Call for a new collection of Windrush-Era Stories for a new anthology to mark 60 years of the Race Relations Act

A landmark national anthology is calling for written and illustrated contributions to celebrate Britain’s Windrush generations to share their untold stories. The collection will mark the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Race Relations Act, a pivotal moment in the UK’s civil rights history. 

Titled First Born Second: Voices of the Children of the Windrush Era, the anthology will be published in October 2026 and forms the centrepiece of an artistic programme of films, exhibitions, talks and workshops. Curated by writer, lecturer and social activist Roger Griffith’s community consultancy Creative Connex CIC, the project celebrates the lived experiences, cultural contributions and everyday realities of these untold stories.  

Creative Connex is inviting original, unpublished submissions from writers, artists and storytellers from all backgrounds. Contributions may include short stories, poetry, personal essays, memoir excerpts or visual artworks. Selected contributors will receive a £100 honorarium and have their work published alongside some of the UK’s most celebrated Black British writers and cultural figures. 

Roger Griffith said, “This is not only an invitation to share stories, it is an opportunity to shape the cultural and historical record. The First Born, Second generation and their descendants are witnesses to a vital era in British history. From the world of their parents' homelands to the new lives they made in Britain, they forged a brand new identity. This anthology offers a global platform to be heard, recognised and remembered.” 

Contributors are encouraged to explore a wide range of themes, from personal identity, joy and cultural pride to struggle, activism and resistance to racism. Submissions may draw on everyday experiences, such as education, housing, work, music, food, faith, friendship, and family life, or reflect on pivotal moments in Black British history. These could include 

events such as the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott, the New Cross Fire, the Brixton uprisings and the broader evolution of Black British cultural expression. 

The First Born Second programme is an act of recognition, preserving and celebrating the stories of the generations who followed the brave Caribbean pioneers whose contributions have often gone unacknowledged in mainstream narratives.

Submissions should be sent by email to firstbornsecond.cc@gmail.com, with the subject line ‘FBS writing & artist anthology submission’. All work must be original and previously unpublished. 

The closing date for submissions is Friday, 2nd January 2026 and selected contributors will be notified by Sunday, 1st February 2026. Full submission guidelines and criteria can be found on Creative Connex website. 

For more information or enquiries, contact infocreativeconnex@gmail.com. Or visit the website for requirements on submissions: Call-out for writing & artistic work for our anthology.