05 Nov – The Windrush Generation
By John Duffy, Commission Member
I was lucky enough to go to a recent National Justice & Peace networking day in Birmingham, to listen to the Reverend Eve Pitts, – the first Black woman to be ordained priest in the Church of England – talk about being brought up by the Windrush Generation.
Rather than a history or sociology lecture, this was her personal story about observing, respecting and conflicting with her mother and that generation who came to England in the 40s and 50s, with their suitcases full of dreams. Their struggle was the realisation that in having to face the ugliness of hatred there was another journey to be made.
They sang the lament of leaving the familiar, hoped against the realities, and though they achieved so much for themselves and their children, Eve observed that they had become the type of Christian who doesn’t ask questions, who were unwilling to question God, terrified of God. Eve rebelled, declaring that faith and justice are inseparable, and that not facing up to racism meant collusion with the oppressor.
She faced up to racism in her Church, and addressed the issue in 1997 from the pulpit. This led to controversy and the Bishop of Birmingham asked her to resign. The Association of Black Clergy supported her. She began ministry in a community hall and was then offered (by the next bishop of Birmingham) a new parish at Immanuel church in Highter’s Heath, where she worked until her retirement.
God is much bigger than our definition of him, she says, and this determination has formed and sustained her faith, and she continues to minister, and to rock the boat when it is needed.
This summary does not do her justice, as she is a dramatic, dynamic and hilarious speaker. So please take a look at this five minute YouTube clip to inspire and encourage.
Faith and creativity are interconnected in helping us to discuss and convey hard to explain messages. Whether it is the banner on the protest march, or the font type we choose to promote a retreat, we would be hard pushed to find a faith or justice movement where creativity isn’t utilised to lead people towards change. Before we were literate, we communicated the gospels through illustrations of the saintly and heavenly in stained glass windows, crosses and icons. Bringing the ‘Good News’ to a wider audience can take courage. Creativity takes courage.
Artwork included ‘Journey to the Manger’, an illustration by graphic artist, Luke Walwyn, depicting the many obstacles Mary had to overcome on her 90 mile journey to Bethlehem most likely by foot set in a modern context here in the busy Kirkgate Market. The artwork was created as a reflection on the reality of young women who arrive in Leeds, with no accommodation and are confused and isolated. The artwork helps us to explore themes of asylum, migration and maternity streams of sanctuary here in Leeds.
Freda Shafi’s two pieces included a sketch of her mother’s allotment where she grew coriander, scarce when she arrived in Yorkshire from Pakistan in the 1960s, when migrants were encouraged to assimilate. Her mother grew a bounty of coriander, enough to share with her Sikh, Christian and Jewish neighbours, inspiring Freda’s work on ‘Food, Faith and Unity’. Accompanying the sketch of the allotment where the coriander grew, a photograph of her mother’s elderly hands are seen holding a plate of coriander dahl, a dish which was shared with friends and family over the decades. Freda’s work helped the young people at the leadership and justice session to explore the myth of scarcity and offer an opportunity to reflect on the concept of a liturgy of abundance. The art exhibition allowed conversation on poverty, food banks and racial justice. Difficult social justice issues, discussed with art as the conduit.
This was an inter-generational conversation about where faith might fit into how we view leadership. It was set up as an informal event where students could have conversations with a number of invited guests with different leadership experiences who acted as discussion facilitators.
The museum is aiming to reopen to the public in summer 2024. Supported through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project will focus on creating engaging and accessible exhibitions and developing a dedicated learning space in its new home. Opening in these new premises will create many more opportunities for visitors, researchers, and community groups to explore the diverse range of stories told by the museum’s collection.
PeaceJam is an international organisation led by 14 Nobel Peace Laureates working to support a generation of future Nobel Peace Laureates. Their vision is “To Make Peace a Verb”.
