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Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and St Lucia are just a few of the Caribbean islands represented in London. The strength of Caribbean culture can be felt across the capital - from arts to food and language.

London would be quite different if Caribbean people had not come here. The relationship between the Caribbean and Britain has been long and sometimes troubled. The slave trade, and later the colonisation of the Caribbean by the British Empire has contributed greatly to the prosperity of Britain today.

London was often hostile to Caribbean immigrants

First encounters with London were often less than welcoming. New arrivals soon faced several hardships that they neither expected nor were prepared for. Finding a home or a room to rent was a difficult task for Caribbeans. Landlords would not rent to them and banks would not authorise their mortgage applications.

If they were to secure accommodation, then rooms were often in bad condition and they were charged extortionate rents. To overcome this, many Caribbean people started to use the "Partner" system, as they had done in the Caribbean. This allowed them to raise the capital to buy a home as a group.

For several years, living as a Caribbean person in London could be difficult. Police protection was not adequate and some black people experienced harassment from the police themselves. Caribbean children had to deal with verbal and physical abuse in the education system, which led to some not achieving their true potential.

A BBC London debate during Black History Month

The failure to achieve recognition in the mainstream press led to the launch of The Voice newspaper - one of the first aimed primarily at a black audience in Britain.  And frustration at the lack of information about their history and origins, led some Caribbeans to press for Black History Month, which has now become part of the established education calendar for many schools and institutions, every October. 

Education was hard won for Caribbean children here

Over half a century later, many people from the Caribbean consider London to be their home, and later generations are well-established in the capital. Brixton and Notting Hill were  probably the first areas to house Caribbeans.  To this day, Brixton is often considered the Caribbean Capital of Britain, but other areas, like Hackney, Harlesden, Lewisham and Peckham have strong links with the Caribbean, though the Caribbean influence is not confined to just a few areas, but spreads right across our city.

Diane Abbot, one of London's first Caribbean MPs

Over half a century since people from the Caribbean started to arrive in London in large numbers, their influence is widespread throughout London's social and cultural life.  A host of actors, musicians, presenters, sportspeople and politicians who are second and third generation Caribbeans, are dynamic role-models for future generations.