AS THE flag flies in the Derby sky to mark Windrush Day, and following the huge turnout at Derby’s recent Black Lives Matter protest and virtual Derby Speaks Up events, local activists have announced the development of a Black Lives Matter Manifesto for the city with action points for the city’s various agencies to tackle race inequality.

Professor Cecile Wright, chair of the Derby Windrush Action Group and Black Lives Matter Derby said: “We are in total gratitude of all our incredible generation who left their homelands to re-build post-war Derby and their continuing contribution to the city. A Black Lives Matter Manifesto for the city will request that organisations address issues of black inequality and discrimination here in Derby.”

We are in total gratitude of all our incredible generation who left their homelands to re-build post-war Derby and their continuing contribution to the city.

Professor Cecile Wright, chair of the Derby Windrush Action Group

The Manifesto is being developed by local black leaders, consulting local community groups and supporters via virtual meetings and social media. The collective charter for change will be addressed to various local public services, agencies, schools and education providers, with action points to make Derby a city where Black Lives Matter, to be presented at an upcoming launch event. 

Activities

Across the UK commemorative activities are taking place to mark Windrush Day 2020 as the nation pays tribute to the outstanding and ongoing contribution of the Windrush Generation. This is a day to honour the British Caribbean community, and the half a million people who travelled to the UK to help rebuild it after World War II.

Building on the success of the inaugural national Windrush Day last year, projects across the country are commemorating the seminal moment 72 years ago when the Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks near London. 

Activities aim to celebrate and educate communities on the leading role the Windrush Generation and their descendants have played in making Britain stronger, culturally richer and more inclusive.

Due to social distancing many events are now taking place online including a virtual poetry commemoration from the Black Cultural Archives via Instagram Live, the Museum of Liverpool online screening of the documentary ‘Daughters of the Windrush’ and a virtual Windrush Day Lecture ‘Where are we now?’ with Professor Stephen Small followed by a film featuring voices from the Caribbean community in Leicester.

Cities

Last year Derby was among the cities hosting exhibitions, community workshops and Windrush Justice demonstrations to highlight the continued injustices many have suffered as a result of the government’s hostile environment policies, one of the main causes of the Windrush scandal, and deportation flights from the UK to the Caribbean.

Information about Black Lives Matter Derby virtual events, films and further reading about Windrush Day, Black History and how to be a change-maker can be found via the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BlackLivesMatterDerby