Windrush Lincoln

I was wondering about our yesterdays
And starting digging through the rubble
And to say, at least somebody went
Through a hell of a lot of trouble
To make sure that when we looked things up
We wouldn't fair too well
And that we would come up with totally unreliable
Portraits of ourselves
But I compiled what few facts I could
I mean, such as they are
To see if we could shed a little bit of light
And this is what I got so far:
First, white folks discovered Africa
And they claimed it fair and square
Cecil Rhodes couldn't have been robbing nobody
Cause he said there was nobody there
White folks brought all the civilization
Since there wasn't none around
They said 'how could these folks be civilized
When you never see nobody writing nothing down?'
And just to prove all their suspicions
It didn't take too long
They found out there were whole groups of people, in plain sight
Running around with no clothes on. That's right!
The women, the men, the young and old
Righteous white folks covered their eyes
So no time was spent considering the environment
Hell no! This here, this just wasn't civilized!
And another piece of information they had
Or at least this how we were taught
Is that 'unlike the very civilized people of Europe'
These tribal units actually fought!
And yes, there was some rather crude implements
And yes, there was primitive art
And yes they were masters of hunting and fishing
And courtesy came from the heart
And yes there was medicine, love and religion
Intertribal communication by drum
But no paper and pencils and other utensils
And hell, these folks never even heard of a gun
And this is why the colonies came
To stabilize the land
Because the Dark Continent had copper and gold
And the discoverers had themselves a plan
They would discover all the places with promise
You didn't need no titles or deeds
You could just appoint people to make everything legal
To sanction the trickery and greed
And back in the jungle when the natives got restless
They would call that 'guerrilla attack'
And they would never describe that the folks finally got wise
And decided they would fight back
And still we are victims of word games
Semantics is always a bitch:
Places once referred to as under-developed
Are now called 'mineral rich.'
And the game goes on eternally
Unity kept just beyond reach
Egypt and Libya used to be in Africa
They've been moved to the Middle East
There are examples galore I assure you
But if interpreting were left up to me
I'd be sure every time folks knew this version wasn't mine
Which is why it is called 'His story'

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (His-tory) - Gil Scott-Heron The legendary poet and jazz musician Gil Scott-Heron called the Godfather of Rap and Spoken Word. Throughout his 40 year career he taught the world the Afric...

Did you know?
The National Caribbean Heritage Museum

Catherine Ross founded the National Caribbean Heritage Museum in 2016. The museum is the first in the UK to celebrate Caribbean heritage, culture and social history.

Hear Catherine and her daughter Lynda and the Museum's Creative Director'In Conversation' during lockdown talking about the Museum, George Floyd and the Windrush Scandal

https://www.windrushlincoln.today/in-conversation

Thanks to DBC Productions - http://dcbproductions.co.uk/ .

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Schools, community groups, parents, people
Time for some more knowledge

What’s Included in the Resource Pack

Powerful and inspiring materials to help you engage your community, students, and team members.

Ready-to-use resources perfect for schools, workplaces, and events.

Why You Need This Pack:
Engage and educate: Raise awareness and celebrate Black history and culture.

Support meaningful conversations: Use the materials to spark dialogue and learning.

Celebrate Black History Month 2024:

52 Individual Black British and Global Icons Posters to Download
BHM Supporter Logos
BHM 2024 Screensaver
5 BHM 2024 Roller Blind Artwork
BHM Teams Meeting Backdrop
BHM Logos
Downloadable Head Teachers Assembly Notes
Downloadable Lesson Plans for Schools
Screensaver and Social Media Elements

Grab your Black History Month Resource Pack while supplies last!

Black History Month Resource Pack(Limited-Time Offer): £22.50 (Plus £9.95 postage in the UK). Total: £32.45

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Black History Month Resource Pack 2024 This year’s Black History Month theme, “Reclaiming Narratives,” marks a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black

Did you know?
This year’s theme for Black History Month is “Reclaiming Narratives,” and marks a significant shift towards recognising and correcting the narratives of Black history and culture.
By emphasising “Reclaiming Narratives,” we shine a brighter light on our stories, allegories, and history.

This theme underscores a commitment to correcting historical inaccuracies and showcasing the untold success stories and the full complexity of Black heritage. It’s about taking control of our stories and honouring our heroes while challenging the narratives that have often overlooked the contributions and achievements of Black individuals both in the UK and globally.

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Black History Month Magazine 2024 In today’s world, stories are powerful tools that shape how we understand our past, present, and future. For too long, the history of Black communities has been told through lenses that often misrepresent, oversimplify, or entirely overlook the rich and diverse experiences of those who lived it. B...

Did you know?
Arthur Wint -
Jamaica's first Olympic gold medallist

Dr Arthur Wint was 28 when he won gold in the 400-metre dash at the 1948 London Olympics.
When he won that historic gold, he had already seen active combat as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War Two. He volunteered to fight for Britain, and flew spitfires alongside two of his brothers and many others who have now been celebrated as Pilots of the Caribbean. He was also a surgeon and High Commissoner to Jamaica in London from 1974-78.
When he became high commissioner to the court of St James the tradition was that a knighthood would be offered yet he turned down the knighthood.

Arthur Wint died in Jamaica in 1992, at the age of 72. His daughter lives in Bristol, England.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-58843390?s=07&fbclid=IwAR1nfhRc-qZQRy8_9BOBcnvJEgXYGzkXIiy8VzqqC2RKnxaNqgwMFhS1Nzw

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Did you know?

The National Windrush Monument is a bronze sculpture in Waterloo Station, London. It was created by Basil Watson.
The monument memorialises the British West Indian immigrants who came to the United Kingdom on board HMT Empire Windrush in 1948, who subsequently became known as the Windrush generation.
The inscription accompanying the monument lists the members of the Windrush Committee who commissioned the sculpture and a poem "You Called..and we came" written by Professor Laura Serrant OBE.


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Did you know?

Althea McNish (1924 – 2020) was amongst the first, if not the first, designer of African-Caribbean descent to achieve international recognition. Her designs injected much-needed colour and life into the post-war fashion and textiles industry from the 1950s onwards.

In 1951, 27-year-old Althea McNish moved with her mother from Port of Spain in Trinidad to London, where her father was working. McNish's mother was a well-regarded dressmaker and dress designer and her father, a writer and publisher. From a young age they fostered their daughter's passion for drawing and painting. An aspiring artist, McNish was a junior member of the Trinidad Arts Society at a time when the country was a thriving cultural centre edging closer to independence, and she presented her first exhibition in Port of Spain in her teens.

McNish also developed a strong interest in construction and intended to study architecture on arrival in London, where she had secured a scholarship to the prestigious Architectural Association. But it was not to be. By her own admission, the thought of enduring harsh British winters throughout a seven-year degree led her to change direction and instead she enrolled on a print course at the London School of Printing and Graphic Arts, now the London College of Communication.

McNish was also an important presence in the wider British design scene; she was a member of the board of the UK's Design Council, and a Vice-President and Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers. Her contribution to post-war British design and pioneering creative vision changed the character of British Modernism. The inclusion of McNish's influential works in recent exhibitions such as Get Up Stand Up Now (2019) at Somerset House, has brought her practice to the attention of new audiences and attests to her enduring legacy.

https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/althea-mcnish-an-introduction

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The Harder They Come from the portfolio Black Beauty Pageants, photograph by Raphael Albert, about 1970, England.
Museum no. E.312-2013. © Raphael Albert/ Autograph ABP/ Victoria and Albert Museum, London.


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Fashion Shoot, Brixton Market, photograph by Armet Francis, 1973, England.
Museum no. E.106-2013. © Armet Francis/ Victoria and Albert Museum, London.


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Did you know?
This link leads to an edited extract from the memoir, '‘We Jamaicans in 1950s England’ from the daybook of Jamaican-born Verona Franceta Pettigrew neé Bennett who emigrated to Britain in 1956.

Writing about her life in the 1990s, Verona Pettigrew reflects on the pride of Jamaican people. She goes on to describe the bind that many female migrants found themselves in regarding marriage, family, work and ambition. In order to leave Jamaica, Verona herself hastily agreed to marry Thomas Ranford Pettigrew who had already moved to London. Though the marriage failed, together they started a business and bought properties throughout London.

https://www.bl.uk/windrush/articles/we-jamaicans-in-1950s-england-from-the-daybook-of-mrs-pettigrew

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Did you know?

A PORTRAIT OF QUEEN VICTORIA’S AFRICAN GODDAUGHTER IS ON DISPLAY AT OSBORNE HOUSE, ISLE OF WIGHT, SHEDDING LIGHT ON FORGOTTEN BLACK HISTORY

The painting of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, the daughter of an African ruler who became Queen Victoria’s goddaughter, was unveiled at Osborne, the Queen’s seaside home on the Isle of Wight.
English Heritage announced on 7 October 2020 that it will also be commissioning portraits of other historical black figures associated with the charity’s sites and whose stories like Bonetta's, have been previously overlooked.

Bonetta, originally named Aina, was orphaned and enslaved by King Gezo of Dahomey, present-day Benin, when she was 5 years. In 1850, she was given as a "diplomatic gift" to Capt. Frederick Forbes who brought her to England and introduced her to the queen. Queen Victoria met with Bonetta, whom she described as "sharp and intelligent" several times over the next few years, including at Osborne, her seaside home on the Isle of Wight. She paid for her education and became her godmother.

Artist Hannah Uzor said: "Through my art, I’m interested in exploring those forgotten black people in British history, people such as Sarah. What I find interesting about Sarah is that she challenges our assumptions about the status of black women in Victorian Britain. I was also drawn to her because of the parallels with my own family and my children, who share Sarah's Nigerian heritage. "To see Sarah return to Osborne, her godmother’s home, is very satisfying and I hope my portrait will mean more people discover her story."

Bonetta married James Davies, a merchant from Sierra Leone whose parents were liberated slaves and named her first daughter Victoria, who would also become goddaughter to the queen. The younger Victoria was on a trip to see the Queen at Osborne when Bonetta died in 1880 of tuberculosis.

The painting of Bonetta by artist Hannah Uzor is on display at Osborne throughout October – Black History Month – and will then return on display next spring as part of English Heritage’s wider series of portraits across several sites.

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Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff / 'Women Before Windrush'

Journalist, editor, features writer, columnist and creative with focuses on investigations, race, lifestyle, travel, media, youth culture and social politics.
Charlie reads 'Women Before Windrush' from 'Mother Country: Real Stories of the Windrush Children'

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Kimberly McIntosh / Barrel Children'

Kimberly reads 'Barrel Children' from 'Mother Country: Real Stories of the Windrush Children'. Edited: Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff.

Kimberly holds a Master’s degree in International Migration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and a First Class Honours Degree in History from the University of Manchester. For her Master’s thesis, Kimberly explored the relationship between integration and identity of the Jamaican diaspora in the UK and Jamaica’s development policy.

https://www.windrushlincoln.today/mother-country-readings