"Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land..." Leviticus 19:33
A pivotal moment in the modern history of Britain, was the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury dock on 22 June, 1948, bringing with her passengers from the Caribbean.
The invitation
Answering the call from the mother country (Great Britain), the West Indian guests eagerly arrived to rebuild Britain in the devastating aftermath of war. The invitation was extended to them by the British Government to fill labour shortages, predominately in the NHS and transport industry.
Sadly, those first wave of visitors met with an onslaught of racism, many suffering from the impact of intense and sustained discrimination, even today.*1
Read the impact of Windrush in the following article: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/indepth/the-descendants-of-the-windrush-generation-who-changed-britain/ar-AA1cLOl4
Celebrations
A commemorative and celebratory event, marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush, was hosted by One Vision charity on Tuesday 20 June 2023 at the Stanborough Centre in Watford.
Lionel Wallace DL, Previous High Sheriff, Hertfordshire shared a personal perspective revisiting his family history and the rich heritage it provided.
Detective Inspector, Tony Fontenelle, recounted childhood experiences and the lessons that built a solid foundation and forged a positive future for himself and family.
Keynote speaker, Cliff Walker BEM, MBE, JP, DL, received a standing ovation for his deeply moving, passionate, reflective, and challenging presentation, giving a historic overview of the Windrush experience, calling for action to ensure a future better than its past. Addressing issues such as prevailing racism, the pros, and cons of 'stop and search', celebrating the contribution of the Windrush generation to British society and committing to attitudinal changes that addresses discrimination in all its forms, ensuring a fairer society, Walker captivated the audience.
Dr Jude Jeanville – President of the African Caribbean Dual Heritage Alliance (ACDHA), gave an engaging presentation outlining the 5 'R's currently impacting the Windrush generation:
1. Retirement – who am I, what do I do now?
2. Residence – Where is home? To stay in a place, they consider to be home...not to be put into a home.
3. Religion – faith or fate...everyone believes in something.
4. Relationships – Culture revert to childhood experiences, nostalgia...sounds, sights etc.
5. Resilience – the ability to bounce back from negative life experiences such as racism.
Barrister Eve Ricketts outlined her current work as project leader for the 'Community Connectors' initiative, a collaborative intervention with Hertfordshire NHS focusing on the mental health of people from the African and Caribbean diaspora.
Responses by the following dignitaries were also applauded: Dean Russell, MP for Watford and Patron of One Vision; Lizz Green, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire; Councillor Terry Douris, Chairman, Hertfordshire County Council; and Harjit Singh DL, Chair of Trustees, One Vision. Each speaker affirmed the significance of Windrush to British society, sharing their own perspectives along with testimonials from immigrants. It was heartening to hear their commitment to supporting non-discriminatory practices and embracing initiatives that seek to build more cohesive neighbourhoods.
Faith impact
A prevailing aspect of Tuesday's presentations, were the repeated acknowledgments of the part faith played in unifying individuals, sustaining beliefs, and connecting people during challenging times, despite the racism and rejections they faced.
Reflecting on the impact of faith, Enoch Kanagaraj, Founder and CEO of One Vision, said, "Seeing how much the demographic of the Church has changed in the past 75 years, is positive. God works with diversity. I believe that there is still a long way to go in terms of our response in the UK. Because of their grounding in Christian belief, fellowship, and diverse background, I think the community has been well served by the West Indians who came in the early days. They have brought much ministry and the liturgy of the church."
Cultural implications
Fabiola Gianotti said, "Diversity is really a richness for mankind." In the fusion of cultures; the struggle for acceptance and recognition; the symbiosis of diverse relationships, there is a rich tapestry of experiences and understanding emerged as ethnic groups wrestled with adapting to each other. With that, a very different Britain emerged.
A Guardian online article captioned: 'The Guardian view on multicultural Britain: learning to live together', gives this sobering reflection:
"It is depressing to discover that four in 10 adults in this country agreed with the statement that 'having a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures has undermined British culture'. …Cultures are dynamic things, developing organically from communities. They do not exist in isolation or remain static. Having a range of cultures in Britain is normal, not novel."*2
The biblical directive in Leviticus 19:33 on how we should treat those different from us, is still relevant today:
"Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. Treat them like native-born Israelites and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt." NLT.
Togetherness
"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively." (Bob Marley)
The popular and poignant song 'One Love', by Bob Marley was played at the conclusion of Tuesday's event, to the delight of attendees. The lyrics "One love, one heart, let's get together and feel alright", captured the mood of the occasion.
BUC Director Sharon Platt-McDonald reflecting on the celebration said, "We care about Windrush, because God cares about people. Today's Windrush celebrations, were truly inspirational. Most stirring, was the sense of a hopeful outlook, that as we work together for a better future, we can be the change we wish to see, for ourselves, and for generations to come."
One day, the greatest invitation from God Himself, will be issued, as He invites all nations, kindreds, tongue and people, to the greatest 'togetherness' event in His heavenly home. It will be a place of perfection, where all will be accepted, valued, and loved for eternity.
*1 https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/the-story-of-windrush/