England Our England: Stories of the Black and Asian Migrant Pioneers

(Hardback, Main)

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An evocative photographic portrait of African, Caribbean and Asian families in England

Starting in the late 1950s, England experienced an unparalleled wave of migration from Africa, the Caribbean and the Indian subcontinent. Self-evidently, this migration was transformational for the migrants themselves, but it also had a deep impact on this country, changing it in many obvious but also subtle ways. As our stories indicate, many of the migrants already felt a part of England and they came with hopes, fears, beliefs and myths about the country that they were entering.

Seventy years on England Our England captures the experiences of this generation and their families in vivid, evocative and striking photography, much of it published for the first time, and in first-hand accounts of the people themselves. The book pays respect and homage to those who made extraordinary sacrifices, coping with a swathe of challenges, for the most part, stoically and without complaint. It provides a fascinating social history and an evocative record of both the migrant experience and of the lives established here.

Author Bio

Gurnek Bains came over to Britain at the age of six from the Punjab in India. He is a psychologist by background and Managing Partner of the leadership consulting firm Global Future. He is also CEO of Global Future a think-tank devoted to flying the flag for an open and inclusive world. Gurnek is also on the board of Intertek PLC as well as Chair of Akram Khan, a leading dance company championing a uniquely British Asian art form. Bryony Heard has worked in the arts and entertainment industry for over 20 years. She began her career as a backing singer for David Bowie and other artists, as well as writing songs for films and developing artists. She has a degree in theatrical costume and set design from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. More recently Bryony has been an archivist for the Always Print The Myth Exhibition at the V&A. She is an advisor to the Global Future Arts and Culture Board. Kylie Bains came to England from Australia in 1991 and has two mixed-race children of Indian-Australian decent. She is passionate about embracing individual and cultural diversity which led to her co-founding the Global Future think-tank and leadership consultancy. She is a business psychologist, key author of Meaning Inc: The Blueprint for Business Success in the 21st Century and was previously a director of YSC, a global leadership consultancy.