Connecting with Africa during Black History Month

Black History Month is celebrated in the Western hemisphere during the month of February each year, but in the United Kingdom eight months later, in October. It is an occasion to highlight the achievements of black people the world over and our contribution to the development of human society. This has become necessary as a result of the unfortunate history of the rape and plunder of Africa, the enslavement of millions of its daughters and sons and the use of racist ideology, lies and deception both to justify these acts of dehumanisation and to deny the real and substantial contribution of people of African descent to human development.{{more}}

Gaining its biggest impetus during the zenith of the Black Power/Black Consciousness movement in the USA, the commemoration of Black History Month has gradually spread throughout much of the western hemisphere. In the Caribbean, though, we still have a long way to go in terms of universal recognition and acceptance of the event. In fact, Valentine’s day, in spite of its relatively late embrace, is still, for the black people of the region, a far more celebrated event, irrespective of the fact that many of us are neither aware of its origin or significance. What a pity!

Given this background, it is heartening that local personnel are spearheading activities for the month. What I have noticed over the years, however, is that most of us leave it up to a few people (and even fewer organisations) to take the initiative to organise such activities. In the seventies, it was the Black Power movement, today the mantle has fallen into the hands of the Rastafari brethren and sistren. Much as we welcome the initiative and forward thinking of the organisers, it is vital that the net be spread wider, both to avoid the sense of lack of ownership on the part of most black people, as well as not allowing a sense of “most coarseness” (we are the conscious ones) to develop among those who take the lead. We must use the inspiration of President Obama in the White House to arouse in black people, of all walks of life, pride in our being and achievements. Black History Month is of relevance to all descendants of Africa, Rasta and “Baldhead”, privileged and underprivileged, rich and poor.

This year, the tragedy that affects Haiti can be used to focus even more sharply on the black experience in the western hemisphere. Haiti is its most graphic reminder of the horrors that we not only had to undergo, but are still enduring. In addition to the material help we can provide for Haiti, if Black History Month can only help to sweep some of the cobwebs from our minds where that country and its people are concerned, we would perhaps have made the greatest contribution towards Haiti’s rehabilitation. We as black people are still to understand our own experience and place in world history.

The Caribbean is where globalisation had its embryonic beginnings, but we speak of it as though it is some modern phenomenon to which we must adapt. I must commend those radio stations and media houses which are making special efforts to mark the month-long celebrations. Let us build on these as we later move on to National Heroes Month, African Liberation Day and Emancipation Day among others. A wider cross-section of our black populace, especially the younger ones, is essential to broadening the participation.

A fitting and most significant event to grace the onset of the Month of activities took place thousands of miles away from the Caribbean, right on the African continent. Not surprisingly, in view of his background and world outlook, our own Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves was part of it. On Monday of this week, he became the first Caribbean leader to make a formal address to a sitting of a Summit of the African Union (AU). The AU has replaced the former Organisation of African Unity (OAU) as the mechanism for African unification. Fifty-three Heads of State from the continent warmly received this son of the Caribbean and listened intently to his call for a strengthening of the links between the Caribbean and Africa. The role of Cuba in hastening the demise of apartheid and colonialism in Southern Africa was highlighted by the Vincentian leader. He also took the opportunity to call for more assistance to the people of Haiti, reminding his African colleagues of their “moral duty to the first independent state of African descendants in the western hemisphere”. The newly re-elected Prime Minister of St.Kitts/Nevis, Dr. Denzil Douglas and representatives from Belize, St.Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and Antigua/Barbuda also attended the AU Summit.

It will be interesting to note how we as a people respond to Dr.Gonsalves outreach to our brothers and sisters in Africa. He is very much “on the rails” politically speaking. Yet we must be able to separate whatever local opposition we have to Dr. Gonsalves and his party, and be able to see the wisdom and strategic importance of such an outreach, and to give it our every ounce of support. The narrow Eurocentric view we have of the world needs to be changed and every such act is a step in that direction. In addition to our historical and blood ties, relations with Africa are very much a part of reordering of the world even as dramatic changes in power relations take place before our very eyes.We must, however, avoid romanticism, so easy for those of us yearning to reconnect with Africa. That country, too, has been, and is still being raped and plundered. Its people, like ours, have been fed negative images of the Caribbean, and its people and, by and large, look elsewhere for salvation. Ours will be no easy task to reconnect and to develop practical economic, political and social ties. But try we must. It is an imperative of our time.

Renwick Rose is a  community activist and social commentator.