Windrush – Jackie Walker shares her lived experience: the racism continues

JVL Introduction

We are pleased to publish this video of Jackie Walker’s recent powerful and moving talk to JVL members as one of the “Windrush Generation”.  She shares her own family’s experience of the journey and the racism they faced. Her thought-provoking and inspiring talk was the latest in a series of webinars organised by JVL’s education group in partnership with its Anti Racism Alliances Network and Environment group.

As JVL co-chair Leah Levane explains at the start of the recording, Jackie leaves it to others to detail the impact of the Windrush scandal which ruined many lives as a result of the hostile environment – not least because it is painful to know how narrowly she avoided the same fate.

While there have been celebrations about the contribution of the Windrush generation going back 75 years, there has been little acknowledgement of the racism which greeted those who came from the Caribbean, despite being British citizens and many having fought for the so called “mother country” during World War Two. For more on that we would recommend The Windrush Scandal by Amelia Gentleman,  this documentary, this drama and this piece by Liz Fekete of the Institute of Race Relations.

 (LL/NWI)