I AM the daughter of the Windrush generation. My mother arrived in Britain from the Caribbean in the early 1960s. 

Like many others of the Windrush generation arriving in the ’50s and ’60s from the Caribbean, African and Asian regions, they came to work, to build a better future for themselves and loved ones. 

Instead of being greeted by welcomes and opportunities, they were greeted by signs of “No blacks, No Irish, No dogs,” by colour bars in housing and in the labour market and more — by fascist attacks and police brutality. 

It was tough, it was heartbreaking, but the Windrush generation carved out a path, challenged racism and fascism, worked hard, helped build public services, built businesses and raised families, organised their own entertainment when they were banned from mainstream options, practising “self-care” way before it became a buzz phrase. 

Out of struggle the Notting Hill Carnival was born, with my fellow Trinidadian Claudia Jones playing a key role.

The Windrush generation acted with resilience, determination, community and, despite all the obstacles, hostility and barriers, despite the in-your-face racism, systemic and institutional racism and fascist attacks, they achieved, succeeded and demonstrated staying power, raising generations of children and grandchildren. 

They and we have contributed to politics, sports, fashion, the arts, broadcasting, manufacturing, public services, the legal profession and so much more.

So having done all of that, they never expected to be criminalised and classified as illegal immigrants by the British government, having given most or all their working lives to Britain, having been raised here for many, having completed schooling and other studies here, having made their homes and families here — they could not have prepared themselves for what was to follow.

Just as those of the Windrush generation should have been looking forward to forthcoming retirements and celebrations, well-earned rest and reflections on all they had overcome and achieved, they were hit by what became known as the Windrush scandal.

This wasn’t a sudden thing that happened overnight — it happened over years with many of those affected shocked, traumatised, afraid, silenced, ostracised, stigmatised, preventing them from being able to speak out, stuck in limbo overseas or in detention centres trying to make sense and navigate a route to justice and freedom.

The effects were many and devastating. They lost their homes, their jobs, could not claim benefits, access essential services, became destitute. 

They were detained in conditions worse than prison, deported or found themselves unable to return to Britain after a holiday, deemed to be without a legal passport. 

They were separated and estranged from loved ones, partners, children, grandchildren, parents and siblings for not just years but even decades. 

The lives they built over years were brutally torn from them, leaving them with little or no means to challenge and change what was happening.

For those who were able to obtain legal support and assistance to challenge, they were told by the government which had destroyed all the landing cards which would have proved when they arrived, that they must provide proof of where they lived, where they studied, where they worked for every year of their lives in Britain.

The stories of those who I have supported over the years have been devastating and heart-breaking, affecting not just on the Windrush generation but their families and loved ones, with adult children forced to put their own lives on hold in order to seek justice for them and young children experiencing the trauma of sudden separation affecting schooling, exams and behaviours. 

The Windrush scandal made people ill, literally — stress-related illnesses having both a mental and physical impact. The most tragic consequences leading to deaths.

It was back in 2012 that I and others in my organisation Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (Barac UK) and in the coalition we co-formed Movement Against Xenophobia (Max), began to warn of what became known as the Windrush scandal. 

Max was formed to oppose new immigration legislation which we knew would affect not just new migrants to Britain but those who had been here a long time, like the Windrush generation. 

In 2016 we became aware of a planned mass deportation charter flight to Jamaica, with the government targeting those complying with the system, tearing parents from children when signing in with the Home Office, detaining grandparents and literally snatching as many people as they could grasp to pack up the plane.

Even at that point I had not anticipated just how epic this injustice was in terms of scale, length of time and lives affected. 

But it took until 2018 before more widespread awareness was achieved and for full exposure of the extent of the wide-scale injustice, racism and mass human rights abuses that became known as the “Windrush scandal.” Our petition here was signed by 232,385 people.

I have been campaigning since 2012 — petitions, protests, demos, lobbying, legal challenges, letter-writing, poster campaigns, direct actions and supporting individuals, helping them with legal representation, last-minute actions in the deep of the night to stop individuals being deported. 

It has been full-on and heart-wrenching but I am glad to have played a part with others in getting hundreds of people off flights who were destined for deportation.

The collective efforts of people power and legal action has succeeded in defending many but still far too many have been deported.

Only 1 per cent of 3,479 claimant appeals in 2021 resulted in a settlement. The fact that the majority of applicants are forced to appeal because initial offers are so woefully inadequate is a disgrace and injustice.

Sadly, too many of those impacted have now passed away and without even receiving the compensation promised by the government.

This is why the 75th anniversary is so important — many of the Windrush generation are now elders in our community and its right that we celebrate with them, in their lifetimes.

In 2019 we organised a National Windrush Day of Action to coincide with National Windrush Day, calling on people to demonstrate then celebrate, with simultaneous direct actions on several cities. In London there was a march from Downing Street to a community-created banner drop over Westminster Bridge. 

While it’s right that we celebrate, it’s also important to remember those who have passed as a result of this horrific abuse, that we think about those still affected, those still not compensated and the ongoing effects on the descendants of the Windrush generation and continue to campaign going forward.

I believe it’s essential to honour those who came before us, those whose shoulders I stand on. I will be honouring the Windrush generation as well as highlighting the ongoing injustices at a range of Windrush 75 events including those organised by trade unions.

But I will also be celebrating the Windrush generation through arts including a pop-up art exhibition for Warner Bros staff, an art workshop at the National Maritime Museum, the online Windrush 75 exhibition I have curated and a talk and art exhibition as part of the Festival of Windrush which I was commissioned to create the official merchandise artwork for.

Arts play an important role in telling the story of the Windrush generation, of documenting the struggles referenced above but also the history, contribution, and celebration of the Windrush generation.

There are many events taking place across Britain this week and beyond to mark Windrush 75. Below are some links to events, listings and publications including some of those I am involved in. 

voicesofwindrush.com; www.windrush75.org; bit.ly/VoicesWindrush; bit.ly/PCSWindrush75; bit.ly/TUCWindrush75; bit.ly/MaritimeMuseumWindrus; www.tuc.org.uk/RootsCultureIdentity; bit.ly/WasafiriWindrush.