Episode Two - The Struggle for Acceptance

In this episode of 'Echoes of the Caribbean' we examine the prejudice that Bradford’s early West Indian migrants faced as they built a life here.

Many people who had travelled from the Caribbean had a strong sense of their Britishness, plenty had served in the British armed forces during the war and they had an expectation that they would be welcomed in the 'mother country'. 

However, this was not always the case, many of the indigenous population were not used to seeing black people and saw the migrants as a threat.

Facing racism and prejudice on a daily basis made life hard for many in Bradford’s West Indian community.  But on occasions it could be even worse when hate turned to violence.

In 1986 volunteers at Checkpoint West Indian Community Centre in Bradford recorded the memories of early settlers, talking about their experiences over the previous three decades settling into a new way of life in Yorkshire.

We have now been given access to this treasure trove of first hand testimony that we can share with you.