Black History Month — The Windrush Effect through the eyes of a second generation granddaughter

In celebration of Black History Month, I’ve been asked to share my story. Not necessarily ‘on brand’ for a very Tech, Strategy, Startup related space but, no less important. For complete transparency, previously I’ve never been that enthused about Black History Month. At times, it’s felt reductive given the extensive contributions Black people have made worldwide, from inventors to public figures. Also, performative, it’s like the ‘black square’ moment in the year…where companies known for their poor consciously inclusive efforts, put on a few events, whilst their Black employees, or lack thereof, struggle with frequent micro-aggressions or out of our 100,000 traditional red letterboxes nationwide, 4 of them get painted black out of ‘solidarity’. However, being proud of my culture and history makes me participate in Black History Month to educate others, amplify our history and contributions, without the frequent, and convenient rewritings to make them more palatable, or on the other scale, less powerful to the masses. I’m pleased to work with a business that is genuinely investing in their diversity initiatives and are leaning into the difficult conversations many shy away from.

I was born in West London, and have a strong and proud Caribbean heritage. My maternal grandparents are of Grenadian and Portuguese heritage and my father’s family are predominately from Jamaica, with some Scottish. Perfect holiday destinations, but where I call my second homes! Grenada, in particular, is my own personal paradise having been fortune enough to travel there most years since a baby. My grandparents belongs to what’s been coined the “Windrush Generation”. A generation of pioneers, diligent, committed and resilient grafters.

In 1948, people from West Indian (Caribbean) Islands were invited by Her Majesty to the United Kingdom to help rebuild the country post World War II. The Windrush, First docked at Tilbury Docks, Essex, on 21 June 1948. Immigration lasted up until the early 70’s. Many of the men who migrated were former service men, serving in the Royal Forces and the women were qualified teachers, nurses plus more. They were educated and skilled, expectant for fruitful opportunities allowing them to return back to the Islands in a better economic position. The ‘Windrush Generation’ consisted of people from beautiful Islands in the West Indies such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Guyana etc.

I’m fortunate to know first-hand the lived experiences and history of this time. My grandmother often recants stories from the 50s and 60s, ones filled with hope, laughter, community but also significant hardship and discrimination. Despite the dream sold, from the onset, the Windrush Generation had a different reality. Without going too much into it, many had trouble finding appropriate and liveable accommodation due to Landlord’s having “no Blacks, no dogs and no Irish” letting policies. This was a far cry from the life they left behind. Despite the unpalatable racism and discrimination, the vast majority preserved, worked hard and earned an honest wage. They had a strong sense of community and the discrimination within banking, led to what we would now call “crowdfunding” financial activities. This allowed them to save deposits and obtain mortgages to buy their own homes, many of them settling in places in West London, like Shepherd’s Bush and South West London, Brixton (gentrified hotspots of prime real estate now) or send their children to schools and save for their dream of retirement “back home”. Unlike many, my grandparents did fulfil their dream of retiring in Grenada, known as the Isle of Spice in the early 90s.

Many of the choices my grandparents made, I’m still reaping the benefits of. I’m forever in debt to their grit, vision and wisdom. My grandparents have had a profound effect on me, which has given me a strong identity as a Black British woman. My late grandfather always told me there’s no substitute for hard work and my education is my “bread and butter” which led me to always try my best and get the best grades throughout school. Despite the hardships they faced, they’ve instilled in me strong values of integrity, tenacity and compassion that I will always stick by.

In the last few years, the Windrush Generation have been subject to ill treatment of the government, which has led to many scandals over the deportation of British passport holders who positively contributed to this society. The world is less than perfect and discrimination is still rife, I can only hope to see lasting change for all people, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, religion or any other diverse characteristics in my lifetime.

The last thing I will share that my grandparents have taught me is that kindness goes a very long way. They both fondly remember, by name, neighbours and employers who were kind and fair to them over 65 years ago.

This is a slice of my story. Thank you for reading.

Thank you to my beautiful cousin, Vanessa, who helped me fact check.