On the 22nd of June 1948, the SS Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks, Essex. Carrying over 1000 passengers invited help rebuild Britain after World War II. Amongst these passengers were migrants from the Caribbean. Who left their countries to help the “Mother Country”, bringing with them their way of life. Britain was known as the “Mother Country”, as Caribbean people saw themselves as British due to the Caribbean islands still being British colonies. The migrants that came across considered themselves returning home to Britain. These people became known as the Windrush generation, with them they brought, music, slang dance and Food; which is the heart and soul of Caribbean culture.

 

To make this work, I spent seven weeks at a local Caribbean food shop in Smethwick called Leon’s Food Store. People come from all over Birmingham to Leon’s Food Store to buy and cook the food they were brought up with and carry on the traditions of their family. During this time, I met many different people of different ages and from different places, However, we were all connected through food and our heritage. I learned so much from my time at the store, from the experiences of growing up in Jamaica to being given a recipe for Saturday soup; a thick flavourful soup using root vegetables, boiled dumplings, meat, and “cock” soup mix.

 

 

“I was the manager for a high street store for 8 years, then I realised that wanted to do my own business so I started looking for a shop and found this nice little place which I wasn't fully happy with but I knew that I had the ability to achieve great things, I'm so great full to the lord for my little shop I love what I do” – Mr. Leon 

 

 This work is a celebration of the Windrush generation through Caribbean food and culture. It is an insight into a world that some are unfamiliar with and some call home.