Vincentian joins pioneering master’s programme in reparatory justice

A Vincentian woman began studies this week, leading to a master’s degree in reparatory justice, as the global campaign for financial reparations for transatlantic slavery gathers momentum.

Vakeesha John of Layou is the only Vincentian in the first cohort of the world’s first master’s degree in reparatory justice which has been launched by Glasgow University, in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Glasgow University is one of a number of universities to have researched the extent to which they were funded by or supported slavery. A year-long study established that although the university took an anti-slavery position during the 18th and 19th centuries, it benefited from the equivalent of tens of millions of pounds donated from the profits of slavery.

The UWI is a world-leader in academic research underpinning claims for reparations for slavery. The course will focus on the Caribbean but will also draw on case studies of campaigns for reparative justice elsewhere in the world.

Dr Christine Whyte, a lecturer in global history and co-founder of the Beniba centre for slavery studies at Glasgow University, told the Guardian newspaper: “Claims for reparations for historical slavery have never been more prominent and never been closer to success.

“What our programme aims to do is uncover and explore the historical legacies that led to these claims, investigate the different legal, political and social means of making those claims, and give students the skills to go out into different workplaces and try to redress historical injustices.”

Of the nine students in the first cohort, John is enrolled at the UWI Cave Hill campus in Barbados, while Jheanelle M Owens will be based at the UWI Mona campus in Jamaica. The other students will be based in Glasgow.

John told SEARCHLIGHT that as soon as the master’s programme was advertised, it connected with her and the passion she has for empowering Black people.

“I knew I had to do more than advocate on an informal level. I realised that this course would equip and prepare me to engage in this most relevant conversation of reparations … and would enable me to increase awareness of slavery, its effects on post-colonial societies and the need for reparations.”

She said the programme is important to her because of her personal journey within the academic, political and professional realm.

The holder of a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, with a double minor in International Relations and Psychology, John said “…our education system focuses too little on our history as a Vincentian people, and some of our policies still are not suitable for a Black, tropical, and emancipated people.”

And politically, she is of the view “that democracy [is] better highlighted on paper than it [is] in reality. Many Black people are oppressed, even in St Vincent and the Grenadines, because of a lack of true democracy. “

She said she has witnessed victimisation from both major political parties as a response to the lawful expression of opinions, mainly criticisms of their operations.

“… That to me is an oppressive way of living. More importantly, I am of the view that the recently implemented Covid-19 mandate financially oppressed so many Vincentian people. This personally impacted me and my human rights. In essence, this is what the course is about, human rights and freedom and the proper balancing of same.”

As a teacher, John said it was a challenge for her to “undo the reverberating effects of slavery. “…I remember having to give my children inspirational talks on the value of their skin, after realising that so many were bleaching.”

She said in some instances she struggled with applying rules that were given to her as a teacher, and gave as an example, the double standards in schools about hair grooming for Black boys compared with boys of other races.

John, who is the recipient of a 50 per cent tuition waiver scholarship from the University of Glasgow, said while she is happy and honoured to be part of the first cohort, she is anxious because she realises the responsibility that comes with taking the course.

“ I know this course is not to decorate my CV but to really work for our Caribbean people. Thus, I hope I can deliver and really use this knowledge well to help to free my people and further emancipate myself.”

She calls on all Vincentians and Caribbean people to become involved in the effort towards reparatory justice.

“All it requires is the strength to stand together as Caribbean people, listen together, learn together and act together. Then and only then will we be truly free. Then and only then can we say we are emancipated.”

Last month the United Nations published a report calling on countries to consider financial reparations for transatlantic slavery. Campaigners hailed the report as a significant step forward.