Two boys at Paddington Station. Black and white photo taken in 1960s.
Boys at Paddington Station, Westminster. Photo by John Gay, 1960-72 © Historic England AA062046
Boys at Paddington Station, Westminster. Photo by John Gay, 1960-72 © Historic England AA062046

Home

When asked where we come from, our first thought is usually of what we consider to be home. Home is a place of safety and security for us and our family. It's a place where we belong, where we can be ourselves, and a space that nurtures. Home extends from the house you live in, to your family, neighbourhood, out to the town and country you're from.

Home comforts

They say that home is where the heart is. Many Black and Asian people migrating to England had to leave that home (and often their heart) behind to make a new one here.

Certain parts of England like London easily lend themselves to becoming home for many different and changing migrant communities. Other places may not have been so easy to settle into, but have, over time, built up strong and well established communities of black and Asian people.

To feel at home, particularly when away from it, we tend to surround ourselves with home comforts. Black and Asian people therefore brought with them things like food and drink, textiles, household goods, beauty products and art and music. Shops and markets appeared that offered these items to homesick customers.

Adapting buildings

Certain communities such as in the example of the Bangladeshi community in Nelson in Lancashire, bought and adapted buildings so that they could house the larger family units they were used to living in in their country of origin. Others have focused more on interior design: the most 'quintessentially English' or ordinary houses can contain microcosms of other countries and cultures as highlighted by the photo project, 'The Front Room: Migrant Aesthetics in the Home', by the writer Michael McMillan.

Being able to continue to practice daily and weekly rituals from religious worship, playing sports and socialising with friends is an important part of making and maintaining a home. New spaces or existing buildings have often been repurposed by Black and Asian communities as places of worship, youth clubs, and sports clubs.

People of colour living in England often find they are asked the question, "where are you from?" This seemingly innocent question is loaded with different meanings. Today many people of Black and Asian heritage, depending on their individual background, might see England as their only home or they may identify with multiple places. But for many there is no simple answer. Whatever the response, these perspectives enrich England's identity.

A Brief History of Black and Asian History in England
  • Origins

    England's modern multicultural population owes much to our imperial past.

  • Home

    When asked where we come from, our first thought is usually of what we consider to be home.

  • Work

    In the 1950s there were government led recruitment drives in former colonies.

  • Racism and Resistance

    People from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia were encouraged by government to come to England, but on arrival often faced racism and discrimination.

  • Culture

    The identities of people coming to England were and still are, as varied as the number of people arriving.

  • Place

    People migrating and settling in England have transformed our sense of place and our everyday experience of the world around us.