Windrush Day

On 22 June 1948, 492 Caribbean people arrived at Tilbury Docks, Essex, in the UK, on the Empire Windrush ship.[https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/windrush-a-landmark-in-the-history-of-modern-britain/ "Windrush: A landmark in the history of modern Britain"], The History Press. News reports at the time reported that the number of people was 492, but the ship's records show that the ship was carrying 1,027 passengers.McDowell, Linda. [https://www.bl.uk/windrush/articles/how-caribbean-migrants-rebuilt-britain "How Caribbean Mirgrants Helped to Rebuild Britain"]. Windrush Stories, British Library, 4 October 2018. According to the passenger lists, 802 of those on board the ship gave their last country of residence as somewhere in the Caribbean. In the aftermath of World War II, the UK had a labour shortage{{cite web |title=Reasons for immigration in the Modern Era 1900 - present - OCR A |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z3q682p/revision/1 |website=BBC UK}} and African-Caribbean migrants independently travelled to the United Kingdom to find work. These jobs included the production of steel, coal, iron, and food, and also jobs in the service sector, such as public transport and staffing the new National Health Service.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/national-windrush-day-2019-theresa-may-hostile-environment-race-migration-a8970421.html|title=Opinion: On National Windrush Day, this is the history of British immigration policy and how we can change it|first1=Satbir|last1= Singh|author2=Omar Khan|date=22 June 2019|website=The Independent}}

There is no record of the post-war Labour government (in power at the time of the arrival of the Empire Windrush) encouraging African-Caribbean migrants to settle in the United Kingdom. However, as citizens of the British Commonwealth, Caribbean people were considered British subjects, with the right to live and work in the UK, and were eligible to respond to advertised opportunities for citizens of Commonwealth countries. Later, there were direct recruitment drives in the Caribbean from some British Organisations, such as the one started in February 1956 by London transport, at the invitation of the government of Barbados, to fill shortages in entry-level roles.{{cite web |title=London Transport’s Caribbean recruitment |url=https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/stories/people/london-transports-caribbean-recruitment |website=London Transport Museam}}

Many early immigrants were denied access to private employment and accommodation because of the colour of their skin. Black people were also banned from many pubs, clubs, and even churches.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/oct/01/paul-stephenson-the-hero-who-refused-to-leave-a-pub-and-helped-desegregate-britain|title=Paul Stephenson: the hero who refused to leave a pub – and helped desegregate Britain|first=Kehinde|last= Andrews|author-link=Kehinde Andrews|newspaper=The Guardian|date=1 October 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.blacklondonhistories.org.uk/tag/1950s/|title='Co-existence through calypsos and Cockney cabaret': the inter-racial movement and dutiful citizenship|website=Black London Histories|date=3 April 2017|access-date=27 February 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-41692193|title=The racist nightclub ordered to change its entry policy|first=Lisa|last= Wright|website=BBC News|date=28 October 2017}}

Patrick Vernon was the first to call for the commemoration of "Windrush Day", to recognise the migrant contribution to UK society, on the day when the first big group of post-war migrants from the Caribbean arrived in Britain.Vernon, Patrick (21 June 2013), [http://www.britishfuture.org/blog/windrush-day-matters/ "Why Windrush Day matters"], British Future.Vernon, Patrick (8 July 2015), [http://www.brixtonblog.com/we-need-a-windrush-day-to-celebrate-the-migrant-contribution-to-uk/31131 "We need a Windrush Day to celebrate the migrant contribution to UK"], Brixton Blog. Vernon first launched a petition to this effect in 2013,[https://patrickvernon.org.uk/join-calls-to-celebrate-windrush-day-every-year/ "Join calls to celebrate Windrush Day every year"], Patrick Vernon website, 2013.[https://patrickvernon.org.uk/why-windrush-day-matters/ "Why Windrush Day matters"], Patrick Vernon website. 2013. which was followed by a further campaign in 2018, at the height of the Windrush scandal.[https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2018/05/21/former-hackney-councillor-national-windrush-day/ "Former Hackney councillor renews call for national Windrush Day"], Hackney Citizen, 21 May 2018.Kadrolli, Erenata (25 May 2018), [http://www.eastlondonlines.co.uk/2018/05/petition-launched-to-recognise-windrush-day/ "Petition launched to recognise Windrush Day"], East London Lines.Vernon, Patrick (29 May 2018),[https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/letters/the-reader-we-should-designate-a-day-to-celebrate-the-windrush-s-arrival-a3849961.html "The Reader: We should designate a day to celebrate the Windrush's arrival"], Have Your Say, Evening Standard. Official backing was given when it was subsequently announced by the government that an annual Windrush Day would be celebrated on 22 June, supported by a grant of up to £500,000, to recognise and honour the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants and to "keep their legacy alive for future generations, ensuring that we all celebrate the diversity of Britain's history."Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/annual-day-of-celebrations-for-the-windrush-generation "Annual day of celebrations for the Windrush Generation"] (Press release), UK Government, 18 June 2018.Badshah, Nadeem (18 June 2018), [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/18/uk-makes-windrush-day-official-500k-grant-support-events "UK makes Windrush Day official with £500k grant to support events"], The Guardian.

The purpose of Windrush Day is to encourage "communities across the country to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants",{{Cite web |title=Caribbean Recipes: Food and Ingredients from the Windrush Generation |url=https://www.souschef.co.uk/blogs/the-bureau-of-taste/windrush-2023 |access-date=2023-06-15 |website=Sous Chef |date=14 June 2023 |language=en}} according to the United Kingdom government. "A Windrush Day will allow communities up and down the country to recognise and honour the enormous contribution of those who stepped ashore at Tilbury Docks 70 years ago", said communities minister Nick Bourne.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/17/windrush-day-announced-government-celebrate-arrival-caribbean/|title=Windrush Day' will celebrate the arrival of Caribbean migrants 70 years ago|last=Telegraph Reporters|date=18 June 2018|website=The Telegraph|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} Government funding helps a variety of events and activities to take place, such as the day dance performances, exhibitions, and debate.{{cite web|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/event/windrush-day|title=Windrush Day | University of Oxford|website=www.ox.ac.uk|date=22 June 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ashmolean.org/event/windrush-day|title=WINDRUSH DAY | Ashmolean Museum|website=www.ashmolean.org}}{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/what-is-windrush-day-278913|title=Annual Windrush Day celebrating the generation and their descendants announced|first=Sarah |last=Newey|website=inews.co.uk|date=18 June 2018}}

On Windrush Day 2021, a plaque was erected in memory of British immigrant rights activist Paulette Wilson, a member of the "Windrush generation"{{Cite web|date=22 June 2021|title=Plaque for Windrush campaigner unveiled at former office of Enoch Powell|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jun/22/plaque-honouring-windrush-campaigner-unveiled-at-enoch-powell-office|first=Amelia|last=Gentleman|author-link=Amelia Gentleman|access-date=26 June 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}} (which term usually refers to those who were born in the Caribbean and settled in the UK between 1948 and 1971). The plaque was launched with campaigners including Patrick Vernon and Claire Darke MBE as well as her family at the Wolverhampton Heritage Centre.{{Cite web|last=Vukmirovic|first=James|title=Paulette Wilson: Windrush campaigner's life honoured with ceremony and plaque|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/whitmore-reans/2021/06/22/paulette-wilson-windrush-campaigners-life-honoured-with-ceremony-and-plaque/|date=22 June 2021|access-date=26 June 2021|website=www.expressandstar.com|language=en}} The centre is a cornerstone of the area's local Caribbean community and was formerly the constituency office of Enoch Powell, where the infamous "Rivers of Blood" speech was written.{{Cite web|date=22 June 2021|title=Paulette Wilson, late Windrush campaigner, to be honoured with blue plaque|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/paulette-wilson-windrush-blue-plaque-b1870184.html|access-date=26 June 2021|first=Nadine|last= White|author-link=Nadine White|website=The Independent|language=en}}

On Windrush Day 2022, the National Windrush Monument was unveiled at Waterloo Station, London.{{Cite news |last=Khomami |first=Nadia |date=2022-06-22 |title=Windrush generation 'moved to tears' as monument unveiled in London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/22/windrush-basil-watson-monument-unveiled-waterloo-station-london |access-date=2025-06-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

In 2025, Windrush Day was on Sunday, 22 June, with events taking place across the country.{{Cite web |title=Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2025: Projects to be funded |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/windrush-day-grant-scheme-2025-projects-to-be-funded |access-date=2025-06-03 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}

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• [https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/uk/windrush-day "Windrush Day in the United Kingdom"], at timeanddate.com

Category:Caribbean diaspora in the United Kingdom

Category:June observances

Category:Windrush

Category:Recurring events established in 2018