As Jamaicans locally and those in the diaspora commemorate the 75th celebration of the Windrush Generation, several cultural advocates are calling for greater public education surrounding the Windrush Generation, which refers to Caribbean nations who migrated to Britain between 1948 and 1971.

Rev. Dr Dave Grosse, Director of the Institute of Caribbean Studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona who was speaking during a panel discussion held by the National Library of Jamaica in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Culture on Thursday (May 25) says that there are several stories to be told from Jamaicans living in the diaspora about their involvement in the Windrush movement.

“It’s something that needs to be discussed and probably done through the Ministry of Culture because the Windrush movement is a significant part of our culture. We are talking about Jamaicans who have gone overseas and done well and contributing to the national economy. How they triumph in those circumstances are stories which to be told,” he said.

The cultural advocate of the government needs to take deliberate actions in providing a medium for these individuals to share their stories.

“Jamaicans locally and those in the diaspora need to understand the Windrush Generation, which is a story of survival, a story of liberation, empowerment and the connection between Jamaica and England,’ he added.

Dr Grosse’s sentiments were echoed by Dr Hilary Hickling, a migration researcher at The University of the West Indies, Mona who said the lack of public education surrounding the Windrush Generation may result in serious consequences to Jamaicans who are planning to migrate in search of better opportunities.

‘We need to learn more about our diasporas, I think there is a great deal of ignorance mutually between the people overseas and the people locally. And I think we have to do much more about it,” she said.
She noted that needs to be greater discussion surrounding Jamaican migration to examine the determining factors for Jamaicans to leave their homeland.

Some 802 Caribbean migrants were transported to the United Kingdom by the Empire Windrush ship to fill the labour shortage in England after World War II.

The Empire Windrush docked at the port of Tilbury, London, on June 22, 1948.

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