Vernacular portraits: Exploring the Windrush Generation's encounter with snow

This series of vernacular portraits features my daughter playing in the snow, a concept inspired by reflections on the experiences of the children of the Windrush generation and their first encounters with cold weather and snow in the UK.

It is well-documented in existing literature that one of the significant cultural shocks experienced by the Windrush generation was the cold climate, particularly the snow (Fryer, 1984; Phillips & Phillips, 1998). Arriving in Britain from the warm Caribbean, many found the harsh winters alien and deeply unsettling. The cold weather symbolised not only a physical challenge but also a metaphorical disconnect from the environment they were encouraged to view as the "Mother Country."

As my daughter is a third-generation descendant of the Windrush generation, it is fascinating to observe her excitement when it snows—an enthusiasm starkly contrasting her grandmother's aversion to cold weather. This difference highlights a shift in perception across generations. My mother’s dislike of the cold stems from the culture shock she experienced upon arriving in the UK under the British Nationality Act 1948, which enabled citizens of the British Empire to settle in Britain as British subjects (Williams, 2016). For many, this migration marked a transition to a climate and culture drastically different from their home nations, leaving a lasting impact on their experiences and attitudes.

These portraits serve to juxtapose the generational shifts in perception, documenting how the initial culture shock of snow has evolved into an almost celebratory experience for subsequent generations, removed from the historical and emotional weight of migration. This contrast offers a visual narrative of adaptation and change within the Windrush diaspora.

Fryer, P. (1984). Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain. London: Pluto Press.
Kaufmann, E. (2020). Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Majorities. London: Penguin.
Paul, K. (1997). Whitewashing Britain: Race and Citizenship in the Postwar Era. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Phillips, M., & Phillips, T. (1998). Windrush: The Irresistible Rise of Multi-Racial Britain. London: HarperCollins.
Williams, C. (2016). The Windrush Scandal and British Nationality. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

The term nationalisation in the context of the Windrush generation refers to the framework established by the British Nationality Act 1948, which granted individuals from the British colonies the status of British subjects. This act allowed citizens from the Caribbean and other Commonwealth nations to migrate to the UK with the same legal rights as those born in Britain (Kaufmann, 2020).

Under this policy, individuals were encouraged to migrate to the UK to support post-war labour shortages, particularly in sectors such as transport, healthcare, and manufacturing. While this offered economic opportunities, the social and cultural transition was far from smooth. Migrants often encountered systemic racism, discrimination, and alienation, alongside the practical and emotional challenges of adapting to a foreign climate and culture.

The arrival of the Windrush generation under the British Nationality Act exemplifies the complexities of British post-war immigration policy, which simultaneously extended citizenship rights while failing to anticipate or address the social integration challenges migrants would face (Paul, 1997). The cold weather, as a physical embodiment of Britain's differences, became one of the more tangible aspects of this culture shock, remembered vividly in oral histories and personal narratives.