Windrush Day reminds us we must stand in solidarity with Black people

By Chrissy Meleady, director of Equalities and Human Rights UK
Published 22nd Jun 2020, 11:29 BST
Updated 22nd Jun 2020, 13:15 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
Today is National Windrush Day, which was established to celebrate the contribution and legacy of the Windrush generation here in Britain and it honours the wider British Caribbean community too, and their immense and enduring contribution to the UK’s social good and their integral place in the British family.

The name Windrush Generation derives from the ship MV Empire Windrush, which set sail from with 492 Jamaican people, who docked in Tilbury Essex on June 22, 1948.

These Commonwealth citizens were invited by the British Government to come to the UK to help rebuild Britain, who were facing a labour shortage following the devastation of World War II.

Other ships followed between 1948-1971.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
The Empire Windrush arrives at Tilbury in 1948 with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to BritainThe Empire Windrush arrives at Tilbury in 1948 with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain
The Empire Windrush arrives at Tilbury in 1948 with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain

These invitees came from Caribbean countries such as Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Many came from British colonies that had not attained independence, and understood that they were British citizens and more so because of the British Nationality Act 1971 which made them, they understood, citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies.