Introduction
Birmingham has a long history of migration and settlement. Centuries before the docking of the Empire Windrush people came to the 'city of one thousand trades' for many reasons and from many parts of the world. Larger numbers of migrants came during the 1950s - 70s from the former Commonwealth, Ireland and China and this significant movement of people was to change the landscape of the city forever. Today, the city continues to offer a home to people from many different backgrounds who, due to either choice or necessity, have made their way to Birmingham.
In these pages we will look at the journeys that migrants have undertaken during the post-war period and the various structures they have established in order to settle and make Birmingham the place they call home. In tracing these journeys it is important to consider how newcomers have been received by local people and institutions, and the way in which migrants have responded to the inequities of the situations they have been faced with. The subject of migration requires us to think not only about people who have made national or international journeys to cities like Birmingham but also the very nature of life in Birmingham. The city, as well as being in a state of constant change as a global city, is also home to a population that moves and a home to those without a 'home.'
Various archival sources can help us trace these many journeys and stories. Not only do these sources show us how communities and identities have developed since the 1950s but they also provoke ideas about both the representation of migrant communities and our enduring history. Archives, in particular the oral history and photographic archives, provide evidence about the past which can be used to challenge the way people have been portrayed by the media, 'official' reports and the history books. Archives thus provide an opportunity for people to claim back the power to represent themselves. Many of the stories that are told in these pages are stories which have been silent for many years. They are stories told in the words and images of those who have themselves experienced the long (or not so long) journey to Britain and they form part of the city's living history to which many of its present citizens are closely connected. Uncovering this history can help us understand the city's unique identity and what it means to be a 'Brummie' in the 21st century.
Read on and you will find out how people who have migrated to the city have carved out a place for themselves and 'found their voice' in Birmingham.
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Author: Sarah Dar
Main Image: Photograph by George Hallett [City Archives: MS 2249]
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