Britain finds itself in celebratory mode, marking 75 years (on June 22) since the HMT Empire Windrush. In addition to a reception hosted by the newly minted King at his official residence where ten commissioned portraits of the “very special generation” were unveiled, the Royal Mail has issued a series of commemorative stamps and the Royal Mint has released a special fifty pence piece marking the 75th anniversary of Empire Windrush arriving in the UK. (1)
Writer and broadcaster Sir Trevor Phillips shared his perspective proclaiming the UK “the most welcoming country in Europe and most of the world” while lobbing incendiary barbs at Meghan, Harry and Afrikans from the Caribbean. He was effusive about the last three quarter century, while simultanously playing to the ‘model minority’ canard:
“Over the past 75 years, our society has boomed and blossomed and been enriched in every way — sport, arts, culture, government, society — by immigration from Africa, India, Europe.” (2)
He was rather less complimentary about Afrikans from the Caribbean: “Black Africans have a different mentality. ‘They don’t see their skin colour as a burden.” In so doing he finds time to give an approving nod to rising star of the Black Conservative Industrial Complex and nemesis of Diane Abbott MP, Tomiwa Owolade.(3)
Phillips also suggests that the challenges facing Afrikans today are “light years from the difficulties faced by the Windrush generation.” There is some disingenuousness in this claim given that the Windrush Scandal emerged just over half a decade ago resulting in many lost jobs, homes, health care, pensions, and benefits. Moreover, as recently as three years ago the Home Office admitted that it wrongly deported or detained at least 164 black British citizens and probably many more. (4)
Then there is the ongoing “lunacy” of the Windrush compensation scheme, supposed to allieviate the suffering of the victims but the Home Affairs Committee found a vast majority of people who applied for compensation “have yet to receive a penny (including twenty-three that died before getting anything)”, while just 5.8% of Windrush victims had received any compensation at all. (5) A Human Rights Watch report concluded that the scheme “was designed to fail the people who were supposed to benefit from it”. (6)
Indeed, Roland Houslin of Justice for Windrush Generations, who himself was a victim of the scheme is among the growing chorus of those calling for it to be taken out of the hands of the Home Office stating it has “wrecked these people’s lives and are continuing to wreck their lives” (7) Justice For Windrush Generations are holding an online Windrush Compensation Scheme International Forum on July 2nd and a rally at the House of Commons on 19 July at 5:30pm (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-windrush-compensation-scheme-international-forum-sunday-2-july-2023-tickets-642524266377?aff=odsjfcfb&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=fb&utm-term=checkoutwidget&fbclid=IwAR0qWGd31ScYWbIbEg5O3XFlY-GxmbEvOm_a8OrBm2ojwlyHZ5_DXQq7ldc; https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/justice-for-windrush-generations-rally-hse-of-commons-wed-19-july-1730-tickets-601816889517?aff=ebdssbdestsearch).
Some commentators, like Bro. Patrick Vernon, convenor of the Windrush 75 network have opined that the Windrush legacy is “bittersweet,” offering the chance to “celebrate the diversity of modern Britain” and to “acknowledge the legacy of those first Windrush pioneers, but is yet “tainted by the injustice of the Windrush scandal.” (8)
But it’s not just the Windrush scandal that has blighted Afrikan lives in the UK in the seventy-five years. There is ongoing instutional racism in the criminal justice system, education and health to name a few. (9) So while narratives range from Windrush as “myth” to those “honoured to be British” after having to “fight for survival” (10), our community must take control of this narrative for ourselves, free from the ideological machinations of external forces.
(1) Russell Myers & Jennifer Newton (14/06/23) King Charles hails ‘very special’ Windrush generation during poignant palace event. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royals/king-charles-hails-very-special-30234806?int_source=mantis_rec&int_medium=web&int_campaign=more_like_this; Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff (16/06/23) How Windrush Generation faced race hate, injustice and a fight for equality in UK. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-windrush-generation-faced-race-30255235?int_source=mantis_rec&int_medium=web&int_campaign=more_like_this; Vicky Shaw & Ryan Merrifield (19/06/23) New 50p coin issued by Royal Mint to commemorate Windrush 75th anniversary. https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/new-50p-coin-issued-royal-30265064?int_source=mantis_rec&int_medium=web&int_campaign=more_like_this
(2) Jane Fryer (21/06/23) No one cared about Meghan’s race. She and Harry had a golden chance to make things different for millions and chose not to – that’s unforgivable’: Sir Trevor Phillips says Britain is NOT racist. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12220585/Sir-Trevor-Phillips-claims-Britain-NOT-racist-says-Meghan-Harry-squandered-opportunity.html#newcomment
(3) Ibid; Tafadzwa ShakaRa Mbandaka (25/04/23) GotKush TV: Zivanayi – Open House, Kemi Seba, Dianne Abbott & Racism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPeSSmUZ4wQ
(4) Sophie Huskisson (17/04/23) Windrush victims ‘violated’ by ‘lunacy’ of compensation scheme, campaigners warn. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/windrush-victims-violated-lunacy-compensation-29705146
(5) Ibid; Ruby Gregory (25/11/21) Windrush victim calls for compensation scheme to ‘be taken out of the hands of the Home Office’ after just 5% receive payment in 4 years. https://www.mylondon.news/news/uk-world-news/windrush-victim-calls-compensation-scheme-22266511
(6) Huskisson. Op. cit
(7) Ibid
(8) Aine Fox (22/06/23) ‘Bittersweet’ Windrush 75th anniversary marked. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/caribbean-windsor-itv-news-james-cleverly-amber-rudd-b2361955.html
(9) Runnymede Trust (2020) Evidence Submission to the CRED. https://assets.website-files.com/61488f992b58e687f1108c7c/61bca31337b8001561482043_CORE%20submission%20to%20Commission%20on%20Race%20and%20Ethnic%20Disparities.pdf
(10) Ed West (22/06/23) The Windrush myth. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-windrush-myth/?fbclid=IwAR3VjW1_WqCszoppj4qNCgDW-T8Huw-v7nMXeo_N3E-Gt8uIAU3TYpHGm6U; Louise Lazell (17/06/23) Windrush pioneer who had to ‘fight for survival’ feels ‘honoured to be British’. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/windrush-pioneer-who-fight-survival-30258457
we ask the question:
Windrush@75: What is its true legacy?
1) Is UK “the most welcoming country in Europe and most of the world” ?
2) Is the Windrush compensation scheme fit for purpose?
3) Do Afrikans from the Caribbean “see their skin colour as a burden”?
4) Can we (or should we) be “honoured to be British” after overcoming the challenges?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of almost 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Sis. Patricia Wharton: is an organiser and activist that has spent over 30 years of her professional career supporting children and families including with issues like Social and school Exclusions, self-harming, depression and other challenges. She is also a freelance Parenting Practitioner offering Parenting Seminars workshops and courses, including running programmes in prison. Sis. Patricia organises community events and initiatiatives on a range of issues including, arts, culture and health and is the presenter for ‘The Let’s Talk Show’ on Chalkhill Community Radio Station.
Bro. Roland Houslin: is the co-founder of ‘Justice for Windrush Generations’ that was started in July 2022 to raise public awareness about the Windrush Compensation Scheme. They organise The Windrush Compensation Scheme Sunday Chat: 2nd & last Sundy each Month. (http://www.justiceforwindrushgenerations.co.uk/index.asp).
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SIGN: Justice for children wrongly classified as ESN: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/631043
SIGN: Stop Anti African racism in Tunisia – https://chng.it/5MVRbCD2sn