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Windrush Day – UK
Windrush Day – UK
Windrush Day is celebrated in the United Kingdom every year on June 22. The day marks the arrival of Afro-Caribbean immigrants to the shores of Britain and honors the British Caribbean community.
Thousands of men, women and children moved from the Caribbean to the UK in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. These individuals are known as the Windrush Generation after one of the ships that sailed from the Caribbean to England in 1948, the MV Empire Windrush. An estimated half a million people made their way to England after the Second World War. The first Windrush Day was held on June 22, 2018, after a successful campaign led by Patrick Vernon. Since then, more and more people have started participating in Windrush Day celebrations and observations to show empathy with the hardships that the previous generations of Black Britons endured and the current generations continue to endure.
2024
Each year on 22 June Royal Museums Greenwich partners with the Caribbean Social Forum and other local partners to showcase Caribbean culture and the legacy of the Windrush generation in the UK today. A new addition for 2024 is the National Windrush Museum, who will contribute a co-curated series of performances as part of the festival.
This year the Windrush Day Festival will take over the grounds outside the Queen’s House and National Maritime Museum, with a range of exciting activities including talks, games, spoken word performances, and a Caribbean-owned food and craft market.
See the full programme below.
This event is part of the Great Greenwich Windrush Trail, a series of events taking place across the borough of Greenwich to celebrate Windrush Day.
Today, we celebrate Windrush Day, a day to honor the British Caribbean community and their contributions to the UK. They made an indelible impact on Britain’s culture, rebuilt the country post-WWII, and notably aided the establishment of the National Health Service. Did you know that the day is named after the MV Empire Windrush, the ship that brought the first large group of Caribbean migrants to the UK in 1948?
To commemorate this day, we encourage everyone to take a moment to learn more about the rich and diverse Caribbean culture. We will be hosting a virtual lunch and learn session where we will share stories and experiences from the Windrush generation.
Additionally, we invite you to share a Caribbean recipe or story on our internal social media platform. This is a great way to engage and learn from each other, regardless of where we are located.
Sources:
–https://nationaltoday.com/windrush-day/
–https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/national-maritime-museum/windrush-day#
–https://library.changeengine.com/moments/windrush-day-all-employees