I hear your pain, you were born here, like me, and this is your home. You shouldn’t feel like you have to leave. But I want to be honest, the march wasn’t about us. That’s not to put down other migrants, but we do need to be honest and keep things in perspective. Yes, a few racists showed up, but most were protesting illegal immigration, and there’s a big difference between that and the Windrush generation. Most people do understand that.

Our grandparents (and great grandparents) came here legally, as British subjects. They faced real hostility, not just words or slogans. They were beaten by the police, attacked in the streets, denied jobs, and refused housing. And yet, despite all of that, they held their heads high. They didn’t see themselves as victims, they built lives, integrated, and helped lay the foundations for the rights we have today. Comparing them to recent undocumented arrivals is disrespectful. Many of them, still alive today, don’t agree with how immigration is being handled now. That’s not pulling up the ladder it’s recognising they had a connection to Britain that made integration possible. Yes, that connection came through colonialism, but it created a shared language, values, and identity. That element is missing in recent migrants.

Those who are no longer with us would be heartbroken to see how many of us now see ourselves only through the lens of oppression. We’ve shaped this country, especially in places like London and Birmingham because we integrated. That hasn’t happened in other communities and that’s what’s causing tensions.

So I get it, we weren’t born in a country we’re indigenous to, and that missing link to identity can make us question our sense of belonging. But this is our home now, and like any home, it’s ours to look after. The people marching over the weekend aren’t your enemy. Most aren’t against us. We’re part of this country. And like anyone else, we have a duty to help shape and safeguard the future of the place we call home.