Sligoville – The roots of freedom

In the cool hills of Sligoville, history does not whisper, it speaks with clarity. Established in 1834, this hillside settlement is recognised as the first free village in the Caribbean. Its founding by Rev James Phillippo marked more than a geographic milestone. It signalled a profound shift in education and social development from plantation dependency to autonomous community-building.

Sligoville emerged in the immediate aftermath of Emancipation at a time when formerly enslaved Jamaicans were navigating the uncertain terrain between apprenticeship and true liberty. Phillippo, a Baptist missionary, envisioned land ownership as both a shield and a springboard, protecting individuals from economic coercion and providing a platform for dignity. Families purchased small plots, built homes, cultivated crops, and, crucially, invested in schooling and faith institutions. Freedom was not merely declared at the emancipation gates. It had to be constructed, board by board, in villages like this.

Today, the ruins of Highgate House stand as a solemn classroom. Once part of the plantation infrastructure, its weathered stones now form a visual syllabus on transformation. Adjacent, the Sligoville Heritage Park preserves memory while inviting reflection. These spaces embody the educational pivot from enforced labour to self-determined growth. The curriculum shifted from survival under compulsion to literacy, land stewardship, entrepreneurship, and collective responsibility.

A lesser-known historical fact deepens the narrative. Sligoville was named for Marquis of Sligo, the then-governor of Jamaica, who advocated for the termination of the apprenticeship system that followed slavery. His stance aligned, in principle, with the village’s purpose: dismantling structures that prolonged bondage in all but name.

For Black History Month, Sligoville offers more than commemoration. It offers instruction. The path of determination. The path of conviction. The path chosen and the path that can still be changed. Our ancestors understood that freedom required deliberate action: pooling resources, building institutions, nurturing families, and educating children. They became architects of their own trajectory.

We, too, are the path itself. At any moment, we can redirect it towards peace, towards understanding, towards service. Community is not accidental. It is constructed through love, honesty, trust, and shared labour. It is built when we choose to serve family, friends, and neighbours. It thrives when good vibes are not seasonal but sustained.

When we reflect, may we be able to say, “Yes, I have done it my way” not in isolation but in solidarity. Let love ring in our hearts not just today but always. For in Sligoville’s stones and stories, we learn this enduring lesson: freedom may be won in law, but it is secured in community. Choose your path carefully with love and giving. You will feel and experience the reward.

Contributed by Dr Lorenzo Gordon, a diabetologist, internal medicine consultant, biochemist, and a history and heritage enthusiast. Send feedback to inspiring876@gmail.com.