The Government of Jamaica is embarking on a “celebration” of the departure of the HMT Empire Windrush from Jamaican shores, carrying over 1,000 passengers, more than half of them Jamaican and the remainder from Bermuda, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, and other countries. The Windrush dropped anchor in Tilbury, Essex, UK on June 21, 1948. The well-dressed passengers were full of hope for a better life; we have seen the photographs of their eager young faces.

As Iwrote for Global Voices just five years ago, the legacy of the Windrush has been a painful one. The UK Guardian is to be commended for its persistent, in depth coverage of the issue, and you may find a collectionof their stories here. Please also read my friend Dr. Anne Bailey’s thoughts on the Windrush here. What is “home”?

But is this really a Foreign Affairs issue for diplomats? Is it, indeed…