African Guyanese urged to free themselves through education
The survival of Guyanese of African ancestry depends on a new orientation in which they are determined to liberate themselves through education. So said University of Guyana professor, Dr Adeola James at the observances held at the Kingston bandstand to mark African Holocaust Day yesterday. Hundreds of Guyanese of African ancestry paid tribute to their foreparents. Flowers were thrown into the Atlantic Ocean at high tide yesterday afternoon to honour those who perished during the transatlantic slave trade over four centuries. The observances, organised by the African Cultural Development Association (ACDA), coincided with the arrival of Columbus in the Americas. But the day is remembered by ACDA as "a day of mass murder, conquest, slaving, slave trade and the slavery of the African people." According to James, in correcting the miseducation of the past, Guyanese of African descent must rise to the challenge and see themselves as members of the community. "Our survival depends on this new orientation," she said. James delivered the feature address. Giving a background to the slave trade she said that in spite of centuries of one form or another of slavery and exploitation, Africans today are in danger of mental and economic bondage. She noted that there are many people of African descent who do not want to acknowledge who their forefathers were and blamed this on the fact that African people failed to remember their past and to teach people about their roots. She recommended the readings of a number of writers including political activist Eusi Kwayana and Trinidadian Eric Williams. As African Holocaust Day was being observed, the day on which "the greatest suffering in human history" is recorded, James said that Africans want complete freedom for their children and children's children. Freedom, however, she said means freedom in the development of the national economy, freedom from hunger and poverty and freedom of the individual in accordance with human rights. Questioning whether it was right to say that freedom was enjoyed by all, she said that it was evident that many African youths remained poor and illiterate in the economic and social development of the country. She noted that Guyanese of African ancestry will remain consumers and will not share in the wealth and profit of the country if they do not get involved in the business of production. James said that the production of wealth buttresses economic independence which leads to development. The one and a half hour programme included a procession to the small stretch of beach at the Kingston Seawall and a number of recitals, singing and drumming. (Miranda La Rose)
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