LORD HERMAN OUSELEY

WINDRUSH 70

BY LORD HERMAN OUSELEY

Following the end ofWorldWar II,as the rebuidling of Britain gathered pace,the need for skilled workers and personnel promptedtheBritishgovernmenttoreachout toplaceslike theWest Indies toinvitecitizens from its British colonies to come and help.

They duly and loyally responded to the “mother country”,many having served in the allied forces during the war.Thus they came,they saw,they served.They overcame most obstacles,they stayed and along with their descendants and dependants over the next seven decades,contributed to the change that is now modern Britain in 2018. TheWindrush 500+ arrivees could not have been aware of the welcome in store for them as they stepped on to the shores atTilbury Docks on 22nd June 1948.For a start,therewasnoaccommodationavailable untillast minutenegotiationsenabledmany to settle in air raid shelters on Clapham Common in South London.One occupant of such accommodation,ReneWebb,a former RAFserviceperson,becameactiveincommunity and social work for deprived young people during the 1970s in Brixton. He was a skilled engineer but had to take what was on offer and spent the rest of his timehelpingothers,apatternreflected among thelivesofmanyotherswhosettled in the UK from the Carribean. They had to experience the colour bar, which formally existed until the mid-1960s, when it became unlawful to display signs such as “JobVacancies:No Blacks,No Coloureds,No Irish need apply”and“Rooms to let,No Blacks,No Coloureds,No Irish,No dogs”! Ruthless landlords offered access to slumhousingin theprivateaccommodation on extortionate terms and public housing was a no go area for“Immigrants from the New Commonwealth”,notwithstanding their classification as British subjects from the colonies. Having to face up to racism was not an unfamiliar experience for the new Black presence in Britain,as they had to cope with racismandexploitationin thecoloniesof the former British Empire.What was difficult for the indigenous population in responding to the arrival of Black families in their streets and neighbourhoods,was how to overcome their own bias and prejudices inculcated by the hierarchy in a society that denied them the truth and the knowledge they needed to overcome their ignorance about Black people and their historical contribution to Britain. The Black presence could be traced back to Roman times when,for instance, Hadrian’s Wall was guarded by a Garrison led by African Septimius Serverus. InTudorEngland,towards the end of the 16th century,it was estimated that there were some 10,000 Africans resident in London.Even though they were largely successful self-contained and self-sufficient African communities,they drew the ire of Queen Elizabeth I,who proclaimed that there were too many “Blackamoors”resident here and they should be rid from these shores. Nowadays we are better informed with facts and recently were enlightened to learn that “Cheddar Man”,from 10,000 years ago, was very dark-skinned,suggesting that the Black presence in Britain may have an even greatersignificancethanpreviouslyunderstood. Theobsessionwithdarkskinnedimmigration therefore was as evident centuries ago as it is today.

Coupled with that has been the journey for theWindrush settlers in having to deal with the race hatred and violence on the streets,discrimination in the workplace, biased and oppressive policing,institutional racism,and an unjust criminal justice system.

The challenge to defeat racism and fascismrequiredexceptionalleadershipfrom among theBlackandAsiancommunities and necessitated the coming together of progressive white people with the power, influence and the political will to pursue justice for all.While recognising that racism was the main focus of injustices,it was necessaryfor therace,sexandclassstruggles to be intertwined to achieve equal access to opportunitiesforallandespeciallyfor those peoplewhoaremostdisadvantagedinsociety. TheWindrush legacy,as we look forward tolifeinBritainbeyond2020,isofprogressive and better educated multi-ethnic and multi-cultural communities facing up to prejudice,bigotryandignorance;challenging inequalitiesandexclusion;andhelpingBritain to be an inclusive and fair society in which everypersonisable tolive theirliveswithout the fear of harassment,discrimination and exclusion and be able to see ethnic and cultural diversity reflected in all aspects of a modern cohesive society.