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HOME Slough Newsletter: Windrush Special
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A message from Rochdale Alexis (Chair of the Slough Dominican Association (SDA)) & Christina Brook-Abraham (Founder of Vision Impression Black Expression (VIBE))
"On June 22 each year, the UK celebrates Windrush Day to honour the British Caribbean community. This year, to celebrate the day and the lives of our elders who made the journey to Slough 30 to 40 years ago, we have co-created seven podcasts with HOME Slough, that provide a valuable insight into our community and history; our lives, our culture and the challenges that we face. These podcasts are dedicated to our elders from the Caribbean Windrush Generation in Slough and beyond.
Tune in to hear voices from our community exploring how we‘ve been affected by COVID 19 and the current Black Lives Matter campaign; learn about the tastes and flavours that characterise our cooking and hear from local musicians, poets, singers and dancers who share their vision of the past, present and future. We also want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all of the fantastic organisations, including our partners, the Slough Caribbean Forum, and the fantastic communities of Slough, who have provided much needed help and support to those in most need during this pandemic."
The Podcasts
1) The Elders: In these podcasts we hear from several elders who took up the offer of the British Government to help rebuild this country by becoming nurses; bus drivers; factory workers.
2) Poetry, Music and Dance: In these podcasts local poets, musician’s and entrepreneurs tell us about themselves, what Windrush means to them and the impact that COVID 19 has had on their creative lives.
3) Cooking and Food: In this podcast we explore the importance of cooking and food in a Caribbean household, how families sought out and found authentic ingredients and flavours during the Windrush era and the role food has played in combating COVID 19.
4) Equality & Education: In this podcast we explore what Windrush means to members of community, what impact COVID 19 and the Black Lives Matters campaign is having on their lives and consider where do we (as a community) go from here.
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We would like to thank the following participants and contributors for their help in curating these podcasts:
1st row Left to right: 1) The Elders Perspectives:Charles Philip, Leonie Philip, Gloria Dunn, Inez Mussington, Carolyn Cunningham 2) Poetry, Music and Dance: Warren Davis Jr.
2nd row left to right: Tanya Brooks-Carty, Laurice Johnson, Aysen Castang, Ginnette Benjamin,Lennox Carty 3) Cooking and food: Gloria King.
3rd row left to right: Janice Carty, Carol Carty-Sutton 4) Equality & Education: Donovan Mason (Terry), Marjorie Mason (Donna). Presented by: Christina Brooks-Abraham, Rochdale Alexis.
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About the Voices of the Windrush Generation Project
In spring 2020, Slough Dominican Association (SDA) and Vision Impression Black Expression (VIBE), in collaboration with HOME Slough, set out to document and record the life journeys, memories, culture and experiences of people from the Caribbean, who came and settled in Slough and surrounding areas in the 50’s and 60’s. The project also explored the impact that COVID 19 and the Black Lives Matters campaign is having on the wider Caribbean community and seeks to celebrate and promote positive aspects of Caribbean culture.
The project will culminate in a programme of co-created events for the community during Black History Month in October 2020.
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Windrush Day 2020: Other ways to celebrate
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While social distancing measures mean individuals and community groups won’t be able to come together to celebrate Windrush Day as they had hoped, there’s still plenty taking place to ensure that the day is marked and the British-Caribbean people are celebrated. Here's a list of some of the events taking place throughout the day and how you can get involved.
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Across the Seas
22 June, 4pm and 6pm
This year the National Maritime Museum have been working in partnership with the Caribbean Social Forum and University of Greenwich to develop a series of online resources, talks and events involving different generations to explore Windrush and what it means to people today.
4pm Join a live panel discussion talking about HMT Empire Windrush and British Nationality laws.
6pm Join a live panel discussion talking about commercial travel and immigration before 1948.
The Caribbean Social Forum combats social isolation and promotes wellbeing among the over 50s through educational talks, dancing, music, singing, news, discussion groups and writing.
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Serendipity (Leicester) presents the Windrush Day Lecture
22 June, 6pm
The inaugural Windrush Day Lecture (Where Are We Now?) will be delivered by Professor Stephen Small. There will also be a screening of the short documentary film A Very Brit(ish) Voice, commissioned by Serendipity for Archiving The Past, Reflecting The Future in 2019. Originally scheduled to take place at City Hall, Leicester, this is now an online event. Tickets are £5 and can be booked here
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State of Trust (South West England) – Live panel
22 June, 7pm
Featuring artists from State of Trust’s Remembering Windrush project hosted by journalist and broadcaster Terry Baddoo.
For more information and to book, click here
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Generations Dreaming
22 June, 7pm
Presented by the Geraldine Connor Foundation (Leeds). This online learning resource and evening of literatures and music is based on the themes of Windrush and passing on stories and culture to the next generation. How to get involved: This event will take place live via Zoom but a recording will be made available afterwards.
To book your place, click here
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Brighton Museum & Art Gallery’s Windrush Day online
22 June, 7.30pm
Features a talk from Patrick Vernon and panel discussion with Dr. Bert Williams MBE and Shirley Williams.
To find out more, click here
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Listen to The Windrush Suite - a new body of work by composer
Renell Shaw
June 22, live broadcast at 8pm on Youtube and other social media platforms with a specially created montage of visuals, and introduction by Kevin Le Gendre (writer/broadcaster) and Dave Holland (bassist)
The music pays homage to the men, women and children, who latterly became known as the ‘Windrush Generation’: Their lives ‘away’, their longings, loves, disappointments, and will to survive. The occasion will celebrate the contributions of this vibrant community to the cultural and social life of Britain. The rich diasporic musical traditions of the Caribbean find contemporary expression in Shaw’s work, as well as new home in a new melting pot of bubbling creativity.
The specially commissioned tracks will be available for download on Vortex Jazz Club on Bandcamp.
This project is funded by the PRS for music Foundation
in association with the Vortex Jazz Club/The Shape of Jazz to Come
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Alive & Kicking (Leeds & Bradford)
22 June, timings still to be announced
Online readings from writer Trish Cooke about the historical experience of West Indians travelling from the Caribbean to Britain.
For more information and to register for your place, click here
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Caribbean Stories - Story Telling Poetry workshop and competition
Through a Different Lens (Berkshire)
25 June, 7pm
Launching on the 22nd June 2020, Through a Different Lens is running a range of story telling events including a poetry competition on the theme Windrush experience and heritage and what it means to you. There will also be a FREE poetry workshop on Thursday 25 June 7pm to 8.30pm via Zoom.
For more information and to book, click here
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Black British History From 1948
2 July, 7pm
Historian Robin Walker (aka The Black History Man) leads this eight-week Zoom course on Black British history from 1948 to today. Each class uses film, music, and discussion to focus on a different piece of history.
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A Black & British History: The Jamaican Slaves Who Abolished Slavery
28 July, 7pm
Historian Paul Crooks shares how he traced his lineage to two of African forebears that were captured on the West Coast of Africa and enslaved on a sugar plantation in Jamaica. Crooks will discuss his findings and "Ancestors," his novel based on the experience.
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Sitting in Limbo
BBC iPlayer. Available for 11 months.
This programme contains some strong language which was not included in the BBC One transmission. A shocking drama inspired by the Windrush scandal. After 50 years in the UK, Anthony Bryan is wrongfully detained by the Home Office and threatened with deportation.
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Panorama: George Floyd: A Killing That Shook the World
BBC iPlayer. Available for 11 months. Contains upsetting scenes.
The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has prompted the biggest protests about race and police brutality in America for 50 years. Around the world, thousands of people have joined marches against racism. Reporter Clive Myrie asks if this could be a moment that changes race relations in America for good. He hears from protesters, eyewitnesses and former police officers about why this killing has had such a powerful impact, and speaks to people from black and white communities in Minneapolis about their hopes and fears
for the future.
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Black History Month: From a Global Perspective
9 October, 11am
In honour of British Black History Month in October, this webinar raises awareness and understanding of why, where, and how Black History Month is celebrated around the world. You'll learn how to advocate for change, challenge discrimination, and promote equality and inclusivity.
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Who are the Windrush Generation?
The term Windrush is in reference to the ship MV Empire Windrush, which arrived on 22 June 1948 in Essex, bringing workers from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean islands. The Windrush carried 1027 migrants who had been asked to come to the UK with the promise of employment and a fresh start. People arriving from the ship were given temporary housing near Brixton in south London, where today you can see Windrush Square, which commemorates the ship's arrival.
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