The Windrush Stories: Don’t Give Up, is a new exhibition, open at Cartwright Hall Oct 18 2022 – Feb 05 2023, sharing the stories of Black elders of the Windrush Generation who came to live in Bradford.
After the devastation caused by World War 2, the British Government was keen for more workers to help rebuild the country and revive the economy. In 1948 they passed a law called the British Nationality Act that said all citizens of countries ruled by Britain could live and work in the UK. Many of the earliest arrivals were from the Caribbean.
In 2022, a project funded by the British Library, and managed by Nigel Guy, Director of Windrush Generations, in partnership with Bradford District Museums and Galleries, trained three young people with African and Caribbean heritage – Alexandra Enyouri, Olivia Guy and Grace Flerin, to interview 22 Black elders of the Windrush Generation who came to live in Bradford.
The project aimed to record and preserve for future generations their untold stories. The Windrush Stories: Don’t Give Up, on display at Cartwright Hall from Oct 18 2022 – Feb 05 2023, seeks to share these stories, to increase understanding of their experiences, and to recognize and celebrate the contributions the Windrush Generation have made to Bradford.
Participants were asked to share their memories of growing up in the Caribbean and of their personal stories of life in the UK. They were also asked if they have any advice for young Black people today, of which one of the interviewees, Cynthia Rowe urged: ‘Don’t Give Up’, from which the title of the exhibition is taken.
Discover the interviews below. Please note, these are edited interviews, the full versions are available if required, please email: collections@bradford.gov.uk.
One Response
When l was about 12 in 1958 my grandmother lived on manningham lane. I remember 4 men from the West Indies living next door to her all nice polite men. They weren’t welcomed by a few neighbours but my grandmother was very kind to them. She used to get them warm clothing from the Salvation Army and told them where to shop for food. I never had race issues due to the kindness shown by my grandmother. One of the men brought his wife with him and lived in Hanover square the poor girl couldn’t speak very good English but grandmother and myself used to go sit with her when her husband was working or playing in the steel band. Grandmother used to get baby clothes from the Salvation Army wash them and we took them round to her. She had her baby but I can’t remember what sex it was and where they eventually moved to. But all the people from the West Indies were all very nice people.