For WCVA members Ifeoluwa Ishola from Race Council Cymru goes behind the scenes of their recent Windrush documentary.
Hey there! I am Ifeoluwa Ishola, Marketing and Communications Officer at Race Council Cymru and I am thrilled to share the scoop on our just launched epic Windrush Cymru @75 Documentary.
Wondering what the documentary is about? Simple – spilling the untold stories of the Windrush Generation and Commonwealth Nationals who rocked up to the UK in the HMT Empire ship in 1948 to ‘save the motherland’ as pleaded by the leaders then in the radio after the World War II.
Now, imagine this: a bunch of passionate souls docking at Tilbury receiving the cold shoulder of racism and hostility despite the promise of a warm welcome. But guess what? They faced it head on becoming the legendary Windrush Generation and the documentary captured the deets on their grit and grace.
PREMIERE DAY
Fast forward to 7 October 2023, after all the hard work of visiting the homes of these courageous Windrush Elders and Commonwealth Nations to film, numerous sprints to the platform so as not to miss the train, uncountable calls to ensure we’ve gotten the right addresses, and months of Will (Our Director) putting these clips together, the legacy piece was ready for premiering.
I remember waking up that morning with sudden heart palpitation and sweaty hands because I just couldn’t wait for the whole world to see this masterpiece that drove us into history and feel so much connection to it as I did while we were stringing these stories together and guess what? The hall was packed! What? I was so happy with the turn out.
THEY LAUGHED AND THEY CRIED
It was amazing to see people connecting to every shade of emotion from the laughs to the tears and hold back giggles as they watch these brave souls bear their hearts out including the nasty immigration policies that messed things up big time and how these injustices are been called out to be fixed. They spill their own tea on the challenges, triumphs, and everything in between. Check out the trailer and have a sneak peak into the legacy piece created.
And here’s the best part – you can binge-watch the whole documentary for free! Just hit up our website.
THANK YOUS
Shoutout to the Windrush Elders, Minister Jane Hutt, First Minister Mark Drakeford, Woodlands Trust, Black Police Association, and everyone who had our back in landing this epic documentary and making this magic happen in commemoration of the Windrush Generation 75th Anniversary.
In a nutshell, I wouldn’t describe Windrush Cymru @75 as just a documentary; it’s a love letter to a generation that owned their journey with resilience and courage. It’s a big fat thank you to the Windrush Generation and Commonwealth Nationals for adding vibrancy in every sphere of Wales’ history.
Check out their stories, and you will get why I am all about the Windrush pride!
GET INVOLVED
Other WCVA members can get involved in our work by organising a screening of the documentary – please get in touch if you’re interested in that – or find out more about Race Council Cymru’s work at racecouncilcymru.org.uk.