The Richard Spooner Column: Learning from the past�

In light of Black History Month, I wanted to acknowledge a period of history that we might do well to learn from.

Last Saturday, I spent the evening at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry learning about something that, admittedly, I should have known more about.

The Belgrade 's 'RUSH ' performance told the story of the Windrush generation who first arrived in the UK aboard the MV Empire Windrush from the Caribbean in 1948.

This generation of people were invited by the UK Government as members of the Commonwealth to help fill post-war labour shortages and rebuild the economy. In return, these people were granted indefinite leave to remain within the country.

Thereafter, all migrants who arrived in the UK between 1948 and 1971 have been widely referred to as the 'Windrush Generation '.

Narrated by John Simmit and accompanied by a musical exploration of Jamaican artists and musicians, RUSH explored the real experiences of the Windrush Generation upon their arrival here.

Despite their valuable contributions to our economy and culture, these people were met with racism and injustice as they attempted to settle into a British society that realistically needed them in order to survive.

As a member of Gen Z, it seems strange that this part of our history is not something I had ever been taught about prior to viewing this performance (although hardly surprising considering how the curriculum tends to omit Black British history and favour a Eurocentric approach).

Nevertheless, following the Windrush story and hearing music from the likes of Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley, Millie Small and Jimmy Cliff highlighted just how much we have gained from that generation of migrants- and yet, that has not always been acknowledged by British society.

In fact, we failed so far as to recognise the contributions of that generation that we unlawfully deported many of those citizens who were granted rights to remain here.

In the spirit of acknowledging the importance of unity and multiculturalism, and in a bid to avoid making the same mistakes, let me turn your attention to a not so dissimilar situation that we are facing right now.

I am, of course, talking about the lack of HGV drivers within the UK, a partial result of new immigration laws restricting European drivers following Brexit.

Alas, we find ourselves short once again!

Considering all that we know now, and all that history and the modern day has shown us, I leave you with one question- are we not better united rather than divided?

Perhaps something to ponder next time you 're in the queue for the petrol pumps�

CC