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Cudjoe, Selwyn R. “Black American Lives Have Always Mattered...” Trinicenter.com, 2020, www.trinicenter.com/Cudjoe/2020/2906b.htm.

History.com Editors. “Civil Rights Movement.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement.

History.com Editors. “Civil Rights Movement.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement.

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At this point in the 21st century, in the USA as in the Caribbean, the vast majority of African people feel that the mission of the BLM Movement, except the direct black and white conflict, is relevant. However, in these countries and elsewhere, many people including some Africans have a disdain for the Movement. This is manifested by direct physical confrontation; the opposition of the protests which involves damaging, looting and burning of properties especially African owned; challenging the police who are trying to maintain law and order; removal of historical monuments and symbols; and using the media to express their opposing views. Some say that in these free democracies, Africans now have opportunities like every other group to improve their lives. But instead of investing their time, effort and money to educate themselves, acquire skills and property, or investing in some meaning way for their future, many choose to do the contrary, with a worrisome number of them using crime as a way out and blaming the rich, politicians and the system for ostensibly having them in that situation.  In many instances, victims of their criminality are fellow Africans, with alarming homicide rates in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago cited as examples. Many wonders if the Black Lives of the victims Matter. Those who differ with that stance see the root cause of the social ills as arising from decades (post-independence) of discrimination, alienation, marginalization and political neglect (Sant, 2020). Many academics and activists have been saying this for years. It is best stated by Professor Selwyn Cudjoe, who wrote that there must be an accounting for past wrongs and present grievances and that if monuments are to be removed, they must be replaced by Black heroes because Black Lives Matter (Cudjoe, 2020).

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THE AFRICAN EXPERIENCE IN THE CARIBBEAN.

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THE AFRICAN EXPERIENCE IN THE CARIBBEAN.

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The day Columbus sailed west in 1492, the history of the world changed exponentially and so did that of Africans, who came initially in small numbers as free people with their European explorers. In every territory that was ‘discovered’, the Europeans claimed these lands, built settlements and began the exploitation of the natives, taking their gold and silver, sexually abusing their women and then forcing them to work as servants/labourers under the encomienda system. As a consequence of the brutality, most of the native tribes were decimated from diseases, abuse, overwork and wars (The National Archives, 2006).

The Africans were brought in as slaves to replace the native from the early sixteenth century by the shiploads to provide cheap labour for the estates. Even before leaving Africa, the slaves have been resisting the inhumane treatment meted out to them and during the period of slavery, the resistance took action such as, such as running away, rebellion, marronage, abortion, malingering, suicide, infanticide and sabotage, because their Black Lives Matter.

The Haitian Revolution and subsequent independence of 1804 gave hope for the freedom of all African slaves. The Haitians were conscious that Black Lives Matter and took matters in their own hands and realize in hindsight gist of the mission of the Movement. The sacrifice of many abolitionists resulted in slavery in the English colonies being abolished in 1834, which was declared by Frederick Douglass as a “splendid achievement, a glorious triumph of justice, love and mercy over avarice, pride and cruelty” (Cudjoe, 2020).

However, after emancipation, the expectations and hopes of the former slaves for a better life did not materialized. From then to the present, the lives of many Africans in the Caribbean were not much different from those of the USA.  Africans were not treated as equal to the white settlers but as the lowest strata of society in which systemic discrimination and injustices deprived them of opportunities for social and economic upward mobility. However, Marcus Garvey’s exhortation to his fellow Africans of “I am equal to any Whiteman; I want you to feel the same way” and his famous phrase “Black is beautiful” contributed in raising the psyche of the African consciousness that Black Lives Matter and that they must continue the struggle.

Marcus Garvey’s legacy (History.com Editors, 2009) to bring about changes for the betterment of his African fellowmen is best exemplified in his words: “we must canonize our own saints, create our own martyrs, and elevate to positions of fame and honour black men and women who have made their distinct contribution to our racial history.” Likewise, Una Marson of Jamaica “came to the realization that Africa mattered: that its cultures, people and wisdoms equalled those of Europe”. Many black people have taken up the challenge and brought fame and honour to themselves and their people and in the Caribbean, many have excelled in the world stage; such as Dereck Walcott and Sir Arthur Lewis, Nobel laureates; Brian Lara and Usain Bolt for sports; Penny Commissiong,  Miss Universe; and  ANR Robinson, in establishing the International Criminal Court.

The contribution of these Caribbean heroes are no greater than the many heroes who led the struggle, post slavery, for self-determination of the Caribbean and by extension of the African people for adult suffrage, right to participate in the democratic process and independence for the respective nations. Independence has given these new nations the power and authority to make the changes necessary for the betterment of their citizens. They took it upon themselves to fulfil the obligation of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular “to promote social progress and better standard of life in larger freedom”.  They united to form CARICOM for the promotion of trade and CARIFESTA to promote and showcase the cultural expressions of the Caribbean peoples. Coincidently, these are also in line with the aspiration and mission of the BLM Movement.

Although some progress was made, many Africans felt disenchanted, marginalized and alienated and blame this on the new elites who emerged; and the structures and systems left over from the colonial era favouring them. Many Africans rose to the challenge to correct the injustices perpetuated against black lives. They agitated for meaningful changes to eliminate the imbalances where identified. Through the trade unions, some progress was made. The Revolution of 1970 (Trinidad and Tobago News Blog, 2011) in Trinidad and Tobago broke some racial and class barriers. In Guyana, Walter Rodney (The Walter Rodney Foundation, 2020) was assassinated for his role in improving the lot for Africans but a foundation in his honour still see the need to continue the struggle.

Although the political power of the Caribbean is now mostly in the hands of the Africans, they do not have the economic resources to meet their developmental needs. Most of the big businesses, including financial institutions are controlled by the new elites and white owners/foreigners, who control most of the wealth. Many Africans are still not economically and socially in a better place. Dr Angela Davis, an activist, said that many of the social ills plaguing the African Americans are also affecting Africans in the Caribbean and are hindering them from realizing their full potential and enjoyment of an acceptable quality of life. Shortage of housing, unemployment, adequate health care, poverty, gender biases and crime are major issues confronting the region. However, against these obstacles, Africans have created, over many decades, a cultural identity for themselves, as each nation has developed its own unique traditions to give expression to their Black Lives. In music for example in Trinidad and Tobago, there is calypso, carnival and steel pan; Barbados has crop over festival; Jamaica has reggae. After many years of struggle, and overcoming many challenges, these are now internationally recognized. Also, some countries have a public holiday to celebrate and remember African Emancipation so that history does not repeat itself. Perhaps Africans now need to make an advance leap as Marcus Garvey had advised that until African produce what the Whiteman has produced, they will not be his equal.

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THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

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THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

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The Movement has its genesis from the time the first African slaves were brought to the Americas. Because their lives mattered, they had struggled to regain the freedom and human dignity which were taken by force and fraud since the early sixteenth century. In the USA, the momentum to end slavery began during the Civil War of 1861 to 1865 (Jones-Castro and John, 2016)  during which time the emancipation of slaves took precedent over the saving of the Union.  Their tremendous support for the Union saw the slaves making their first real gain as the Emancipation Proclamation was declared by President Abraham Lincoln (History.com Editors, 2009) in 1863. Although this was the right step, it did not bring the freedom and enjoyment that democracy promises to the slaves and former slaves of all the States of the Union. Subsequent agitation resulted in amendments to the constitution to abolish slavery in the entire USA in 1865, to grant Black people equal protection under the law and the right to vote.

Even after all these gains, African Americans were still subjected to systemic discrimination, violence and racism. In a confrontation in 1955 saw Rosa Parks being arrested for not vacating a segregated bus. Out of this incident, the Civil Rights Movement (History.com Editors, 2009) was founded by activists such as Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks and Malcolm X and whose efforts resulted in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964( History.com Editors, 2009). This ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex and national origin. The Movement came to an end in 1968 following the assassination of Martin Luther King but his words “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy” remain unfulfilled at present.

When it comes to the social ills of American society, the statistics weigh heavily against Africans in the areas of crimes, homelessness, unemployment, underemployment, opportunity for quality schoolings and participation in the politics, sports and the film industry. Africans are more likely to be profiled as criminals, experience violence and even death by the police. All this exploded with the killing of George Floyd, an African on May 25, 2020. It has received global recognition, such that in the USA and in other jurisdictions many have rallied behind the Movement to demand actions are being taken to eliminate all things that connote racism/slavery such as monuments, flags, laws, rules, objects and products, whether material or symbolic, be destroyed, modified or removed because Black Lives Matter. The mission of the Movement is yet to be fully realized.

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THE FOUNDING OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

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THE FOUNDING OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT.

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In human history, it has generally been accepted that most things that are white are good, pure or superior and everything else is otherwise. In this context, white European people had usurped unto themselves the belief that they and their Eurocentric culture, include language, religion, food, clothing, art, music, dance and intellectual works were superior to those of all other races/ethnic groups. This was transcended to systemic racial discrimination, injustice, abuse, slavery and all manner of violence. During the last few centuries, significant progress has been made in eliminating these inhumane treatments. The establishment of the United Nations and through its Charter and Declaration of Human Rights, all people are now recognized as having equal rights regardless of racial, political, economic and social differences. These rights are also enshrined in the constitutions and laws of most countries. However, in the 21st century in the United States of America, there still exists significant levels of systemic discrimination and violence against African Americans (Blacks) by the white majority. These came to the front burner in 2013 when the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement was founded by African Americans as a consequence of the acquittal of the murderer of Trayvon Martin, an African American. It is now a global organization whose mission is “to eradicate white supremacy and to intervene when violence is inflicted on black communities by the state and vigilantes; and to fight for freedom, liberation and justice with the overall objective of improving the lives of African people”( Black Lives Matter, 2019). The BLM Movement, therefore, is relevant to the Caribbean as Africans here as in the USA have similar outstanding historical issues that need to be addressed urgently if this mission is to be realized.