First Born Second

Description

Join us as we explore the question: What does it mean to grow up in the two worlds of Caribbean heritage and 1970s and 1980s British society?

When our Caribbean parents answered post-war Britain’s global call to rebuild, they fought for quiet survival. We were born into the crossfire: the first generation born Black and British. Raised at a profound intersection of cultures, continents, and contradictions, the "First Born Second" generation turned trauma into triumph and redefined what it means to be British.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Michelle Pascal (Fam Films) and co-produced by Writer and Curator Roger Griffith and his Creative Connex Team, First Born Second is a raw, triumphant, and deeply personal documentary exploring the joy, pain, and enduring legacy of growing up Black in 1970s and 1980s Britain.

From navigating the racial flashpoints of street skinheads and discriminatory "SUS Laws" to breaking historic barriers – on Olympic tracks, in television newsrooms, inside law enforcement, and strengthening local communities with the scars of the British 1980s Uprisings – this feature documentary captures six powerful Bristol-linked voices. Together, they chart an unapologetic journey from the shadow of the Windrush to the frontlines of cultural leadership, leaving a lasting legacy.

Our parents laid the foundations. We broke open the doors.

Creative Connex and Fam Films are proud to present First Born Second: Voices of the Children of the Windrush Era. Featuring insights from cultural leaders, academics, elite athletes, and broadcasters – including Latoyah McAllister Jones, Prof. Shawn Sobers, Sherrie Eugene-Hart, Beverly Douglas, Delroy Hibbert, Vernon Samuels, and Roger Griffith MBE – this landmark documentary examines how a generation navigated systemic hostility to build lasting civic leadership and creative innovation.

Programme

Arrivals and introductions – 18:00-18:15

Film (45 mins) – 18:15-19:00

Panel – 19:00-19:25

Open discussion and questions – 19:25-19:45

Close and networking – 19:45 onwards