is a hopeful, positive, cruel and uncertain journey and will leave you feeling inspired and grateful for the rich cultures they brought to the UK.

The Caribbean presence during the WW2

Around 10,000 soldiers from the Caribbean countries fought in the 2nd World War for the British army. 100 women joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and Auxiliary Territorial Services. After the war, some veterans stayed in Britain and they never returned to the Caribbean.

Before the Windrush ship, other Caribbean citizens travelled to the UK, such as the SS Ormonde ship that arrived in March 1947, which carried highly skilled professionals such as engineers and plumbers and the ship Almanzora which arrived the same year in December.

Who is the Windrush Generation?

After the 2nd World War, the UK was struggling with the economy and they were dealing with the aftermath of the war. Many people died during the war, to rebuild the economy and fill job shortages. The British Government asked the Caribbean countries that they colonised (at the time) to help rebuild the country and promised jobs in NHS, transportation and postal service.

There was an advert from a Jamaican newspaper that notified people of a ship called Empire Windrush that would sail to the Caribbean nations from the UK many people were looking to start a new life, and were looking for better opportunities and for many people, it was to escape poverty.

In 1948, the British government passed a law known as the British Nationality Act, which gave people from British colonies the right to work in the country.

According to the BBC, this meant that people who got a Commonwealth passport could work in the UK and this also meant that they could bring their children on their parents’ passports and there was no need to bring more documents to prove they had the right to work in Britain.

The Windrush ship set off and travelled to different countries in the Caribbean, such as Guyana, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The ship carried 1,027 passengers, including famous individuals like the singer Lord Kitchener, who was once known as the ‘King of Calypso’.

According to the National Archives, a 21-year-old Trinidadian musician called Mona Baptiste became successful in Europe and sang in French, German and Spanish.

The secret document reveals the worries about immigration

Did you know that a group of MPs got together to warn former Prime Minister Clement Atlee to tell him he should stop the Windrush ship from arriving in the UK?

Two days before the Windrush ship arrived, a group of MPs expressed concern about the influx of non-white citizens coming to work in the UK.

Another document revealed that government officials asked the government to stop Caribbean citizens on the Ormonde ship that arrived in Liverpool in 1947.

The document revealed they had no particular skills, which is false because many people on the ship had skills suitable for the jobs that needed employees.

Life was tough for them. They faced racism, which is a global racist system, but they persevered and continued to build a better life for themselves. And some people found jobs as nurses in the NHS, nursing homes, cleaning and factory work.

What happened to the Windrush Generation when they arrived?

The ship docked in Essex on June 22, 1948, which is known as Windrush Day. Many people from the Caribbean migrated to Britain between 1948 and 1971. In 1971, the Nationality Act allowed the right for people to live in the UK permanently.

Work permits replaced employment vouchers, which implies temporary work. An important point is that immigration in the UK became stricter because by the time it was 1971, 500,000 people from the Commonwealth countries had settled in the UK.

One consideration is that individuals who migrated between 1948 and 1971 learned that Britain was their mother country. And that there would be jobs available. However, the UK greeted them with racism and hostility once they settled in.

How was the Windrush generation treated?

Racism denied them jobs and accommodations, prompting them to start businesses such as barbershops, hairdressers, fashion, market stalls, design and restaurants, which provided them with income and helped the communities thrive.

Communal gatherings provided a sense of community that took place in living rooms known as “blue parties” or shebeens, which is an Irish slang.

These blue parties became more popular, and this led to famous events such as the famous Notting Hill Carnival in London which takes place every August.

How have they shaped black British culture?

According to poet, novelist and musician Anthony Joseph, the Windrush generation brought art, literature, music and food to Britain. Ska came before reggae and Lord Shawty coined the term ‘soul of calypso’ to revive calypso in the 1970s.

One part of culture which is essential to society is music. A lot of the music that people listen to today originated from the different Caribbean styles of music, such as ska and reggae.

In addition, the sound system culture played a role in shaping black British music because this is where they created their underground events because of exclusion from the mainstream.

This music technology has led to the creation of other electronic genres like dubstep, jungle, garage, grime, and drum ‘n’ bass. Ska, dub and reggae influences punk rock and new wave.

There are many businesses that have contributed to providing communities for black people such as students, veterans, freed and enslaved people.

These were cafes, bars and social clubs that provided a safe haven for black communities. This happened before the Windrush generation arrived in Britain. Restaurants such as The Old Trafford Bakery and Mister Patty in the 1960s and the Black and White, Mangrove Nine and R&JJ in London.

What is the Windrush Scandal?

The Immigration Act in 2014 required that employers, landlords, banks and NHS check the immigration status of people who may be illegal immigrants living in the UK.

These laws allowed people to work here and live in the UK permanently, linking the scandal to the immigration acts of 1971 and 1948.

The Windrush scandal made headlines in 2017 under the former Prime Minister Theresa May’s government. Other news revealed that in 2010, The Home Office destroyed landing cards without explaining why they destroyed these documents.

The Windrush scandal made headlines in 2017 under the former Prime Minister Theresa May’s government at the time.

In 2010, the Home Office destroyed landing cards without explaining their actions. In 2018, it came to light that the Home Office failed to keep records or provide victims with necessary paperwork to show their status.

This scandal also impacted finances and mental health by causing job losses, denying healthcare, and destroying lives

In 2019, the government established the Windrush compensation scheme to help individuals who were wrongly detained.

However, critics have accused the compensation scheme of not taking matters seriously, such as delays in payment and giving low offers.

Final Thoughts

A few years ago, a TV drama called Sitting in Limbo aired. It’s a really good drama that gives you an idea of what they went through in terms of finding the evidence, dealing with the home office, detention, and deportation.

It’s a contradiction as well because, on one hand, they could work in the UK with the documents and now they had to show evidence that they could live here legally.

And why would the home office destroy evidence and then the law changes which ask people to show proof of residency? Something doesn’t add up.

Thank you for reading the blog post, I hope you enjoyed reading it and leave a comment below and let me know what you think of the topic.

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