Planting Roots: Sandra’s Story
From Kingston to Bradford, Sandra Brown shares her journey of finding community, connection and a new home in Bradford’s Afro-Caribbean community.
A film sharing Sandra Brown’s journey from growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, to building a new life in Bradford. After moving between Jamaica and Bradford, Sandra eventually settled in the city, finding a sense of belonging through Bradford’s vibrant music scene and becoming part of its Caribbean community.
Credits and Links
Running time: 4:35 minutes
Filmmaker: Michael McCabe
This film is part of Making Bradford Home: short films sharing stories of migration, memory and family photographs.
Commissioned by Impressions Gallery for Bradford Family Album digital archive, celebrating people who have made Bradford their home.
Special thanks to Sandra Brown for generously sharing your treasured photographs and stories.
We would like to thank Lorna James and the African Caribbean Wellbeing Café for your contribution to the Bradford Family Album project and introducing us to Sandra Brown.
Bradford Family Album archive was originally commissioned as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
© Impressions Gallery 2026
Explore stories through film
Making Bradford Home: short films sharing stories of migration, memory and family photographs.
Delve deeper into the stories behind the photographs, watch this series of four short films by Bradford-based filmmaker Michael McCabe, and explore stories of migration and belonging from Bradford’s Latvian, South Asian, Bangladeshi, Afro-Caribbean and Irish Catholic communities.
Made to Fit: Shaheen and Samina’s Stories
Growing up in 1970s Bradford, Shaheen and Samina reflect on how making their own clothes helped them express their evolving identities.
Never Far from Home: Stories from The Bradford Latvian Club
Three Latvian families the Harrissons, Berzins and Dzerins share stories of making Bradford home and keeping Latvian culture alive at The Bradford Latvian Club.
Planting Roots: Sandra’s Story
From Kingston to Bradford, Sandra Brown shares her journey of finding community, connection and a new home in Bradford’s Afro-Caribbean community.
Two Worlds One Street: Rachel and Luna’s Story
A film celebrating Rachel and Luna’s lifelong friendship, which began growing up side by side on Mavis Street in Bradford.
About the archive
Find out more about the making of the archive and the people who made it possible.
Find out more