Merlita

Merlita is originally from Barbados.  She has worked most of her life as a nurse in South London. She is married with four kids and her husband works on the busses.

“When I was at the airport in Barbados all the other nurses cried except me. My mother made me take two coats even though it was so hot while we waited for the plane. None of the other girls had coats and they were all freezing by the time we got to NY and then the UK. I gave a coat to one of the girls and she became the girl that my brother married.

We did not get the welcome we expected. I was surprised to see the signs in the windows saying, ‘No Blacks, no Irish and no dogs.’ Britain is worse now than when we arrived  - The hardship, the murders, the killing of the youngsters. When we first came to this country, we used to leave our front door open when you were sitting in your living room - you don’t have to think of fear. Now when you walk on the street it’s frightening. You can be walking at night and you hear a voice say, “Hello” - It’s just somebody speaking on their mobile phone - but it scares you.”