Monday Mindset: Look Up

This past weekend I had a great time with my family enjoying the amazing weather and celebrating Windrush. Windrush is on the 22nd June. It is not a UK bank holiday but is an observed holiday after a successful campaign led by Patrick Vernon. The day honours the British Caribbean community, and the half a million people who travelled to the UK after the Second World War to rebuild the nation. Although the Caribbean people were invited by British authorities not everyone welcomed the newcomers. In fact they faced extreme intolerance and were denied private employment and accommodation because of the colour of their skin. I took my daughter, Chloe, to see The National Windrush Monument at Waterloo Station in London. This was designed by renowned Jamaican artist Basil Watson. The three figures- a man, woman, and child are dressed in their “Sunday best” climbing a mountain of suitcases together demonstrating the inseparable bond of the Windrush pioneers and their descendants, and the hopes and aspirations of their generation as they arrive to start new lives in the UK. The monument symbolises the courage, commitment, and resilience of the men, women, and children who travelled to the UK to start new lives. My family is originally from Jamaica but some immigrated to the UK during the Windrush generation (1948-1971) while others immigrated to Canada and the US. Over the weekend; we enjoyed local festivities and we felt so proud of the long overdue recognition for the Windrush generation’s contributions. I look up to this generation and realise that whatever I may be going through; they went through many more challenges and paved the way for my family and me. So remember that no matter what is going on; look up and believe that your best and brightest days are ahead of you.