Reparation call is just

Ronald Mason

I never strongly felt the need to educate myself on the struggle that culminated in Emancipation. The cliché' about not knowing and understanding history would lead to us repeating events is acknowledged. However, the slavery events were so against the grain that a repeat in this era was always improbable.

On July 16, 2014 at 9 a.m., Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, chairman of the CARICOM Reparation Commission, ad-dressed Britain's House of Commons on the matter of reparation. I offer my sincere thanks for this. For me, it has caused the quest for more knowledge. These crimes of colonialism did not take place a long time ago. Those atrocities committed against a people uprooted and brought to our shores still have devastating after-effects today. Reparation is overdue.

The speech delivered to the House of Commons reawakened a desire to trace my ancestry. Was there a personal link? Was there the greater of the pain and suffering or the shame and disgrace? I have found, thanks to my aunt, that the family tree has been diagrammed. The ancestor most noteworthy for having migrated to Jamaica landed in 1729. This man was to lead to the birth of my mother and her six siblings.

On the paternal side, their role and place in Jamaica began by the entry of a male by way of indenture. He was to enter in the 1850s and resulted in the birth of my father. The fact that I am the descendant of slaves, the planter class and the indentured labour class is both inspiring and humbling. In every respect, this land of Jamaica is my land. I am historically tied to the good and the bad of it, and the resulting resilience is a source of pride.

This current Emancipation-Independence celebration has now taken more resonance. I have a stake and an even greater obligation. Now I understand better why one side of the family would think kindly towards the political party of the old planter class, and the other, unrepentant socialists who were so subjugated by the other. Now the family gatherings and even the frequent Sunday dinners, with their generous helping of politics, is better understood.

The matter of reparations has been discussed for some period of time, but it has never focused my mind. That was then. This is now. I will herein make references to excerpts from Professor Beckle's address. I give thanks and acknowledge his group's work.

British slave ships brought 5.5 million enslaved Africans into the Caribbean colonies over 180 years. At full freedom in 1838, there were just 800,000 persons remaining. That is a bare retention/survival rate of 15 per cent. That's truly a reflection of genocide. The record does not include the number of births during the 160 years that would have increased the number of Africans.

In the case of Jamaica, we received some 1.5 million Africans. Only 300,000 remained at August 1, 1838. The crime that resulted from the period of slavery must be addressed if we, as a people, whose hands are soiled with the blood of more than 1.5 millions persons each time we work the land, play on the land, dig housing foundations or graves. Reparation is overdue.

The crimes committed against the Jamaican people of African and Asian descent are well documented. We know of the 250 years of slave trading, chattel slavery, and the following 100 years of colonial oppression. Slavery ended only to be replaced by a century of racial apartheid, including the denigration of Asian people.

The trend continues to this day. The dictates of the old colonial powers are felt in our laws. A plantation-oriented education system was bequeathed to our present-day leaders, who have failed to radically overhaul it. Jamaica was left with 80 per cent black functional illiteracy at Independence in 1962.

The country struggles with development and poverty alleviation. Nationalism is but a veneer. Self-hatred, in the form of bleaching, is the order of the day. We have so much to overcome.

Reparation must take the form of laying a viable foundation to improve the prospects for growth and development. We do not need to be seduced by the offer of money. We do not need concessionary trade terms. We do not need any act of one-time benevolence.

We demand the foundation and infrastructure of a first-class education sector. Provide the full array of tools so we can accomplish the emancipation from mental slavery. In this regard, you will provide the necessities for us to free our minds.

We must, and we shall, overcome.

Ronald Mason is an immigration attorney-at-law, Supreme Court mediator, and talk-show host. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and nationsagenda@gmail.com.

Ronald Mason