| Title: | R1139 Esme Lancaster |
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| Description: |
Birmingham Black Oral History Project R1139 Oral History Interview - Esme Lancaster 01/02/1992 Interviewee: Esme Lancaster Interviewer: Doreen Price This is an oral history interview with Esme Lancaster, recorded in 1992, discussing her life in Jamaica and the UK. Esme lived in Jamaica until 18th December 1950 when she travelled to England with the aim of improving her education. She worked as a teacher, social worker and supported children and woman through playgroups and fostering. She spent time living in Bristol, Birmingham and South America, returning to Jamaica on occasion. These recordings include racially explicit content, including discussions of racism, prejudice and violence; and language and phrasing that we would not use today. Some of this content might be unsuitable for younger listeners or triggering for People of Colour. We recommend reading the description for each track before choosing to listen. Track 1: Great-Grandfather Cont. Esme continues to talk about her great-grandfather, discovering he was Ghanaian and sings a traditional religious song. Track 2: School Years Cont. Esme talks more about her early school years, discipline and the role of teachers. Track 3: Roles of Women and Men Esme talks about the roles of women and men at that time in Jamaica and then moves on to discuss her move to England. Track 4: Arriving in England Esme describes her first impressions of England. She discusses the weather, poor housing and social life. Track 5: Early Life in England Esme talks about her first experience of Winter and feeling homesick. Track 6: Racism in England Esme talks about starting her education and working life in England and her early experiences of racism. Track 7: Racism in England cont. Esme continues to talk about the racism she experienced in her working life and an experience when trying to seek healthcare. Track 8: Racism in England cont. Esme continues to talk about the racism she experienced in her working life and while studying. Track 9: Racism in England cont. Esme describes an incident with a teacher. Track 10: Racism in England cont. Esme continues to talk about the racism she experienced while studying in Bristol. She challenged her classmates to consider what life is like as the minority in a group. |
| Keywords: |
Birmingham Museums Trust/Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, British Empire, Sound Archive/ Oral History, Social history/ BBOHP, Social history/ Birmingham Black Oral History Project, Black History/ Windrush, West Indies, Colonialism |
| Usage Rights: | CC BY-NC 3.0 - Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 You are free to share & adapt this material. Credit: © Birmingham Museums Trust |
| Credit Line: | Birmingham Black Oral History Project |
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