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Saturday 22 June 2024 marks the seventh national celebration of Windrush Day and 76 years since HMT Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex, bringing over 500 Caribbean nationals to help rebuild Britain after the Second World War.
It is meaningful to be able to mark, on a yearly basis, the arrival of the Windrush generation to these shores, in recognition of the significant impact they, and their descendants, have had on UK society (from their contribution to the medical field, transportation and construction, to food and music). However, the (rightful) focus on celebration, perhaps makes it easy to gloss over the difficulties many had to endure upon arrival in the UK and thereafter. These difficulties are epitomised by the Windrush Scandal of 2018 which saw hundreds of Commonwealth citizens, many of whom were members of the Windrush generation, wrongly denied legal rights and, in some cases, wrongly detained and deported.
In his Richard Dimbleby lecture last year, delivered in honour of the 75th anniversary of Windrush, David Harewood OBE highlighted that, of the many things the Windrush generation can be applauded for, their refusal to allow their struggles to define them, should not be overlooked.
It must have been incredibly difficult for them to leave behind the lives they knew in the Caribbean and move to a new country. It must have been even more difficult to handle the ensuing sense of rejection they experienced at their reception upon arrival. As members of the Commonwealth and, legally, members of the British empire as Citizens of the UK and Colonies, Britain was viewed as the ‘Mother Country’, inspiring a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, for the vast majority, the realities of life in Britain did not match their expectations. Yet, despite the challenges that came with integration, the Windrush generation viewed themselves, not as objects of racism, but as subjects of their own stories (as aptly described by David Harewood OBE) and were able to forge a new life for themselves in Britain.
History plays a significant role in establishing a person’s identity and that is particularly true here, given the realities of the British Empire. The famous quote by Ambalavaner Sivanandan comes to mind: “We are here because you were there” which simply explains why the UK is the multicultural nation it is today, i.e. the history of this country prompts the migration movements we see here today.
I think of my own family’s history with the UK which started when my maternal grandfather, who was a teacher, was given the opportunity to both study and gain work experience here. He arrived from Nigeria in the early 1960s, accompanied by my grandmother and their two young children. My grandparents went on to have two more children whilst living here, including my mother. Ultimately, my life and identity as a British citizen today is due to the Commonwealth links established by the Empire and the patterns of migration that followed as a result.
The Windrush generation is widely regarded as having ushered in multiculturalism to the UK and I am grateful to them, and people like my grandparents, who took such a brave step, to build a new life and create opportunities for themselves and their families, persevering through the challenges that followed. I am also mindful of the challenges which are still faced by migrants today due to the ongoing tension between immigration and integration. However, if anything, the Windrush generation is an example of the positive impact of multiculturalism and the enrichment that comes when we embrace our differences.
For me, the experiences of the Windrush generation is proof that people of all cultures and backgrounds have the ability to positively impact and contribute to our society; and that, whilst not the hope or goal, struggle can be turned into something positive through perseverance.
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If you have any questions regarding this blog, please contact Bukunmi Osuntoki in our Immigration team.
about the author
Bukunmi joined the Immigration team as an Associate in April 2021 and is a member of the department’s private client team. Bukunmi is experienced in assisting a wide range of clients with their UK immigration matters, in particular private individuals, who wish to work, study, visit or relocate to the UK.
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