Title: | R1143 Esme Lancaster |
---|---|
Description: |
Birmingham Black Oral History Project R1143 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: Surnames The interviewer, Doreen, asks Esme to confirm her varying surnames. She then starts to talk about leaving England. Track 2 : Leaving England Esme talks about what she will miss about England when she leave, in particular church life. Track 3 : Jamacia Esme reminisces about the weather and moonlight in Jamacia. Track 4: South America Esme talks about her experience of living in South America. Track 5: Returning to Jamacia Esme talks about what it will be like to return to Jamacia, especially the food she was looking forward to eating. Track 6: School Games Esme returns to her school days and talks about being the smallest in the class. Track 7: School Games cont. Esme continues to talk about the games and activities she played as a child. Track 8: Dress Making Esme talks about making wedding dresses. Track 9: Church Processions Esme talks about the formation of the early Black churches and organising processions. Track 10: Poems Esme reads several poems that she wrote. |
Keywords: |
Birmingham Museums Trust/Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, British Empire, Sound Archive/ Oral History, Social history/ BBOHP, Black History/ Windrush, West Indies, Colonialism |
Usage Rights: | CC BY-NC 4.0 - Attribution-Non Commercial You are free to share & adapt this material. Credit: © Birmingham Museums Trust, shared under CC BY-NC 4.0 licence |