Brick Lane has been described by many as the ‘heartland’ of the Bangladeshi community in Britain, representing five decades of the struggle to belong and be recognised as part of the global city of London and the wider multicultural nation. Perhaps the most visible testament to this presence is ‘Banglatown’ – the short stretch of Bangladeshi-owned curry restaurants, cafés and other retail spaces that crowd the southern end of Brick Lane.  The story of Bengali Brick Lane is a lens onto a vibrant but little-known history of the East End, of London, of Britain and its former empire – which is one strand in the tapestry of modern multicultural, post-imperial Britain. It is a story, too, of the street itself, and its iconic place within London and Britain’s history of migration.

Beginning with our early migration history, as our ancestors spread across a world where there were no borders, no nations, no ideas about who belongs where, the film moves through our more recent history of displacement. At the end, our shared human story is told by a young man seeking somewhere safe to live. On the way, we see that fear of  migrants has a long history, and that humans form communities where they care for one another, whether these are settled (rooted, like forest trees) or migrant (like birds). Implicit in the film is the understanding that, if we go back far enough, we find we are all actually related. In fact, we are all descended from people from all parts of the world, and we only need to go back 3,400 years to find the common ancestor of everyone alive today.

It can be a struggle to answer the inevitable question: ‘Where are you from?’ when you’re not quite sure. A young woman of mixed heritage searches for an answer by looking back over three generations of her family. Documents, family stories and of course the British staple of tea and biscuits help her figure out a way to reply.

A personal look at questions of identity, at a time where migration, political isolation and reclaiming history are hot topics. Is it important to look to your own past in order to better respond to wider issues present today?

There’s no quick or foolproof way to talk about the complexities of race. But, it’s a conversation we all need to have, no matter your race, background, education or experience. What and how the history of race in America is presented is an opportunity to engage in thoughtful, respectful, and productive conversations. Let’s get started, continue, or expand the conversation together.

The Lost Jews Education Pack offers an accessible introduction to the topic and a range of creative activities responding to the Sephardi legacy. Each of the main sections includes an info sheet, activity sheet and creative writing task template.

Exploring our family history can help us uncover amazing things about our family and ancestors and these stories often feature migration. Here is a helpful guide to help you begin to explore your family tree and the stories hidden within. How much do you know about your parents, grandparents or relatives? Do you have someone in your family who migrated somewhere? We have created some questions for you to ask your relatives. You will also find a family tree outline to print off and fill in! You can even pin stories, drawings and photos to illustrate it. Fill in the names and draw the connecting lines – or draw your own tree. We have also highlighted some great online resources to help you dig even further. In these times of social isolation, it is more important than ever to reach out to those you can’t see via phone or video chat. And being at home for an extended period of time is a great opportunity to find out more about your family and relatives. Tell us who you got in touch with and what type of technology you used to do it.

Hollie McNish performs her poem, Mathematics. A poem on immigration based on personal experience and studies. The poem owes a lot to a book by economist Philippe Legrain called Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them. We think this works really well as a starter or plenary

Child Migrant Stories draws on the experiences of people who migrated under the age of 18 from across the world to East London from 1930 to the present day. Some came on their own; others came with, or to join family members who they may not have seen for years. Their stories are of loss and reunion but of resilience too, often in the face of war, poverty and discrimination. They are poignant, powerful and sometimes very funny.

The profiles of the people who generously participated in this project came from Turkey, Cyprus, Brazil, El Salvador, Poland, Italy, Southern Ireland, Vietnam, Jamaica, Antigua, Guinea, Nigeria, Rwanda, Yemen, Somalia, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan at different ages between 5 and 17. Some experiences, drawing on child migrants’ own words, have been highlighted in Spotlight Stories. Four films, developed in collaboration with former child migrants and drawing on their creativity, bring these experiences vividly to life through image, music and art.

The Child Migrant Stories teaching resources have been developed with and for educators for use in classrooms, heritage sites and other informal learning spaces across the UK.

Click here to view and download resources.

A scheme of work across five lessons supporting the English Language assessment objectives for GCSE. Follow English teacher Hassan, from Syria, as he leaves his war-torn country and attempts to travel to the UK. Using phone cameras, interviews and voiceover, the BBC documentary series shines a light on the untold story of the migrant crisis. His story— dramatic and dismaying by turn—will enable students to practise a range of reading, writing and listening skills while building their understanding of a critical issue affecting people across the world today.

This 8-minute introduction to International Migration gives an overview of the history of migration, keywords and push and pull factors in the context of the European Union. Recommended as a starter activity in lessons or as part of a unit about migration in Geography/History/Citizenship.

From Joern Barkemeyer and Jan Kuenzl

Click here for more information about the project WissensWerte