Need a Sam Sharpe now

By Devon Dick

Recently, Professor Verene Shepherd, historian, et al, in urging Jamaicans to be educated about reparations, stated that "the relationship between historical injustices, persistent poverty as well as diminishing opportunities and development is not well understood by many Jamaicans." (Gleaner, August 3). Similarly, many Jamaicans fail to perceive the connection between corruption and our standard of living."

The National Integrity Action is to be commended for its public education campaign that demonstrates the connection between corruption and jobs/investment. Greg Christie, the former contractor general, was an advocate for Jamaicans to get value on contracts costing billions. Peter Bunting, minister of national security, has been the leading voice in the Cabinet articulating the stark figures of how corruption has hindered our collective standard of living.

Unfortunately, many still do not understand how National Hero Sam Sharpe could motivate and inspire a wide cross section of citizens to become a peaceful, prosperous country and make Brand Jamaica respected internationally.

Sharpe could be an inspiration for the youths who are told that they should be seen and not heard and who, therefore, stay on the periphery of politics and hang on the corner feeling powerless and alienated from the system.

When Sharpe decided to make a difference, he was a young man. Biblical scholar Larry Kreitzer, of University of Oxford, in his manuscript, Kissing the Book (2012), drew from court documents to show that Sharpe was 27 years old. "He was not as old as is depicted in the picture we have of him. He is a hero for young Jamaicans, telling them that they can make a difference in this island."

DIVINE DESTINY

Slavery declared Sharpe a nobody. "However, he knew he was made in the image of God and was not inferior or superior to anyone." He was literate and was able to deduce these positions by his reading of scriptures and understanding of God.

Too often, many young people conceive of the Bible as some airy-fairy book far removed from reality and which does not address today's complex and seemingly intractable problems. However, the Bible points to godly principles to guide decision making, to lead to a fulfilled life, and to responsible behaviour of loving neighbour as self.

Sharpe is not only a motivator for young people, but can be an inspiration to a nation still struggling with a violent culture. Slavery was inherently violent as practised in the British West Indies. Therefore, the choice facing Sharpe was whether to respond with violence or to find another path to protest for freedom, wages and leave entitlement.

Sharpe, long before Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian anti-colonialist, and Martin Luther King, United States civil-rights leader, agitated for passive, non-violent resistance. Though some prosecution witnesses claimed that Sharpe carried a 'fowler piece' (pistol), there was at least one prosecution witness at the 1832 court trial with a different testimony, not to mention other evidence from missionary documents.

The recent killings at a church altar and killings of women and children signify a step into depravity. We need to find peaceful ways to settle differences in families, politics, schools and communities. Sharpe offers a paradigm for this time which could make a significant reduction in our murder rate.

SHARP WAS AN EXAMPLE

Sharpe's legacy offers important lessons in international relations. "He was for cooperation between oppressors and oppressed, based on equality of all and justice for all." There was no room for exploitation. Otherwise, it would mean that former colonies should not be part of the Commonwealth on the basis that British monarchy, jurisprudence, culture and values are necessarily superior to ours.

We need a Sam Sharpe who, by word and deed, will lead us to a peaceful and prosperous Jamaica.

The Rev Dr Devon Dick is an author and Baptist pastor. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.