Hurricane Hits England

A critically acclaimed anthology of writings about the experiences of black immigrants in England. In June 1948, the SS Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, England, carrying with it the first wave of young immigrants from the Caribbean. Whatever hopes and fears those young men and women entertained about life in their new home, their arrival marked a historic moment in British history: the beginning of the mass migration which was to have far-reaching effects on Britain over the next half-century. Experiencing, at best, an uneasy welcome and, at worst, open hostility, these immigrants quickly began to reap the bitter fruits of post-colonialism. Here, in poetry, fiction, journalism, and essays, some of this century's most prominent writers address themes of identity, racism, education, sexual identity, entertainment and leisure, and black on white. This powerful anthology documents the thoughts and actions of each successive generation-both newly arrived and native-born-as they struggled to establish themselves in a country that did not want them. Contributors Include: Ben Okri, Sam Selvon, Salman Rushdie, Beryl Gilroy, Hanif Kureishi, George Lamming, Grace Nichols, and Buchi Emecheta.