Biney, A 
ORCID: 0000-0002-8811-8497
(2026)
Africans and “the Windrush generation” 1948–1973: some comparisons and silences
Contemporary British History, 40 (1).
pp. 65-92.
ISSN 1361-9462, 1743-7997
Abstract
The narratives of people who arrived in Britain from the Caribbean islands—referred to as the ‘Windrush generation’—has tended to make invisible, if not overlooked the lived experiences of ‘Black Africans’ from the African continent between the period 1948–1973. The ‘single story’ of the ‘Windrush era’ dominates and homogenises the experiences of all Black and Brown people living in Britain. Even though Black Africans are now the largest ‘Black’ demographic group in Britain, the various ‘Windrush’ commemorations have overshadowed their presence and contributions to British society. Through oral narratives, autobiography, novels, memoirs and film, this article illustrates that while there were distinct differences in the experiences of post-war African and Caribbean people in Britain, such as reasons that brought the two groups to Britain; affiliation to African ‘identities’; there were also shared experiences of disappointed imaginings of Britain, cultural shock and institutional racism. Black British history cannot be built on people perceived as ‘Black’ living in post-war Britain as possessing a single narrative, but on myriad narratives reflecting the multiplicity of their identities, communities and experiences.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 4303 Historical Studies, 43 History, Heritage and Archaeology, Health Disparities and Racial or Ethnic Minority Health Research, Minority Health |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures > History Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > Faculty of Humanities & Social Sci (All T&R Staff) Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures (T&R Staff) |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Dec 2025 13:22 |
| Last Modified: | 11 Mar 2026 13:25 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/13619462.2025.2588482 |
| Open Access URL: | https://doi.org/10.1080/13619462.2025.2588482 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3195817 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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