As a reporter for the Daily Worker, Peter Fryer met the Empire Windrush at Tilbury in 1948 and interviewed many of the 492 West Indian passengers. Although black people and other settlers had been in Britain for centuries, the arrival of the Windrush marked a turning point. The commitment to Britain of these African Caribbeans is a testimony to their resilience in the face of racism, loneliness and adversity. Encouraged to come to Britain for cheap labour, they contributed to the rebuilding necessary after the second world war.
The book contains the text of a talk given by Peter Fryer in Leeds and Brixton on the fiftieth anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush. Edited by Clare Cowen, it is illustrated with historical photographs and press cuttings and includes the discussion at the Brixton meeting.