moved to England. I felt like I ruled the school, rolling in with 3 generations of Weekes'. This was a good day. Once everyone had got their heads that there was not television when she was growing up, then it became a learning curve for us because we were getting a real life account from one of the (according The National Archives)' over half a million people left their homes in the West Indies to live in Britain. These people changed the face of modern Britain. They were all British citizens and, although they had never lived in Britain before, they had the right to enter, work and settle here if they wanted to.'
This statement kind of blows me away because the current climate on immigration. That millions of people from 'West Indies' - which is a slave term in itself, were asked, yes asked to move to the UK to live and work. Gogo had to leave her home and moved to a cold, racist, foreign land. Gogo's sister left for England in 1956 and encouraged Gogo to make the move. At this point Gogo was a single parent of two, she was willing to make this dramatic change to better the lives of her children, two years later. Her youngest was 8 months and she had to leave them both with her mother. The next time she saw them was 7 years later. Everyone in my class wrote her thank you letters which really moved her and she still gets them out to show people on special occasions.
IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WOULD YOU WANT ME AND LOIS (MY YOUNGER SISTER) TO GET MARRIED?
G - In an ideal world, I'd like ya'll to get married but if your not getting married, that's entirely up to you.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT US TO GET MARRIED?
G - Because that's my way, because that's my way. In my day, everybody wanted to get married but nowadays, nobody wants to get married.
WHY?
G - The financial situation. The men went to work, while the women look after the kids, but nowadays it is that both people go to work.
Y - You did not have a happy time in your marriage?
G - No. I had to stick it until my children reached a certain age. I chucked her father out when she (my mum) was 14. I had to push him out, was a waste of time.
L - Speak it sister!
Y - So then why would you want me and Lois to get married?
G - Not want to... but it would be (face lights up, beaming) nice to.. (Gestures with hands)
L - ...Be at the wedding
G - Yeah! I would want a big wedding. Like me, I had 250 guests.
Y - Yeah I don't want to get married
L - Errgh I wouldn't mind it, I don’t want to have a marriage, because that's just extra paper work to get a divorce but a wedding, oh yeah!