BACKGROUND

The ancient African proverb “when an old man dies, a library burns to the ground,” is an example of how much we revere repositories of knowledge. While some aspects of our histories have fallen victim to the passage of time, technology has afforded us new ways to hold onto our stories. Through these new avenues, the concept of what it means to be who we are has been redefined, reflecting a vibrant and interconnected ecosystem across the diaspora.

Outside of the annual Black History Month, most British museums do not represent the history or culture of British Windrush settlers despite the considerable impact Windrush communities have in Britain. Now Black Lives Matter, the Windrush Scandal and decolonisation debates have surfaced, the significant gaps and historical erasure in Britain’s collective memory of Windrush pioneers, narratives and expressions, could not be clearer.

A National Windrush Museum is needed to collect and preserve the stories of these British settlers in our nation and their children. Such a museum will be a lasting monument that gives permanence to their legacies. It will honour their struggles and successes.