The Centre of Research on Employment (CREW), the Centre for Applied Sociology Research and the BAME Staff Network hosted a Windrush Day event to commemorate and celebrate the enormous contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants.
22 June 2022 seminar
A seminar was hosted by Dr Myrtle Emmanuel and chaired by colleagues Professor Sian Moore, Dr Louise Owusu-Kwarteng, Dr Sterling Rauseo and Dr Kenisha Linton. The day commenced with illuminating and inspiring speakers who focussed on the experiences of British and US Black communities in the context of the law, work and education.
Our keynote speaker, Professor Jason Arday, a Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Glasgow, gave an enlightening personal reflection on his academic career journey in becoming one of the youngest black professors in Britain. He also spoke about the political paralysis that has become a feature of successive Governments undermining migrant workers’ contributions in rebuilding post-war Britain. Professor Arday underlined the need for change in the wider professional work environment and political arena.
The keynote was followed by a presentation by Dr Christine Callender, Associate Professor at University College London Institute of Education and Marva Rollins (OBE), Headteacher of 24 years, mentor and coach. They reflected on their own personal histories of Windrush and legacies of their parents’ generation including qualities such as perseverance, determination and a will to succeed.
Our very own Professor Tracey Reynolds, Professor of Social Sciences, Director of the Centre for Applied Sociology Research & Associate Dean of Research and Knowledge Exchange in FLAS, deliberated on the Windrush Scandal and the current political hostile environment which was established to racialise and, consequently, exclude certain categories of people in Britain. This environment has resulted in the disruption of family structures and the perpetuation of a system based on white supremacist thoughts and actions.
Professor William Lez Henry provided a thought-provoking debate on how black academics and other professionals must seek alternative sites of learning, public voices and edification. He says that ‘we must not underestimate the ways in which our own experiences have generated ways of seeing the world that are insightful, innovative and more relevant to the challenges that we face based on our own experiences’.
Our second keynote speaker was Professor Adia Wingfield, Visiting Professor to the University of Greenwich and Professor of Sociology at Washington University in St. Louis, USA. Adia spoke about and the construction of work through racial, gendered, and classed practices. Her work on health professionals shows how black workers’ perceptions of racial discrimination derive not just from being in the minority, but also from their position in the organisational structure.
Takeaways from the panel’s Q&A raised renewed insecurities generated by the Nationality and Borders Act, where the British state can remove citizenship status. There is a need for self-organisation, retaining integrity, supporting each other within the various professional spaces, the importance of self-care, decolonising the curriculum, challenging western knowledge and never giving up!
The Festival
The Festival later in the afternoon continued with the celebrations in Queen Anne Courtyard, organised and chaired by Dr Myrtle, Cheryl McLeod, Shirley Joseph and the Caribbean Social Forum from the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
We had an amazing Windrush exhibition entitled ‘Journey from the Mother Land to the Mother Country’ showcasing personal stories of Caribbean individuals including various stalls promoting African-Caribbean local businesses within the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Speakers include Denise Henry from the National Education Union, Antonio Bright Movement for Justice, Pamela Franklin from the Caribbean Social Forum and Cheryl McLeod, Chair of Lewisham Trades Council and a festival organiser. We also had a special guest Councillor Anthony Okereke, recently elected Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
The evening ended with Caribbean food and drinks, music and cultural performances of steel pans, dancing, singing and music played by DJ Khi Rafe (an MA HRM Student within the Greenwich Business School).
In general, the event was positively received by our attendees. This was highlighted in their response to a post-event questionnaire where they made suggestions for future Black History 365 events and shared their reflections that they had spent an informative and uplifting day.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, delegates and those who have contributed in many ways to make the event a huge success.
Dr Myrtle Emmanuel
Senior Lecturer in HRM and Organisational Behavior & EDI Race Advisor to the VC
