Emancipate Lady Musgrave

By Jaevion Nelson

Can we retreat to the real Jamaica that is not as 'triumphant, proud, free' as we would like to think now that the Emancipendence is over? It's not that I am not ecstatic about our emancipation from slavery and our independence from Britain. It's the simple fact that we have held aspects of our colonisation with a firm grip to our bosom as if they are necessary relics of our past.

I realised not much 'spruc[ing] up' was done to give Jamaican 'people power' when I read some bits of the Gleaner feature, Pieces of the Past, which was written by Dr Rebecca Tortello. But I should know better because, as my friend Javed Jaghai posited, "We adopted Britain's laws and institutions and even had their monarchy preside over our independence ceremonies in 1962."

I'd much rather celebrate the strength and resilience of our foreparents and learn about the injustice meted out to them when they were forcibly brought to Jamaica than be constantly reminded of what Britain 'bequeathed'. I'd be pleased if the period 1962-2013 was used to create a Jamaica for Jamaicans where the names of places, roads, buildings, etc. was even a tad more appreciative of our blackness beyond some special days we set aside each year. Perhaps Las May should have added our colonial past to his (controversial) cartoon on August 1.

This is the extent of my problem. In a country where more than 92 per cent of the near 2.7 million of us are black (on varying levels to appreciate the importance of shadism), there is a road in St Andrew which was built for ONE white woman - Lady Musgrave - to protect her from being further offended by ONE black man's wealth.

Here is the story. Devon House, a national monument and one of our most celebrated landmarks, was built around 1881 by Charles P. Lazarus and was the property of George Stiebel, Jamaica's first black millionaire. Stiebel was one of three wealthy Jamaicans who constructed massive homes in what was once known as 'Millionaires Corner' (found at the corner of Trafalgar Road and Hope Road).

I won't go into the details about how Stiebel managed to be a rich black man beyond mentioning his earnings from his shipping business and gold mining in Venezuela. He reportedly bought 99 properties when he returned to Jamaica in 1873.

Stiebel, who quit school at age 14 to become an apprentice carpenter because of bullying as a 'consequence' of his mixed (Jamaican and Jew) parentage, essentially placed himself among the elites at a time when it was uncommon for black people to be wealthy.

Apparently Stiebel's wealth made the wife of the governor, Sir Anthony Musgrave, who served between 1877 and 1883, very uncomfortable. To address this, (it is rumoured that) Lady Musgrave Road - which extends from the intersection of Old Hope Road and Swallowfield Road to the intersection of Hope Road and East Kings House Road, to 'circuitously bypass' Devon House, was built at the wife's request.

According to Visit Jamaica, "At the time of the road's construction, King's House was the official residence of the governor of Jamaica. The main route from King's House to the busy districts of Cross Roads and downtown Kingston was along Hope Road, past Devon House", but the governor's wife refused to drive past there because she was reportedly offended 'that a black man had managed to build such a prominent house (Devon House) in close proximity to the governor's residence.'

I read somewhere that the governor himself had his own prejudices and preconceived notions about black people before arriving here. So (in my view), Lady Musgrave Road may not have been solely because of his wife.

It is very offensive that this road name still exists. I understand it may not be a problem for many of us because we have (somewhat?) accepted and are comfortable with the socio-economic constructs that continue to divide us vis-à-vis class. But what is the purpose of reminding us that someone thought it was offensive that we could be so economically empowered?

What is the purpose of being free; of being independent; if not to rid ourselves of as many of the demarcations of privilege and status as possible so that we can all "reconstruct our society so that all Jamaicans can meaningfully participate in the economic life of the nation." (Portia Simpson Miller)?

I echo the prime minister's call in her Independence Day message that we should "work towards creating a just, equitable, harmonious, productive and confident people" so every Jamaican can be "accorded respect and feels a sense of belonging to our society".

Jaevion Nelson is a youth development, HIV and human rights advocate. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and jaevion@gmail.com.