Stories of Racism and Resistance: A Narrative Analysis of Stories Told in the UK Windrush Generation and Descendants of the Windrush Generation

Jessica Blumsom, Jacqui Scott (), Emma Karwatzki, Aishath Nasheeda, David Hernandez-Saca, Alyson Malach and Glenda Andrew
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Jessica Blumsom: Department of Psychology, Sport and Geography, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
Jacqui Scott: Department of Psychology, Sport and Geography, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
Emma Karwatzki: Department of Psychology, Sport and Geography, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK
Aishath Nasheeda: Faculty of Educational Studies, Villa College, QI Campus, Malé 20373, Maldives
David Hernandez-Saca: College of Education, University of Northern Iowa, 1227 W 27th St, Cedar Falls, IA 50614, USA
Alyson Malach: Equality and Diversity UK, Warwick House, Bury BL9 6PJ, UK
Glenda Andrew: Preston Windrush Generation and Descendants UK, 20A Floyer St, Preston PR1 4JE, UK

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: The Windrush Generation (WG) and their descendants continue to experience adversity in the UK, including racism and the Windrush Scandal, with such adversities absent from psychological research literature. Intergenerational trauma is a psychological concept explaining that adverse experiences can be transmitted from one generation to impact subsequent generations. There has been limited consideration of the ongoing impact of adverse experiences that span multiple generations, such as experiences of racism within Western Europe. This paper utilised a narrative research design to study the narratives of members of the WG and those of their descendants in the UK. Eight expert by experience co-researchers were involved in developing the project from design through to dissemination. Eight participants, including four members of the WG and four descendants, completed semi-structured interviews in which they told stories in the context of Windrush. These stories were analysed utilising a narrative analysis framework, looking at content, structure and performance. Collective trauma and racism were apparent in the stories told, yet tended not to be spoken about by the WG to subsequent generations. Instead, emphasis was given to communicating strength and resistance. Implications for policy, healthcare and supporting communities to heal through narrative and liberation practices are discussed.

Keywords: Windrush; narrative; decolonising; ethnicity; intergenerational trauma; racism; resistance; whiteness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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