St. Fagans museum to showcase Windrush generation stories to mark Black History month

A new exhibition on Wales' Windrush generation will open at St Fagans National Museum of History in October to mark the beginning of Black History Month.

The stories of Windrush families and their descendants, and how they contributed to Welsh communities and culture, will be displayed this weekend.

The exhibition will feature the accounts of more than 40 people, who have described their journeys to Wales, and the challenges they faced in building a new life in a foreign country, including how they found work and the attitudes of people towards them.

Who are the Windrush generation?

The Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex in 1948 carrying more than 1,000 passengers from the Caribbean Islands who had responded to Britain's call for post-war workers.

Over the next 40 years, thousands followed in their footsteps, with many making Wales their new home.

Sioned Hughes, National Museum Wales' head of public history and archaeology, said she was "proud" to be highlighting the "invaluable and lasting contribution" they made to Wales.

Roma Taylor, founder and chair of the Windrush Cymru Elders, said: "It's a precious moment for each and every one of us. It's our stories and if we don't get them out then no one will know.

"The Windrush is a very painful and emotional subject but all of our stories have to go out. It's important to us, our children and our grandchildren and for schools. Everyone has to know we have been through a lot."

'Windrush Cymru – Our Voices, Our Stories, Our History' will be on display at St Fagans from 2 to 31 October 2021 before touring to further national museums across Wales until March 2022.