JUST under one week ago was the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. Some avoid thinking about slavery and anything connected with that period of history (or twistory). This may be from feeling "hurted" or "ashamed?
" or just being fearful that looking back could stir up angry and violent reactions. To "emancipate yourself from mental slavery" as Bob Marley sang, means researching, reading and learning about our history, whatever your race. Then, examining what attitudes and behaviours might be connected to it, ridding yourself of shame, prejudices and vengeful feelings, and moving on as an independent, free human being.
Going through such a process enables you to see every human being as just that, and you stop jumping to conclusions about other people because of their appearance, socio/economic status, nationality, and such, and base your judgements on how they act, communicate and think. When you can accept that the soul has no colour, sex, race or nationality and see the inner spirit in everyone, then you can truly understand the expression One Love, One Heart. Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson used the phrase at the Cricket World Cup opening, and then invited all to "Come to Jamaica and Feel Alright!
". A letter writer bemoaned the absence of a formal preacher at the event but the lyrics of Jamaica's National Anthem are like unto a hymn. And One Love is at the heart of every religion, including Christianity, never mind how the snobby separatists attempt to own God, and tell you it is only through their religion, denomination or church that you can be "saved".
Mmmmm. I wonder how God was saving people before they came on earth? Maybe religious "superiority" and churchified arrogance is something they think of as a good quality, but when it is carried to the extreme, it results in oppression, persecution, torture and killing, in God's name!
No wonder Jesus wept! So I challenge readers on the occasion of the bicentennial of the abolition to think about slavery-not only of the transatlantic variety, but also of existing slavery in Africa, including child labour and sex slavery; and similar human trafficking and exploitation in other countries, such as the former USSR countries where sex slavery abounds. To understand the rich mixture of Caribbean history, one also has to go behind the colonial and slavery experience to the way some of my native Indian ancestors were treated.
Their naturally free way of life made them resist slavery, whether by other tribes or the white invaders. Many thousands died rather than be enslaved. Genocide or suicide?
In addition to bringing African slaves here, Europeans also brought indentured workers from Asia (more of my ancestors), and sent white "criminals" to work off their "debt to society". Some of them were guilty only of stealing bread. The past experiences of our ancestors and the combined cultural influences made the Caribbean rich in spirit, enjoying more freedom than many other parts of the world.
So in spite of all the reasons for hating slavery, and even if we never get economic recompense, we can relish our freedom today.
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