June 22nd is recognized in the UK as Windrush Day. The name comes from the HMT Empire Windrush, a passenger ship that the UK seized from Germany after the Second World War. In 1948, hundreds of people from the Caribbean boarded it in order to get jobs in Great Britain. Under the British Nationality Act of that year, these people were considered British subjects, and had the right to work and reside in the UK. However, due to prejudice, racism and cultural clashes, their integration and acceptance in British society was not seamless. In fact, Windrush Day was established in no small part as a way to make amends after dozens of people from the Windrush generation were wrongfully detained, denied rights and even deported in 2018. This happened in the context of the “hostile environment policy”, the effects of which keep affecting us today.

The Windrush generation didn’t only fill the workforce gap created by the devastation of the Second World War. It also brought cultural diversity to the UK, and has contributed greatly to science, art, politics and finances. As a child of this generation, I invite you commemorate this day and learn about the wonderful things that are part of our society thanks to the brave people who left their homes in the Caribbean behind, wishing to build their lives anew in the UK.

Here is a medley of Caribbean folk music that has been part of my repertoire for years now. I hope that you enjoy it, and that the sound transports you to the Caribbean nations, at least for a little while.

Read the article about Windrush Day that I wrote for the Musicians Union a few years ago by clicking this link.