Don’t look at Britain and think that this country isn’t yours, you are the very people that make it what it is
Invited to remember Windrush Day with other members of the city’s black community, Sali Shobowale was inspired and motivated by stories told... but also came away feeling there is still a long way to go
AS a member of Leicester’s black community, I was surprised to find that despite living in such a multi-cultural city, there were only two Windrush Day events hosted on this year’s day of remembrance (June 22).
However, I was honoured to be invited to even one.
Kainé Management was one of two organisations hosting a Windrush event, and it opted for an afternoon tea to kick-start its Better Together programme, which was funded by the government’s Windrush Day Grant.
Better Together was formed to give local Windrushers the opportunity to meet weekly to share their stories and spend time together with fun activities.
It was my first time celebrating Windrush Day, and I was excited to carefully take it all in.
As I approached the LCB Depot in the city’s Cultural Quarter, I saw Lord Mayor George Cole.
His assistant was placing a livery collar over the councillor’s freshly pressed suit and colourful shirt as he was going over his speech.
When I entered the room where the event was taking place, the room was abuzz from the voices to my left that belonged to about a dozen ladies and gents from the Windrush generation; plastic cups in hand they were chatting away, clearly filled with excitement for the day’s festivities.
Coordinator Greg Smith welcomed us all and then introduced the honorary guest, Councillor Cole.
The Lord Mayor expressed his gratitude for being invited and proceeded to take us all on a journey, telling tales of his upbringing and emphasising the importance of his role within the community.
He said: “Growing up in Highfields as a young black boy, times were very different.
“You know, the police would stop and search me and my friends just for being black. We weren’t even allowed to join football teams, it was a very much ‘them and us’ mentality.
“Back in those days the infamous saying was, ‘no Irish, no blacks and no dogs’ – imagine being compared to the likeness of a dog.”
The Windrushers groaned in agreement with him. “Since Leicester introduced the concept of a Lord Mayor in 1251, the city has never seen a black Lord Mayor.
“Here I am as the first, and it’s a true testament that we as a people are now in positions where we can make changes and have a voice. Windrush Day is important to me because it reminds me of my parents, and the Caribbean community’s contribution to building this country after the war.
“I stand on the shoulders of
those that came before me, and I am honoured to be in the position that I am in.
“I want to encourage everyone here to believe in themselves, to shift their mindsets and to reach out for every opportunity that is given to you.
“Don’t look at Britain and think that this country isn’t yours, you are the very people that make Britain what it is and you are entitled to all the opportunities that life throws at you.”
As the Lord Mayor’s speech concluded, he told the audience: “As unconventional as this is, because we don’t get a lot of opportunities to gather together like this, I’d like to raise a toast. Let’s raise a glass to Windrush Day, and to us as the black community.”
Everyone cheered, knocked their plastic champagne glasses with the person next to them, then gulped their nonalcoholic drinks to cool down from the 25C heat.
By this point, I began to feel emotional. As a black journalist in today’s society, it made me realise how lucky I am to be able to work and write freely. I felt grateful for the generations that came before me.
As the afternoon went on, another Windrush generation member, 72-year-old Georgina Taylor, took the stage. She told us she had come to England in 1964 and had worked as a nurse from the age of 18, before becoming a midwife.
Georgina participated in the Better Together programme last year after a friend invited her along. She praised the volunteers and staff before saying: “I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to meet other Windrushers and share our stories.
“It’s been really nice to meet people from different Caribbean islands and learn about their cultures.”
Next to speak was the Rev Neville Gilbert Bailey, who has lived in Leicester since 1964 and was a pioneer behind one of the first black-run churches in the city.
Although retired, he still attends New Testament Church of God, in Melbourne Road.
He carried a small blue Bible with him, almost as a token of comfort and support as he began speaking. He began by saying: “What a privilege it is to be in the presence of the first black Lord Mayor.
“I can’t believe that from 1251 to 2022, there hasn’t been one black Lord Mayor. I am delighted for our people.
“When I was a little boy in the Caribbean, our families were invited to come to the UK with promises of employment and a better life. It was nothing like what we were told.
“From the time I arrived here in 1962, I’ve been a target of racism. As someone who has always attended church, I remember going to a church service one day, and at the end of the service the bishop shook my hand, looked me dead in the eye, thanked me for coming and told me to never come back again.”
The Windrushers tutted and sighed as he continued: “We were treated worse than animals, and I’d sit on my own in church – the one place where I should be able to make friends and find community.”
He carried on by telling us that his experiences of discrimination are what inspired him to start up his own church.
He said: “Myself and some of the other black community missed the way that we used to worship in the Caribbean because Caribbean churches are very lively, so we wanted to recreate that here.
“We’ve been around since 1964, and we haven’t looked back.
“I’ll leave you with these words, put God first. Life can be hard sometimes – as you can tell from my story – but always turn to God’s word for comfort and strength.
“If you listen to it, you’ll make it through.”
As the afternoon came to a close, I left feeling motivated and inspired.
It was moving to be among actual people from the Windrush generation and to hear their stories of how far they had come and the contributions they had made to the city.
But, I also felt sad.
It reminded me that while Leicester has come a long way in regard to equality and diversity, there is still a long way to go.
We are still wiping away the stains of systemic racism all these years later.
However, no matter the sadness I felt about all the work we have left to do as a community, I was able to find some comfort before I finally left for the day.
Georgina left me with these words: “Keep on going and doing what you are doing.
“Don’t let anybody tell you that you aren’t good enough. Just by being you, you are a part of history.”
We were invited to come with promises of employment and a better life. It was nothing like what we were told