The Emancipation Wars

By: Onika Nkrumah

Emancipation was recently commemorated and predictably there was the usual outcry by its critics.

They continue to criticize, ridicule and question its relevance. 

Mocking the wearing of African garments and they even ask (like simpletons) why we need to celebrate something as brutal as slavery in the first place? 

Conveniently, choosing to ignore that we aren’t celebrating slavery at all, we are commemorating an important milestone in our history and we are celebrating freedom and its possibilities.

It is said that those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it.

The Japanese recently commemorated the bombing of Hiroshima.

The Jews remember the Holocaust.

No one would dare to question their right to mark their individual tragedies in whatever way they deem fit, but everybody has something to say about Emancipation.

Why do some people feel so affronted and threatened by any show of black strength and unity?  Yuh would swear that somebody cuss they mudder!

This year’s Emancipation activities were a great success.

I saw quite a few whites and Indians participating in the parade, celebrating as fellow Trinidadians. 

The reason that they were able to be so supportive is because they are secure in their own identity and understand fully that Emancipation is not a ‘racial’ thing, it is not something that is a threat to them or their race.

But always there are those who condemn and criticize.

They seek to over-simplify, querying the “ritual” of donning African wear once a year. 

Overlooking that it is a mere expression of solidarity (I could just as well celebrate in European wear).

As a schoolchild, I bought a red poppy, once a year, to celebrate Remembrance day.

I  would wear a pink ribbon to show that I support the work of the Cancer or Aids activists.

I would wear a black or red ribbon to show my defiance against the crime rate or drive with my headlights on to show support for the Keith Noel or Sean Luke situation. 

So what is the problem if I choose to wear African clothes as a show of solidarity and a mark of respect, even if it is for one day?!

I have never heard similar criticism of other ethnic dress.

Clearly, Emancipation critics are afraid of something.

Funnily enough I don’t even think that they know what, for it is an auto-conditioned fear, a knee-jerk reaction towards anything approaching black empowerment.

These Emancipation critics have a nerve! 

I mean what does it matter if black people wear African clothing, once, twice or 365 days of the year?  It’s our own damned business. 

There are very few people, whether Indian, Chinese or otherwise that wear traditional ethnic clothes on a daily basis.

All races have adapted European wear for ease of use, whereas traditional clothing tends to be used on ceremonial or special occasions.

These critics need to crawl out from under their rocks more often, then they would realize that African clothes isn’t reserved only for Emancipation, it is now the choice of many elegant ladies on special occasions, like weddings, corporate events, funerals and steadily growing in popularity.

In the 08/06/06 Sunday Guardian, Clevon Raphael did an interview with Kafra Kambon, chairman of the Emancipation Support Committee.

The tone of the interview seemed to be confrontational, a tired hallmark of a tabloid-style journalist.

He asks: “Mr. Kambon so you and your ESC have perpetuated this annual charade…” 

Obviously, Emancipation has no relevance for Mr. Raphael on any level, as black as he is.

Ironically, he adds “do you think the black man is his own greatest enemy…lack of respect for each other. Not being able to come together?”

Clearly, Mr Raphael has unwittingly answered his own feeble question.

He expects unity when as a black man, he can’t even grasp the relevance of Emancipation celebrations (or maybe he understands it only too well)!

Raphael goes on deceitfully to ask why the “ESC cannot mount an anti-crime campaign in Morvant/Laventille, where blacks are wantonly killing each other”.

This man expects the ESC to achieve what successive Governments have failed to do.

I wonder what is the African equivalent for a neemakharam?

In the same edition, Martin George in his ‘Emancipation Dream’ article, put his poetic prowess to work in rubbishing Emancipation and black people.

In his dream, he wanders to and fro, but couldn’t see Emancipation anywhere because Blacks are not the financial giants and business owners in this country. 

He “stood apart” looking on mockingly at “these Emancipation games”.

A cobeau straight out of the Beetham landfill couldn’t have been more gloomy.

I seriously doubt that Mr George has been to an Emancipation parade for there is no “wine and jam” there only dignified ‘chipping’ to the music.

None of these men use their journalistic ‘gifts’ to contribute to a positive black self-image in the media.

Yet Raphael and his ilk ask, what is the ESC doing for black youth? 

I pose another question, what are they doing?

Imagine ‘journalists’ like these who could better use their unique access to the media to contribute and influence, choosing instead only to rip apart!

Obviously, unskilled in the art of constructive criticism, like failed architects they choose instead to demolish and destroy what others are trying to build.

There’s a song by Anthony Ash that goes “I rather be a shadow in the dark than a big fool in spotlight…they have a plan to keep we blind and foolish…deaf and dumb”. 

Very often the oppressor has a familiar face!

Martin George goes on like a “mook” to complain that “the ones who celebrate Emancipation the most are the ones who are not yet free”. 

Church is always for the sinners not so much for the saints.  Keep on dreaming, George, I hope that you never wake up to a nightmare or worse yet, die in your sleep!

After all his materialistic focus on what Blacks lack, I do hope that both George and Raphael own something of significant worth, other than their poison pens.

All this colossal criticism for Emancipation, Kambon and the ESC, yet none of these people doing anything to organize, educate or mobilize blacks in this country.

It’s so easy to point fingers and say it isn’t enough, meanwhile the ESC trods on with few resources, a part time staff and little corporate sponsorship.

I am an advocate for shifting the focus towards nurturing a daily culture of economic self-sufficiency in blacks. 

Our history we must never forget but there are more lessons crucial to our daily existence that we need to learn.

All the psychological warfare in the world will not stop truth or the movement, Pearl Eintou Springer’s poem says it best “And still… we will come”.