Monday 22 June was Windrush Day. 72 years ago, the Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, Essex. On board were hundreds of people from the Caribbean, invited by the British government to take up vital jobs and help rebuild the country. Every passenger on board – and the thousands who subsequently made similar journeys – has their own story to tell, knowledge to impart and and legacy to share.
Now more than ever, it’s important to recognise and celebrate the lives, achievements, struggles and contributions of the Windrush Generation and their families and to amplify the voices of our friends and neighbours with a connection to this historic moment.
Last year, we welcomed 12 Windrush Generation elders and their families to our museum, where, alongside artist EVEWRIGHT, we ate together and shared stories within EVEWRIGHT’s Caribbean Takeaway Takeover: Identities and Stories installation, which we hosted in 2019.
Sadly due to the pandemic, we weren’t able to host a similar celebration this year. But we still wanted to be a platform to bring people together and share stories.
EVEWRIGHT took over our Instagram to share details of his new project, Tilbury Walkway of Memories. And throughout the day, we shared personal perspectives on what Windrush means to people across our social channels, using the hashtag #Windrushtome.
We’ve collected together a selection of the videos and responses below:
First up, Allysson Williams MBE, a retired midwife who came to London from Trinidad in 1969, tells us what Windrush Day means to her. You might remember Allysson’s story from the dressing table in the bedroom in our #RoomtoBreathe exhibition. #Windrushtome#WindrushDay2020pic.twitter.com/CWJX2Dta15
“When I think about Windrush Day, I think about my mother and father, two amazing pioneers who decided to leave Trelawny, Jamaica.” – Artist @EvewrightStudio shares what Windrush means to him and how to get involved in his new Tilbury project #Windrushtome#WindrushDay2020pic.twitter.com/QO8D4hRHAc
In the 1960s my sister and I used to play with these. You have to pick up a stick without moving any of the others. Good for concentration. Mum needed the table so we used to lie on the lino.
It has been more than four months since we issued our solidarity statement. As we said in our statement: “We must do more than just speak out. Structural racism manifests itself differently in different countries and contexts. Awareness, education and action is vital.”
Which is why we wanted to update you on how we are living our solidarity statement:
Awareness
We have introduced monthly check-ins on how we are living our solidarity statement at team meetings
Renewed commitment to intersectionality – review of all committees, boards and teams
Education
Reinstigated Lunch and Learn – monthly sessions facilitated by an external expert with lived experience (paid monetary or in-kind)
Introduced Lunch and Listen – monthly internal safe-space discussions for staff and volunteers
Action
Volunteer programme redesign – exploring accreditation for our volunteer programme, working with local universities and schools to encourage a more diverse cohort of volunteers. Plans to reach out to local community groups too.
Trustee recruitment – committee set up and democratic process design for new trustee recruitment
Education committee diversification – recruitment of new members in process
Youth Panel review – reviewing incentives for youth panel, including micro grants and funding opportunities
Anonymous experience sharing mechanism for all staff and volunteers
Original statement: June 2020
The Migration Museum stands in solidarity with black communities – in the US, the UK and worldwide.
Challenging racial inequality and discrimination and emphasising our common humanity is at the core of everything that we do. The recent events in the US and the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on BAME communities in many countries – in particular the UK – have brought to the world’s attention the need for real change in how we address structural racism and racial inequalities.
These are deeply troubling times for everyone. But for black people who visit us, who we work with and make up our team, and whose stories we are honoured to share, the current situation is heartbreaking. Museums and cultural institutions have an important role to play in recognising and challenging oppression, racism and injustice and highlighting issues that matter to our communities and audiences. We all can and should do more.
This is not a time to stay silent. It is only through speaking out and engaging that we can begin to move towards our vision of a diverse, tolerant and inclusive society that lives better together – not just on the topic of migration, but in all respects.
But we must do more than just speak out. Structural racism manifests itself differently in different countries and contexts. Awareness, education and action is vital.
Below, we’re sharing some resources that we hope might be helpful. But this list is only intended as a starting point – and we’d love to hear from you. If you have suggestions, please let us know in the comments below, by emailing us at info@migrationmuseum.org or on social media.
With so many heartbreaking images on both social and news media right now, we wanted to share some posts recognising and celebrating strength and resilience – as shared with us by some of our colleagues and friends.
And as we move towards and think about reopening, we’ll be keeping at the forefront of our minds how to best serve our communities. We’ll be sharing more details on our reopening plans and timings soon.
Resources
Here are some resources that we hope might be useful, informative and inspiring. This list is in no particular order and is intended merely as a helpful starting point. We’d love to hear from you about what you’ve been reading, watching and listening to. If you have any suggestions, please let us know.
We encourage you to support local, black-owned bookshops where possible. Most of these are also available as audiobooks and ebooks.
How To Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race – Reni Eddo Lodge
The Good Immigrant – edited by Nikesh Shukla
The Good Immigrant USA – edited by Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman
Black and British: A Forgotten History – David Olusoga
There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack – Paul Gilroy
Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain – Peter Fryer
Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored – Jeffrey Boakye
Natives – Akala
Brit(ish) – Afua Hirsch
Kill the Black One First – Michael Fuller
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness – Michelle Alexander
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood – Trevor Noah
Afropean: Notes from Black Europe – Johny Pitts
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism – Robin DiAngelo
If They Come in the Morning… Voices of Resistance – edited by Angela Y. Davis
This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on how to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work – Tiffany Jewell
The Clapback: Your Guide to Calling Out Racist Stereotypes – Elijah Lawal
How to Argue with a Racist – Adam Rutherford
“I Will Not Be Erased”: Our stories about growing up as people of colour – gal-dem
Memoirs of an Englishman – Paul Stephenson OBE
Black, Listed: Black British Culture Explored – Jeffery Boakye
Me & White Supremacy – Layla F. Saad
White Privilege: The Myth of a post-racial Society
Diversify – June Sarpong
How to argue with a racist – Adam Rutherford
With so many heartbreaking images on both social and news media right now, we wanted to share some posts recognising and celebrating strength and resilience – as shared with us by some of our colleagues and friends. These are some of the many #Resilience stories that we’ve been sharing on social media over the past few weeks.
Anna tells us why she carries her reindeer in her pocket wherever she goes…
I first came to Britain in 1957 as an au pair to learn English. I married an Englishman and we went to live in New York. Those were the heady days of the 1960s, full of music and poetry, a whole different world from the insular life of Sweden, my native country. After several years I longed for some stability and serenity so I got myself a job in a hotel in Lapland, above the Arctic Circle. I arrived in the middle of winter, at the last stop in Sweden before the train crosses over to Norway, to a bleak place of deep snow called Riksgränsen. I bought this little reindeer from a short, squat brown-eyed Lappish nomad called Ella-Kari.
When my marriage broke up I came back to England. I’ve always loved it here. On 16 April 1976 I opened a restaurant, Anna’s Place, with the best of seasonal Swedish dishes. We made everything on the premises, bread, pastries, ice cream. We served Swedish herring and gravadlax which people had never seen in Britain before. I would carry this big tray of gravadlax out and I’d say if you don’t like it I’ll change it for a plate of soup but do try it. They completely loved it.
I carry this reindeer in my pocket wherever I go as a symbol of wide open spaces and freedom.
