“One People”? Desist!
Over the twenty-eight years of the life of this working-man’s column it has been easy for me to be consistent with both my general and specific views regarding the Black/African man’s presence and contribution to mankind’s existence.
However besides my years–long lamentations concerning how African-descended people waste their rich history of achievement – not ever collaborating internationally, globally to overcome obstacles against their common collective development, I now add two dimensions to my “thoughts” on “Black” history/”Black” status.
Firstly, some lack of personal discipline seems to prevent me from producing a publication I’ve been consumed over recently.
It is to be my simplified version of the factual historical origin (s) of mankind. Using all available verifiable evidence provided by both Caucasian/European and non-“white” scientific minds – historians, anthropologists, geneticists, etc – I long to remind all interested that we are all descended from the “Black” or brown peoples of Africa! That whether you believe that origin developed from the Bible’s creation or Darwin’s evolution, the location was Africa. How the original people “evolved” into so-called “races” Is one of mankind’s fascinating, dramatic, contentious stories. (Should you stand by for A.A. Fenty’s version?)
Secondly, as both my chronological and mental age “advances” I am now extremely impatient about reading/ hearing of “the first African, the first Afro-American” to achieve this or that accolade, qualifications or status. Of course you–all should realize what those glowing pride-ful reports are really announcing.
It is that “at long last” a non-white person has been allowed, for the first time, an achievement so long denied him or her for various “understandable” reasons. Overcoming disadvantages? Be gone with that!
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Achievement – appropriated? Exploited? Wasted?
Either 25 or 27 years ago I was taken by an African–American mentor to a show at the Slave Theatre in Bed-Stuy, New York, N.Y, U.S.A. There I acquired a publication titled “Blacked out through whitewash” by S.E Suzar.
This slim book added to and exceeded all that I had read about African–descended people’s world–wide achievements before. Frankly speaking, when reviewing these earth-shattering contributions, I become impatient again. How did non-African people appropriate African discoveries for further exploitation and development? Could not the African originators object? Hide their inventions? Oh! The gun and the Holy Bible were used to trick them?
I submit that these are thoughts worthy of consideration, along with practical projects, celebrants and observers should take on robustly.
I conclude with these perhaps vexatious and provocative questions: Why are there no “White”/Caucasian months/years? Unnecessary? Why are there “African decades”? Black History months? Celebrating minorities?
Could Afro-Guyanese name me five (5) Afro-Guyanese pharmacies or bakeries of significance? Do any Afro-Guyanese own big quarries or lumber–yards? Who imports cars, cement and zinc-sheets? Until…
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Cocaine bound for Barbados
The 23-year-old Afro-young lady acquired her Barbados air ticket. She obviously took her Covid-19 test before intended travel. Then at the airport last week-end she was apprehended with cocaine in a condom in her most private body part and numerous other cocaine pellets in her stomach.
All I wish to do here is to ask questions to make you consider/realize the on-going, never-ending reality of drug-trafficking amongst various levels of Guyana’s society.
What’s the origin of that cocaine? Was that her very first attempt? What motivated her to ignore risks? Is that trafficking not prevalent, profitable, on-going? What type of individuals or “companies” have the connections and resources to import and store cocaine in Guyana? Poor girl (?).
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We are one: Stop it!
Over the years – once again – I’ve been “rude” enough to challenge the aspirations of our national motto-“One People, One Nation, one Destiny” even though I appreciate that all societies need such aspirations, inspirations, motivations. But alas, I’m too old to fool myself.
I understand why our young “seven-month-old” president must say and do something regarding our longed-for unity, harmony, “oneness”. Hence his OneGuyana Commission. Noble. But nothing will change. Until the Fenty approach is embraced: live and work in peaceful productive co-existence. Economic comfort for all could be one element of peaceful, hate-reduced existence. Even love can eventually “evolve” without us ever being “one”. Agreed? And by the way what would become of our two big political parties if ever we become “one”?
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Ponder briefly…
● 1. Thought I forgot? No! Afro-persons invented traffic lights, lawn mowers, martial arts, classical music (Beethoven), early medicine and ice cream. Now you add 25 other basic inventions.
● 2. I agree with a Reggie Bhagwandin: it’s how you manage the budget allocations after they are passed.
● 3. Just before the Brigadier’s PNC demitted I was seeing a fabulous, futuristic development planned for Ogle. Now Russel Lancaster is announcing an equally – fabulous Stabroek Re-development Project. In this beautiful blighted land?
`Til next week! (allanfenty@yahoo.com)
