'Africans in America' stimulates discussion

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Inspired by the United Nation's declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Persons of African Descent, the United States (US) Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, in celebration of Black History month made a conscious decision not to show light films this year.

Instead, the Embassy has decided to show the process by which an African-American President, Barak Obama, became possible. The award winning PBS four-part documentary series Africans in America was the chosen conduit.

Chapter 1 of Africans in America, 'The Terrible Transformation' began the celebration. It is a tapestry of interviews, voiceover and narrations; and paints a story of the supposedly almost idyllic life of early Africans and Europeans in the United States. However, upon its conclusion the attendees at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium on the campus of the Old Hope Road-based Jamaica College, seemed to have gleaned a lot more, and had Professor Rupert Lewis, retired lecturer of Political Thought in the Department of Government at the University of the West Indies, who was the evening's moderator, answering many questions.

Fittingly titled, 'The Terrible Transformation' began its historical journey in the 17th century.

varied commentary

With comments from writers, historians and political figures, the chapter unravels a life before institutionalised slavery takes shape.

As was the case in Jamaica, after setting up house, the mettle of the early European settlers was no match for the American climate and many died. But with the arrival of a "cargo of Africans", the labour force was strengthened.

The narrative of the early Africans continued in the story of one Antonio, the Negro, who later changed his name to Anthony Johnson. And after his death, the story shifted to the African continent with the autobiography of abolitionist, Olaudah Equiano.

After serving a period of servitude, Johnson purchased acres of lands and from historical record, he too employed servants including some whites.

But Johnson's story ran parallel to the political and social happenings in Virginia. And with a change in political climate, he moved from Virginia to Carolina. It is believed that as the European's desire for power and money grew Johnson's children or grandchildren may have been dragged into the claws of slavery.

Law after law tightened the noose around those of African descent as the appetite for more slaves grew. The documentary shifts to the Continent of Africa where the narrative of Equiano begins. The thoughts of a ship's captain, a ship's doctor and a slaver are also thrown into the mix.

thought-provoking screening

Chapter 1 stops short of Equiano's arrival in America.

The discussion that came after the 50-minute documentary proved that the screening was thought provoking.

The documentary activated the dialogue for reparation, the observation of the philosophy of the slavers, a relationship between the laws of slavery and the current Jamaican labour laws, the value of the film to Jamaicans as well as the desire to see a documentary "unearthing Jamaica's history depicting the inner works of Paul Bogle and Sam Sharp", said one gentleman.

In response to the film's relevance to Jamaica, Lewis explained that it was a part of the Jamaican experience "it is a part of the legacy of people who hate themselves and an understanding of the emotional link", he said.

While Yolanda Kerney, public affairs section chief at the United States Embassy, believed that the relevance of the documentary to Jamaicans will become more evident in parts two and three where planters on the mainland sent letters to their brothers and cousins in Jamaica requesting slaves with particular skills.

The documentary series will continue every Wednesday at the same venue during the month of February: Chapter 2 is titled 'Revolution', Chapter 3 'Brotherly Love' and the final chapter is titled 'Judgment Day'.