Pauline Dawkins

The Left Behind Pauline Dawkins

Read the experiences and challenges of first generation Black British Caribbean children left behind in the 1950/60's and reconnected with parents many years later in the UK. Thousands of young men and women left the British Colonies in the Caribbean to provide much needed labour for the "mother country." The separation from their children was a sacrifice for what they thought would be one to five years. Many have never been back. Only an estimated fifty percent of the thousands of children left behind joined their parents between 7 and 12 years later. Reconciliation was not easy and many have never been able to truly bond with their parents and younger siblings born in the UK. The acceptance they sought was never given and many are left wondering either why they were left behind and what they had done to be marginalised. Some of the first young British Caribbean settlers have overcome the barrier created by the separation and gone on to lead very fruitful lives. However most bare the scars received in infancy that have never fully healed. This book takes you on a journey from the Caribbean islands to the UK and gives you are insight into family life for those who were economic migrants but most importantly the children who were left behind. This book is the first in the series.