WINDRUSH GENERATIONS
A CHOCOLATE FILMS PROJECT
Discover the lives of 5 generations of Londoners with Caribbean heritage. In this season we meet: Kenny Lynch, the late British comedian and singer who toured with the Beatles and appeared in Carry On Films; Dame Jocelyn Barrow, knighted for her achievements in race-relations; teacher Sara Burke who led the 2018 protest about the treatment of the Windrush Generation; groundbreaking BBC journalist Alex Pascall who reminisces about interviews with Muhammad Ali, Angela Davis; and many more.
‘WINDRUSH GENERATIONS’ IN CINEMAS
‘1000 Londoners: Windrush Generations’, has been showcased at several notable London venues, with rare archive mixed with the 1000 Londoners docs. Screenings have taken place at the Barbican Centre, National Portrait Gallery, Curzon Soho, and Ritzy Cinema. Additionally, the series was featured at The Collective Old Oak and the Bernie Grant Arts Centre. These screenings often included panel discussions with the different Londoners, providing audiences with deeper insights into the experiences and contributions of the Windrush generation and their descendants. If you’d like to find out more about screening this content, just get in touch below:
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WHAT IS THE WINDRUSH GENERATION?
The Windrush Generation refers to Caribbean men and women who arrived in the UK between 1948 and 1971, invited to help rebuild Britain after World War II. The name comes from the HMT Empire Windrush, the ship that docked at Tilbury, Essex, on 22 June 1948, carrying nearly 500 passengers from Jamaica. Many settled in London, becoming a vital part of the city’s social and cultural fabric. Despite their contributions, members of the Windrush Generation faced racism, housing discrimination, and job inequality. In the 2010s, under a “hostile environment” policy led by the Conservative Government, many were wrongly detained, denied healthcare, or threatened with deportation—despite having lived in the UK for decades. This scandal highlighted deep injustices and led to public outcry and calls for reform. The Windrush Generation’s story is one of resilience, legacy, and the ongoing fight for justice in modern Britain.
Since it was founded in 2001, Chocolate Films has worked on many projects to tell the stories of the Windrush Generation, in collaboration with partners such as the British Library and London Museum.
