Black Cultural Archives exhibits HOME: Remembering the Windrush Generation
Black Cultural Archives (BCA) has announced its new exhibition called HOME: Remembering the Windrush Generation, which will launch on Windrush Day, June 22.
The exhibition is at BCA’s home 1 Windrush Square in Brixton and will take visitors on a nostalgic intimate look inside the 1950s and 1960s homes of the Windrush generation.
It features a recreation of the iconic and traditional Caribbean front room, kitchen and bedroom, showcasing many family favourites, such as the Blue Spot Gramophone to the eclectic ornaments displayed in glass cabinets.
The significance of launching the exhibition on Windrush Day is that it marks the anniversary of the embarking of passengers from the MV Empire Windrush at the Port of Tilbury on June 22, 1948, following an invitation from the British government to men and women from different Caribbean islands to come to the UK to help rebuild Britain after the Second World War.
The inside of many of the homes of those men and women, as they made their new home in Britain, would have mirrored the décor showcased in the exhibition.
This culturally important very British presentation, which will run until the September 10, is created by Tony Fairweather.
Mr Fairweather is the founder of the Windrush Collection, a touring exhibition of artefacts associated with the Windrush generation.
He is also the author of Twenty-Eight Pounds Ten Shillings – A Windrush Story, which chronicles the poignant heart-warming story of the people behind the Windrush scandal.
Mr Fairweather said: “This exhibition was inspired by wanting to continue the legacy of our elders.
“This was an ideal opportunity to showcase the Caribbean lifestyle of the 1950s and 1960s, when Brixton was the hub of Caribbean life, so BCA with the Windrush Collection will be celebrating the home life of our pioneers in Windrush month.”
“This long overdue exhibition will show everyone where the grounding for Black Lives Matter (BLM) arose from and how this generation are now benefitting from the pioneering work of their grandparents who without knowing it were the first BLM.
“They saw ‘NO BLACKS , NO IRISH, NO DOGS’ signs outside houses.
“They were invited over to England to feel and see blatant racism.
“They have now opened the door for young people today to have a voice.”
Pictured: A recreated traditional Caribbean front room Picture: Sharon Wallace
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