Accepting a black-and-brown America
Rajdai is not an actual person. But this narrative is based on what actually happened to an Indo-Guyanese young lady just like her. After the Brigadier and his errant Lieutenant used provocative language to supposedly PNC Afro-supporters after the Henry cousins were savaged to death just a little over a month after the PPP assumed office post-August 02 last.
Poor Christian Rajdai. Her Pastor-Uncle and his immediate family has to summon all of his Christian God’s assistance to eliminate Rajdai’s and her own immediate family’s newly-spawned anti-“Black” racism. Before I explain Rajdai’s dilemma, let me situate myself – however obliquely, way-indirectly – in spiritual connection with the young murdered Henrys. For many I know it will come off as a bit of a stretch. But here goes.
Exactly two weeks before the discovery of the Henry Murders I was among a group of friends who spent that Sunday aback of Number 3 Village West Coast, Berbice. We were not in the backlands site but a small wholesome club discussing music. Sean Bhola was engaging D’Ivan Harry. (Two accomplished “music men”.)
Plans were made to return two Sundays after that Sunday, 23rd August. The rest as they say, is history. I had an old girl friend from No. 4 (Edderton) and a new one from Belladrum. I would visit El Dorado, Hopetown and Fort Wellington in my bygone youth. So I like WCB.
I have lived in a house, for the past thirty-six (36) years once owned by the Henrys – an Uncle-in-law Walter Henry from Corentyne who was sure “all Berbician Henrys are related from slave-days.” Open to debate. But that’s my (dubious?) “connection.”
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Rajdai’s faith, sacrifice, challenge
But now, back to poor Rajdai. She is thirty-three now. Some indicate that that’s the age her Lord and Saviour Jesus – the Christ – was also made to suffer a horrible execution of those times.
She, from a tender age (10-14 yrs) had accepted that His Death paid for many sins and that love should permeate the hearts and souls of mankind since his passing. Her family rejoiced when she was herself baptised to become an activist of Christian values. The Brotherhood of Man included. From child to thirty three; from Rosignol to Blairmont; schools and communities; Rajdai knew only of inter-racial, neighbourhood togetherness, co-operation, even love. Her faith needed little “sacrifice” for all that.
Then, just after the Henry murders, the PNC Brigadier-Leader and his Army-Officer-oriented Opposition Leader went to the aggrieved families-in-mourning-and anger. The two spoke words of incitement with a decidedly ethnic bias.
That night her entire family, returning from church, was attacked and beaten and robbed stripped and left extremely wounded. For weeks after Rajdai’s soul and spirit were damaged. Her animosity against Afro-people overwhelmed her Christian teachings. However she recalled being assisted by two Afro-families eventually.
Rajdai’s challenge now is to reclaim her Christian love of all humanity. Not for the PNC’s leadership however. Her Pastor-Uncle recommends everlasting prayer for healing. Rajdai struggles.
Even as she hears of recent police break-throughs in solving the two murders. Were the alleged Indo-murderers racial that day? Rajdai suspects not! But she has her own struggles to cleanse her racist tendencies. She is determined to succeed. Who is to blame?
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Programmes from policies: A capable PPP?
President Ali just told some traditional “PNC Lindeners” a few days ago: “We are going to bring the bank in and we are going to develop 50 Young Professional homes; we will set aside 50 house-lots, we will build the houses … we will pre-qualify you, so you will get your loan, your house lot and your house on the same day …”
Those are not superficial Presidential promises to Linden’s young professionals. At least we hope so. Swiftly, the Opposition Leader pounced! “We’ll hold him to his word. He just can’t go around the country making promises …” Well said. The country monitors.
Meanwhile the Works Minister – a qualified religious Bishop of the Church who could never be guilty of untruths – just gave an ambitious deadline for the completion of the long-delayed Sheriff St/Mandela Highway in the city. He gave details of the road construction process, even as the Chinese challenge him over the CJIA airport.
His high profile colleague, the seemingly indefatigable Agriculture Minister Mustapha impresses me by being absolutely ubiquitous. From Corentyne to Charity this PPP Minister appears to be getting things done – from sea defences to stimulating farming. Again we must monitor his management.
One columnist is chiding the allegedly disruptive Opposition for not using the powerful Parliamentary Oversight Committees – Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Social Services and Natural Resources – to really hold the government’s management to analytical account. We the affected citizens must support this, as it would also expose PNC intentions and expertise.
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Accepting a truly “darker USA”?
In the very early eighties I benefitted from and thoroughly enjoyed a very structured “educational tour” of several US States.
Somehow one discussion touched on the fact that America would become overwhelmingly “brown” in 20/30 years (from 1980). It was said that the days of the demographic dominance of the WASPS – the White Anglo-Saxon Protestants – would be over, or significantly diminished. “Those days, that day” is surely upon the USA – right now.
Try to ignore Mr Biden’s douglah lady Vice-President or his much-touted diverse cabinet of, multiple ethnicities. Observe the voting trends and power in the African–American, Asian-American and Latino/Spanish communities across America. (Ho-ho-ho, my old buddy Abdoul Ba tells me of the large Senegalese community in Tennessee!)
Europe exploited peoples and resources from Africa and Asia. The USA followed suit. Those people’s descendants have moved to the developed places. America employs and rewards. I bet that there are more Latinos and Asian combined than the earlier “Whites and Blacks” now in America.
My one concern however: why must President Biden allow thousands and thousands of undocumented in freely, from Honduras, Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico, etc. When Guyanese have to wait their legal turn for years? (They’ll vote democrat? We too!)
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Ponder/consider…
1) The earlier “fairer” Americans are worried about a Brown/Black American takeover, so they …
2) How are the Belgian Police, the DEA and CANU getting along with investigating the huge drug bust? Marlon found?
3) When will the seven new Afro-Guyanese diplomats be appointed? Ho-ho-ho.
‘Til next week! (allanafenty@yahoo.com)
