The Decolonisation Papers: U.S. Virgin Islands Statement to the United Nations Conference against Racism - South Africa 2001

From the Archives

"We remain confidant...that this World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance can forge a new global awakening, and conclude an agreement establishing a mutually acceptable mechanism to redress the damages caused over the centuries."

Statement of the U.S. Virgin Islands 

 Dr. Carlyle G. Corbin, Jr.

Minister of State for External Affairs

Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands

in the

general debate

United Nations
World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,

Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Durban, Republic of South Africa

September 2001

(actual delivery)

Madam President, 

Excellencies, 

Representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I bring warmest greetings from the government and people of the Virgin Islands, and wish to congratulate you as  Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Africa on your election to chair this World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

My delegation joins with the many expressions of condolence on the passing of our elder Govan Mbeki, a hero to our people throughout the diaspora.

We wish to thank the member states of this Assembly for facilitating our participation in these historic deliberations as an associate member of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean UN-ECLAC.

The themes of this conference are of particular relevance to the Virgin Islands, emerging as we did from centuries of slavery as the former Danish West Indies. In fact, it was only a few months ago, on 3rd July that we celebrated the 153rd anniversary of our emancipation from that brutal system - an event we commemorate each year to pay homage to the bravery of our forefathers in taking back their freedom. Our ancestors, who originated from the area between Upper Guinea through Angola of the western part of this beloved continent, had been forcibly uprooted from their homes and transported via the infamous trans Atlantic slave route to the Caribbean.

They were but a portion of the millions of Africans who were taken against their will and forced into slavery - clearly a blatant abuse against humanity.

As so eloquently observed by the non-governmental organization Africa Action, "the enslavement of Africans was a unique tragedy in the history of humanity which is unparalleled not only because of Its abhorrent barbarism, but also in terms of its enormous magnitude, its institutionalized nature, its transnational dimension, and especially its negation of the very essence of the human nature of Africans and African descendents. " 

UNESCO reminds us that this barbaric system could not have lasted as long as it did had it not been accompanied by an ideology of moral justification and a legal apparatus as its underpinning.

In the face of these facts, we concur with the view expressed in the Declaration of the African Regional Preparatory Meeting held in Dakar, Senegal last January that "the first logical and credible step to be taken at this juncture of our collective struggle is for the World Conference against Racism to declare solemnly that the international community as a whole fully recognizes the historical injustices of the slave trade, " and that "colonialism and apartheid are among the most serious and massive institutionalized forms of human rights violations."

We note that some express an apprehension in addressing the issue of remedial action, despite this overwhelming evidence. We note that others appear to practice a sort of selectivity of memory of the objective reality of their role in this difficult and tragic period of history.

We remain confidant, however, that this World Conference against Racism, Racial discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance can forge a new global awakening, and conclude an agreement establishing a mutually acceptable mechanism to redress the damages caused over the centuries.

Madam President,

Among the many issues contained in the draft Programme of Action before us is the call for "the creation and implementation of a programme to restore to the country of origin the many invaluable art objects, historical artifacts, and documents that have been unjustly removed from Africa and the Americas... over the centuries, and the provision of financial assistance to equip the relevant states with museums and related facilities that will be required to preserve and store those articles properly. "

In this connection, my government has entered into two agreements with the Kingdom of Denmark for the preservation and repatriation of the historical documents and artifacts removed from the former Danish West Indies during the period of Danish rule. It is our view that the consummation of these two bilateral agreements with Denmark, and a third under consideration, serve as an important first step, in the full implementation of proposed remedies contained in the draft programme of action of this conference. We applaud the Government of Denmark for their enlightened cooperation thus far, and look forward to the expansion of such programmes in future.

Madam/Mr. President,

Throughout the draft declaration and program of action, and in a number of the national statements in the general debate, are numerous acknowledgments of colonialism as a past practice. But colonialism should not be viewed in the past tense alone. It is very much a present condition as well.

There remain some 17 non-self-governing territories, mostly in the Caribbean and Pacific regions under formal review by the United Nations General Assembly under its Agenda Item 18. A Special Committee on Decolonization which was so important to the successful self determination and subsequent emergence of African and Caribbean states in the 1960s through the independence of Namibia at the beginning of the 1990s still remains seized on this matter.

The political inequality of these remaining territories is an unfortunate holdover from the last millennium, and still very much a feature of the new millennium. The General Assembly has a sacred obligation to ensure that the people of these territories achieve absolute political equality consistent with international law. The successful constituent election in East Timor on 30th August is an example of the successful implementation of that mandate, and evidence of the critical role the United Nations can play in this process if the political will exists on the part of the relevant member States to implement their international legal obligations.

In this connection, we are pleased that negotiations have resulted in the retention of the paragraph in the draft Declaration of this conference referencing the 1960 Decolonization Declaration, consistent with the United Nations Charter, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the first International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism declared by the General Assembly from 1990 - 2000, and the current International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism for the period 2001- 2010.

Decolonization remains the unfinished business of the United Nations. We sincerely hope that delegations bear this fact in mind with a renewed sense of awareness.

Madam President,

In closing, I wish to recall the wisdom of the Jamaican/Caribbean/African patriot Robert Nesta Marley who reminded us in his verse that:

"In this great future before us, we - the survivors - cannot - indeed, we will never forget - the past."

And as our hero Nelson Mandela has advised us,

"With an iron will,  we can - and will - turn this past misfortune into our advantage."

Thank you Madam President.

GENUINE INDEPENDENCE AND GLOBAL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

On Day of Remembrance, UN says history of slave trade can help combat social injustice

U.N. NEWS CENTRE

Shackles used to bind slaves. UN Photo/Mark Garten

23 August 2017 – Remembering the universal demand for freedom that led to the 1791 insurrection by slaves in what is now Haiti, the head of the United Nations cultural and educational agency today marked the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition by underscoring the importance of teaching this history to young people.

“We are counting on the teaching of this history to place tomorrow's citizens on the path to peace and dignity,” said Irina Bokova, in a message to mark the Day, which is observed annually on 23 August.

Ms. Bokova is the Director-General of UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which has played a leading role within the UN system in fostering understanding and recognition of the slave trade.

“Everyone must know the scale of the crime of the slave trade, the millions of lives broken and the impact on the fate of continents up to this very day. Everyone must be fully informed of the struggle that led to its abolition, so that together we can build societies that are fairer, and thus freer,” the senior UN official said.

She pointed to modern slavery and human trafficking, as well as ongoing social injustices, racism and racial discrimination, and said the legacy of the 1791 insurrection offer hope to eradicating those scourges.

Ignorance is our enemy: it is used as an alibi by the indifferent who state that 'we cannot change anything'UNESCO chief Irina Bokova

“Freedom of rights, hardwon by force, must be translated into real freedom through public policies that guarantee to people of African descent the full exercise of economic, social and political equality, and full and equal participation in society,” Ms. Bokova said.

“The 1791 uprising, like so many others across the world, shows us the way, but the path ahead is still long, she said, adding: “Ignorance is our enemy: it is used as an alibi by the indifferent who state that 'we cannot change anything,' and sanctions the lies of those who claim that 'they did not know.'”

Everyone, continued the UNECSCO chief, must know the scale of the crime of the slave trade, the millions of lives broken and the impact on the fate of continents up to this very day. “Everyone must be fully informed of the struggle that led to its abolition, so that together we can build societies that are fairer, and thus freer.”

To honour the history of the slave trade and its abolition, UNESCO earlier this year added to its World Heritage List the Mbanza Kongo, Vestiges of the Capital of the former Kingdom of Kongo (Angola) and the Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site (Brazil), as an acknowledgement of their “outstanding universal value.”

In 2015, the Valongo Wharf Archaeological Site was recognized as a site of memory associated with the UNESCO Slave Route Project: Resistance, Liberty, Heritage. Recognition of this heritage is decisive in raising the awareness of the general public, educating young people and in the processes of conciliation and social cohesion.

The Slave Route project, established in 1994, consists of creating opportunities to promote mutual understanding and international reconciliation and stability through consultation and discussion. It also raises awareness, promotes debate and helps build consensus on approaches to be taken on addressing the issue of the slave trade and slavery.

This year, the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is also part of the International Decade for People of African Descent, which began in 2015, and seeks to help boost political commitments in favour of people of African descent.

DANISH REPARATIONS FOR SLAVERY IN THE CARIBBEAN, PROPOSAL FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP, EXAMINED BY VIRGIN ISLANDS HISTORIAN

Caribbean News Now Wayne James, former senator of the US Virgin Islands  and former Senate Liaison to the White House Former USVI senator presents arguments  for Danish reparations and apology By Wayne James ST CROIX, USVI -- League for league, square mile for square mile, the Caribbean archipelago is the world’s most international region. There, since the 15th century, the Old and New Worlds have collided and the world’s people -- Native Americans, Europeans, Africans, and Asians -- have intermingled. For centuries, within eyeshot, and sometimes within a stone’s throw, Spain, England, France, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden vied for dominance and sought fabled riches. The region was also a principal site for the unfolding of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. And as such, the Caribbean is today the arena for heated discussions and diplomatic discourse on the ever-elusive reparations. But if there is one nation that should pay reparations for its active participation in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, it is Denmark -- so much so that it could easily qualify as the initiative’s “poster nation.” Here are ten reasons why: READ THE FULL ANALYSIS HERE . ********************************

Native US Virgin Islanders should be entitled to Danish citizenship

By Wayne James

US Virgin Islanders who officially reside in the islands and can trace their ancestry back to the Danish era (1671 – 1917) should be entitled to automatic Danish citizenship, whether they decide to renounce their United States citizenship or obtain dual citizenship of Denmark and the United States.

The request of US Virgin Islanders for automatic Danish citizenship is separate and distinct from any claim for reparations or the redressing of past wrongs. To the contrary, the request is a claim for the redress of a present, ongoing wrong: Many US Virgin Islanders, in 2017, still feel part-Danish; many US Virgin Islanders are, by blood, part-Danish; and many US Virgin Islanders feel that they have earned the right to Danish citizenship because of the 246 years of service and contribution to the Danish nation. In essence, many US Virgin Islanders feel that Danish citizenship is their birthright.

READ THE FULL ANALYSIS HERE .

DANISH PRIME MINISTER: "THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR SLAVERY"

Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen (r) is greeted by U.S. President Donald J. Trump at the White House. The Prime Minister visited Washington before his visit to the U.S. Virgin Islands to participate in the activities associated with the 100th anniversary of the transfer of the Danish West Indies to the United States on 31st March 1917 (gettyimages.com)

Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen's Address at Transfer Day 

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 

31 March 2017

(Check against delivery)

Your excellency, Governor Mapp. 

Your excellency, Secretary Zinke. 

Your excellencies. 

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is an honour for me to be here today. And a great pleasure to visit your beautiful island for the third time.

My wife and I have been greeted by sincere hospitality from the moment we arrived. For this, I am truly grateful. We are very pleased to be back.

On this exact day – a hundred years ago – the Stars and Stripes of America replaced the Danish Dannebrog as the official flag for the Virgin Islands.

A hundred years. It is a long time ago.

But the preceding years under the Danish flag are not forgotten. Neither in Denmark nor at the Virgin Islands.

Still today city names such as Frederiksted and Christiansted remind us of our common past. And so do the many houses and buildings, that still bear the marks of Danish presence.

I’m pleased, that thousands of my fellow countrymen visit your beautiful island every year – and this year in particular.

They feel a special bond of friendship with you and your home. So do I, as I stand here on this historic day. A touch of common destiny that time cannot erase.

But although we share a common past – we have not always shared the same story about that past.

When I was a child – the popular Danish story about the West Indies, was a romantic one. Exotic islands. Peaceful coexistence.

I even remember the tales of the Danish king, who was the first in the world to ban slave trade. A pioneer of humanity, we were told. A hero.

But most of you were told and lived a different story. The true story.

A story of how slavery continued after the ban. How too often conditions only improved on paper. And of how many of your ancestors continued to suffer.

The true heroes were the men and women who stood up to the injustice.

Over the years our history has been explored and questioned.

And today we can study the millions of historic documents and pictures from the Virgin Islands. They are now available online thanks to the Danish National Archives. Many of them so precious, they have been proclaimed as world heritage by UNESCO.

Sure, it is important to get the facts right.

But I suggest we also look somewhere else: In our hearts and minds.

I suggest we ask ourselves: Is there any justification for suppression? Any argument for treating people brutally?

We all know the answer.

The answer is no!

There is no justification – what so ever – for the exploitation of men, women and children that took place in these islands under Danish flag.

There is no justification for slavery. It is unforgiveable.

Unforgiveable.

It is a dark and disgraceful part of Danish history.

So when I search my heart. My mind. There is no doubt: The true heroes of the past are the men and women of the Virgin Islands who defied suppression.

They were not given their freedom. They took it back. Led by brave souls. Who risked their own lives to set their fellow countrymen free.

Men like General Buddhoe.

Who led the rebellion of 1848. Riding on a white horse. Fighting for emancipation. Imprisoned. Deported. But at the end successful – fulfilling his mission.

Fierce women like Queen Mary, Queen Agnes and Queen Mathilda.

Who rebelled against the appalling living conditions, healthcare, education and wages. Imprisoned in Denmark, right next to the Danish parliament!

Patriots like David Hamilton Jackson.

A teacher and idealist. Who dedicated his life to improve the conditions for the people of St. Croix. By peaceful but passionate means.

The story goes, that when David Hamilton Jackson once criticized the Danish Governor in a harsh tone, the Governor replied by calling Jackson a dreamer.

This was probably meant as an insult – but isn’t it rather a badge of honor?

Only when we dare to dream of a brighter future will the beacons of freedom be at sight.

This was the case for Mr. Hamilton Jackson. And that is the case for us all.

Dear friends.

We must acknowledge that what happened in the past has affected where the islands are today. We cannot undo the past. What we can do is to improve the future.

Only by freeing ourselves from the nightmares of the past can we make our dreams of the future come true.

This is the lesson from the true heroes of the past. Despite overwhelming obstacles, their ideals of liberty, equality and dignity prevailed.

Today, the people of Denmark and the people of the Virgin Islands share common historic bonds.

Today, we share the same view of history.

And today, we share the same heroes.

And hopefully, we shall also share a bright future.

Tomorrow, I will make a visit to the University of the Virgin Islands, where I will launch a five year scholarship program.

It is my hope, that this new program will pave the way for further development in both our countries. And bring new hope and opportunities to young people in the Virgin Islands.

The youth of our countries are the future. They must keep their dreams alive. Take destiny into their own hands.

Just as the heroes of the past did. And this time around, we will not hold them back. We will push them forward.

I wish you all a meaningful and memorable Transfer Day.

Thank you.

Denmark's Statements to the United Nations on its Slave History

Republished from 11 September 2008 Overseas Territories Review

____________________________________________________

Denmark's Statement on its Slave History

On 3rd July 2008, the 160th anniversary of the abolition of slavery was commemorated in the former Danish West Indies (now the US Virgin Islands). Activities were held on the islands of St. John and St. Thomas, with the main events conducted in Frederiksted, St. Croix consistent with established practice. Simultaneously, the Government of Denmark released a statement marking the historic day which was welcomed, but which also fell short of the 'apology' sought by many in the territory. Below is the unofficial translation of the statement:

________________________________________

Declaration by the Government of Denmark at the 160 th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the former Danish West Indies (now US Virgin Islands) 

On 3 July 2008 160 years have passed since slavery was abolished in the former Danish West Indies (now US Virgin Islands), thus closing a dark chapter in Denmark’s role as colonial power on the Islands. 

The use of slaves was then legal. Fortunately the international society has moved a long way since then. Slavery is rightfully recognized as a crime against humanity, including by the UN World Conference Against Racism in 2001, and is today one of the crimes under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. 

The period of slavery was a grim period, but it remains regrettably a fact, which we – like other countries – need to acknowledge as a part of the past and our common historical heritage. Therefore it is not a period to be forgotten. Thus a major outcome of the UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban in 2001 was the decision that we have a collective responsibility to remember the atrocities of slavery and its victims and to seek reconciliation and healing with the descendants of the slaves. 

The Government has therefore supported and will continue to support activities, which aim to gather information about the period of slavery and provide information about it, including through UNESCO. 

In relation to the Virgin Islands the Danish Ministry of Culture initiated in 1999 a framework for cooperation with the Islands on archives and museum activities with the purpose to explore the common past during the slavery period and to develop cultural cooperation. The Government recognizes civil society’s interest for the common history and is examining if it is possible to strengthen further the cooperation in the fields of culture and history. 

The Government is very much aware, that even in our days there are people, who live under forms of modern slavery or similar conditions, including as victims of trafficking in women and children, child labour and recruitment of child soldiers. The Government strongly condemns these practices. Therefore Denmark actively participates in cooperation at regional and international levels to fight these modern forms of slavery. 

Copenhagen 3 July 2008

____________________________________________________

One year prior, the United Nations General Assembly by its Resolution 61/19 decided to designate 25 March 2007 as the International Day for the Commemoration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The Assembly also "urged Member States that had not already done so to develop educational programmes, including through school curricula, designed to educate and inculcate in future generations an understanding of the lessons, history and consequences of slavery and the slave trade." The resolution also requested governments to submit a report on initiatives taken to implement paragraphs 101 and 102 of the Durban Declaration of the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance aimed at countering the legacy of slavery and contributing to the restoration of the dignity of the victims of slavery and the slave trade. Below is the report submited by the Government of Denmark to the Secretary General of the United Nations:

_______________________________________________

Denmark
[Original: English]

1. Denmark is deeply concerned with the legacy of slavery and the restoration of the dignity of the victims of slavery and the slave trade, and thus wholeheartedly supported the adoption of General Assembly resolution 61/19.

2. At the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in 2001, the European Union was pleased to join international consensus in acknowledging that slavery and the slave trade are a crime against humanity and should always have been so.

3. On 25 March 2007, the day designated by the General Assembly as the International Day for the Commemoration of the Two-hundredth Anniversary of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the European Union issued a statement reiterating the position that the barbarism of transatlantic slave trade constitutes one of the darkest chapters of our history, in terms of its magnitude, its organized nature and particularly its negation of the human dignity of the victims.

4. The statement also underlined the commitment of the European Union member States to fight various forms of modern slavery, such as bonded labour and human trafficking.

5. In May 2007, Denmark pledged a contribution of $10,000 towards the proposed permanent memorial to the victims of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery, which would be placed in the halls of the United Nations, an initiative led by member States of the Caribbean Community.

6. On 3 July 1848, slavery was abolished in the Danish West Indies (today the United States Virgin Islands). The Danish Government is currently considering an appropriate way to commemorate the 160-year anniversary in 2008, taking into account the sentiments of the descendants of the slaves living today in the United States Virgin Islands and Ghana, from where the majority of slaves originated.

7. It should also be mentioned that the Danish National Museum on 8 October 2007 will be opening the main building at the former slave-plantation “Frederiksgave” in Ghana to a public audience, following the renovation of the plantation. This project is part of the National Museum’s ongoing research into the Danish slave trade and other activities related to the Danish colonies in Africa and the West Indies. The Danish Minister for Cultural Affairs will be participating in the opening. The renovated museum at “Frederiksgave” will provide audiences with information about the cultural background and history of the slave trade, including about the transatlantic slave trade and the use of slaves in the Danish colonies in the West Indies.

8. Furthermore, a total of 19 Danish schools under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Associated School Project will commemorate the two-hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade on 23 August 2007, as part of the transatlantic slave trade education project.

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF TRANSITION FROM DANISH WEST INDIES TO U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TO BE OBSERVED ON 31ST MARCH

"It was the Danish King Christian V who granted the Danish West India and Guinea Company permission to establish the colonies under the Danish flag."(The West Indian Heritage)

_____________________________________________________

DANISH PRIME MINISTER TO ATTEND TRANSFER DAY ACTIVITIES ON ST. THOMAS AND ST. CROIX

ST. THOMAS — As the formal representative of Denmark, Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen will be among the distinguished guests attending the ceremonies to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the territory of the United States Virgin Islands, Government House announced this afternoon. Mr. Løkke Rasmussen will participate in the Transfer Centennial programs to be held on St. Croix and St. Thomas on March 31, 2017.

“The U.S. Virgin Islands makes up an important part of the Danish history and the Centennial stands for a significant milestone,” the prime minister said in an official statement. “Through my participation and my presence, I look forward to meeting the people and politicians on the islands and show them our respect for them and the history.”

Governor Kenneth Mapp said the people of the Virgin Islands will be pleased to welcome Mr. Rasmussen, his delegation, and dignitaries from around the world to take part in ceremonies and events associated with the transfer.

“This is an important chapter in our history and we deeply appreciate the participation of Prime Minister Løkke Rasmussen,” Mr. Mapp said. “I have asked the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands to treat the occasion of the Transfer Centennial as a time of both serious reflection and preparation. Together we must determine how, given our unique status and history, we can best set a path forward over the next 100 years.”

In the prime minister’s New Year’s Day address to the nation of Denmark, he made mention of this year’s Centennial commemoration and noted that many Danes are expected to take part in this year’s events.

Mr. Løkke Rasmussen has served as prime minister of Denmark since June 2015. He was previously prime minister from April 2009 to October 2011. He is the leader of the Venstre political party. He will be accompanied to the territory by his wife, Sólrun Jákupsdóttir Rasmussen.

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In Defense of Colin Kaepernick’s “Stand”

Institute of the Black World 

Essay by Dr. Ron Daniels

The uproar continues over San Francisco 49ner quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit-down, rather than stand, during the playing of the National Anthem. Kaepernick said his decision was intended to protest the continued injustices being inflicted on Black people, including police brutality and killings.  Though the negative tide has turned somewhat, his protest was initially met with a torrent of criticism from various quarters. He was called everything but a child of God for refusing to “honor America” and our men and women in the armed forces. The “love it or leave it” sentiment was very strong.

Frankly, I was infuriated by these reactions. It made my blood boil.  I was already upset and had spoken about the fact that social media exploded with criticism of African American gymnast Gabby Douglas when she inadvertently forgot to put her hand over her heart when the National Anthem was played during the Medal Ceremony at the Olympic Games in Rio.  So, when I took to the airways for my weekly radio show Vantage Point on WBAI, 99.5 FM on the Pacifica Network in New York. I unleashed a commentary which made the following points (listen to the commentary at www.ibw21.org):

There is no law which states that anyone must stand during the playing of the National Anthem or the Pledge of Alliance to the Flag. It is a strongly held “custom” and societal expectation that one stand, but no law which compels it. On the contrary, Colin Kaepernick has a Constitutional Right to express his views through protest. Freedom of speech is one of the most important cornerstones of this imperfect union. It is one of the avenues through which change can be galvanized. And, Colin Kaepernick has courageously chosen to exercise his First Amendment Right to point out longstanding, persistent injustices, “intolerable acts” that are being heaped upon African Americans who are supposed to be full citizens of this nation.

Most importantly, generations of African Americans have paid the price for Colin Kaepernick and any Black person to sit during the playing of a flawed Anthem replete with hypocrisy. Every time I hear the words “that our Flag was still there” in the Anthem, I’m filled with anger/outrage. When the War of 1812 was fought some 3.5 million Africans were still enslaved and the 500,000 or so “free” Blacks could not vote and were subject to racial discrimination and violence. “Our Flag?” We didn’t have a Flag.  For Black folks, singing that line and most of the Anthem is ludicrous!

That notwithstanding, Blacks have spilled blood to protect and defend America even when America refused to protect and defend Black people. From Crispus Attucks, who died in the initial skirmish of the American Revolution, to the hundreds of “freedmen” whom George Washington reluctantly armed to fight in the battles of Bunkers Hill and Breed Hill, to the thousands who took up arms to fight for our own freedom in the Civil War, Black people have fought, bled and died aspiring to be free in a nation which repeatedly rewarded our military service with a failure to protect and defend us as citizens. We have been among America’s most patient patriots.

Thousands of Black troops went off to fight Kaiser Wilhelm during the First World War to save democracy, only to return to the United States to be gunned down in the streets in their military uniforms in the “bloody red summer of 1919.” We fought against Hitler and Tojo in the Second World War to once again return to an America where we were not free. Soldiers fresh off the battlefields faced humiliation, intimidation, lynching/murders and police violence in the segregated South and “dark ghettos” in the North.  Indeed, the hypocrisy of fighting for freedom and democracy abroad while being denied “freedom and justice for all” at home helped to fuel the civil rights, human rights, Black Power and Nationalists/Pan Africanists movements which have painstakingly pushed a reluctant nation toward a more perfect union.  Up through the Korean Conflict, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, Black soldiers have bled and died in every America war.

We have paid the price for Colin Kaepernick to stand or sit, kneel, recognize or ignore a flawed Anthem and Pledge, particularly as his protest continues to illuminate the killing of Black men and women by the police in the streets of this country.  Indeed, Frederick Douglas might well have whispered into the ear of Colin Kaepernick, “Right on Brother. What to Black people is your Anthem and your Flag!”  Or Kapernick may have been inspired by an “American icon,” Jackie Robinson who reflected in his autobiography on standing for the Flag as he carried the weight of the race on his shoulders as the first African American to play Major League Baseball: “As I write this twenty years later, I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag; I know that I am a black man in a white world.”

In many respects Jackie Robinson, a World War II veteran, was/is symbolic of all the men and women, the patient patriots, who paid the price for Colin Kaepernick to sit or kneel during the playing of the National Anthem and the salute to the Flag. Africans in America and people of conscience and goodwill should resolve to stand with and defend him in his righteous pursuit to end the oppression and injustice of Africans in America.  No struggle, no progress!

Dr. Ron Daniels is President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century and Distinguished Lecturer at York College City University of New York. His articles and essays also appear on the IBW website www.ibw21.org and www.northstarnews.com. His weekly radio show, Vantage Point can be heard Mondays 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon on WBAI, 99.5 FM, Pacifica in New York or streaming live via WBAI.org.  To send a message, arrange media interviews or speaking engagements, Dr. Daniels can be reached via email at info@ibw21.org

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"Women Political Leaders in Non-Independent Territories"

Call for U.S. President Obama to Exonerate Marcus Garvey

August 17 will mark the 128th birthday of the Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the visionary Jamaican-born leader who built the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL) into the largest mass movement for liberation in the history of Africans in America and perhaps the world! As such, I have long advocated that August 17th, his birthday, be celebrated as Universal African Flag Day. An unapologetic Pan-Africanist, Garvey believed that Black people everywhere should unite and fight to liberate Africa, the motherland, from the brutal clutches of European colonialism – Africa should be the base for global Black Power! Hence he said, “I know no national boundary where the Negro is concerned. The whole world is my province until Africa is free.” At a time when people of African descent were besieged, belittled , marginalized, exploited and oppressed everywhere, Garvey sought to instill a sense of pride in the history and heritage of a great people,noting that: “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” He declared that“God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be… Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.” Garvey was determined to rally a beleaguered people and mold them into a formidable force committed to self-reliance, self-determination and nationhood.   The UNIA was organized like a nation in-waiting with military, economic/commercial, educational, health, religious and administrative divisions.   He also created literature, music, images and symbols, designed to promote pride and unity. For example, the Universal Ethiopian Anthem was adopted as the official song of the organization. But, the most powerful and lasting symbol of unity that Garvey presented and bequeathed to African people was a Flag, the Red,Black and Green. Garvey was keenly aware of the psycho-cultural value of symbols to an oppressed/battered people. The impetus to put forth a flag became even more urgent because of the white supremacist song that became very popular in the early part of the 20th century – “Every Race Has a Flag but the Coon.” The Red, Black and Green was officially ratified as the Flag for African people at the 1920 UNIA Convention – which led Garvey to proclaim: “Show me the race or the nation without a flag, and I will show you a race of people without any pride. Aye! In song and mimicry they have said, ‘Every race has a flag but the coon.’ How true! Aye! But that was said of us four years ago. They can’t say it now….” The colors of the Flag were meant to have significance for Black/African people globally. In the   ceremonies of IBW’s public events, the Flag is saluted by reciting words that embody the essence of what   we believe Garvey intended to be the meaning of the colors: Red, for the blood and suffering of African people; Black for the color and culture of our people; Green, for the land stolen from us which we will reclaim to build our nation. The Red, Black and Green Flag was meant to be a symbol of Pan African Unity! Indeed, the influence of Garvey was such that the colors appear in the Flags of Malawi, Kenya and Ghana in Africa and St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean. In the era of the 60’s when Black Power, Black Nationalism and Pan Africanism reemerged as a dominant force in the Black Freedom Struggle in the U.S.,the Red,Black and Green was frequently in full flourish at rallies and demonstrations. And, it was common to see sisters and brothers with buttons, hats, scarves and clothing with the colors of the Flag in the design. The colors of the Black Liberation Flag, as it came to be known, were in! It was a symbol of Black pride, unity, resistance and the struggle for self-determination and independence. I shall never forget the hundreds of Flags waving in the breeze on African Liberation Day in 1972 where some 25,000 gathered in Washington, D.C. to demand the liberation of the last colonies in Africa. It was a glorious site, one Marcus Garvey must have been pleased with from his ascendant perch with the ancestors! It was to preserve and promote this spirit of unity, pride and resistance and to keep the legacy of Marcus Garvey alive as an impeccable model of the struggle for Black/African self-determination that I wrote an article some years ago proposing that Garvey’s birthday be declared Universal African Flag Day. In the article I noted that in New York on the day of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, the Puerto Rican Flag is on prominent display through-out the City. The same applies for the Parades of Dominicans, Colombians and other Latino nationalities in New York. And, at some of the largest pro-immigration reform demonstrations a few years ago there was a sea of Mexican Flags — so much so that it provoked a backlash by opponents of reform, who labeled the demonstrators un-American. I firmly believe that Africans in America, indeed, African people everywhere should embrace the Red,Black and Green as our Flag and fly/display it during rallies, demonstrations, public events and Black/African holidays as a unifying, Pan African symbol of self-affirmation, resistance and self-determination. And, on the birthday of Marcus Garvey, Universal African Flag Day, the Red, Black and Green should be proudly on display everywhere! Frankly, my initial calls for Garvey’s birthday to be declared Universal African Flag Day, as an act of Kujichagulia/Self-determination, did not get much traction. But, sparked by the Black Lives Matter Movement, there is a new spirit of resistance in the air. I am noticing more and more Red, Black and Green Flags at rallies and demonstrations. Therefore, encouraged by these events,the forthcoming Millions Peoples March for Justice; the urging of Dr. Segun Shabaka of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO); and, with the blessing of Dr. Julius Garvey, the son of Marcus Garvey, I am renewing the call for August 17th to be affirmed as Universal African Flag Day. Moreover, in this season of heightened resistance, it is only appropriate that we request that President Obama exonerate the Honorable Marcus Garvey of the trumped up charges of which he was convicted as one of the first victims of the FBI. Marcus Garvey’s life and legacy matter to Black/African people. Therefore, we are obligated to fight to clear his name! So, sisters and brothers let’s do it.Fly the Flag and Fight for the Exoneration of Marcus Garvey!#FlytheRedBlackandGreenAugust17 Dr. Ron Daniels is President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century and Distinguished Lecturer at York College City University of New York. His articles and essays also appear on the IBW website www.ibw21.org andwww.northstarnews.com. To send a message, arrange media interviews or speaking engagements, Dr. Daniels can be reached via email at info@ibw21.org

Emancipation: lest we forget (Bermuda)

Royal Gazette

Bermuda

RG: In our Opinion

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  Celebrating equality: Performers from United Dance Productions at “The Trail of our People: Passing the Torch” event held last night to mark Emancipation Day and the creation of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833. The message of freedom, compassion, understanding and respect should be at the forefront of our minds over the Cup Match holiday, as well as evident in our behaviour towards one another (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

This is Cup Match week. The teams have been selected, St George’s Cricket Club and its grounds are being made to look smart, and revellers are at the ready for festivities in the East End and all over the Island. The buzz of excitement is palpable.

The hope is that we have a great match but the eventual outcome pales into insignificance when put alongside what this week should mean every year to Bermudians, and those who hold Bermuda dear to their hearts.

Cup Match has been going since 1902, but the concept of this match started years earlier between the St George’s and Somerset branches of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows. And that came about through the abolition of slavery on this Island.

August 1, 1834, is undoubtedly the most important date in this country’s history; more so than 1503 when Juan de Bermúdez discovered our islands but could not be bothered to stay for tapas; and more so than 1609 when Admiral Sir George Somers, on board the Sea Venture, stumbled upon us on the way to Virginia. Shipwrecked, he brought the first settlers from England, which did not really know immediately what it wanted with the “Isle of Devils” but determined that it should be part of the Crown nonetheless.

Those dates, although important to us, do not bear comparison when set against The Slavery Abolition Act 1833, which determined that all men are equal in the eyes of the law.

Why it took almost one year after the draft date for it to be put into the law is questionable. But there would have been more questions over the quarter century that passed since the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act 1807. The long-overdue result was that, in Bermuda, black men, women and children were free to go their own way.

The annual celebration of this day led to the creation of Cup Match, which has withstood so much to become the fixture on the calendar that it is today, including the fight to have a two-day national holiday and the right to retain the name “Cup Match” when the government of the day attempted to change it after the Second World War.

In evoking the spirit that all men are created equal, Cup Match evolved from being a game that was contested only by black Bermudians to where whites and non-Bermudians have been made welcome. Everyone is welcome at Wellington Oval on Thursday and Friday, people of all race and creed, but not everyone appreciates the meaning of the holiday.

The first day is nominated as Somers Day and the second as Emancipation Day. Given that Cup Match would not exist without emancipation, there is a strong argument that Somers Day should stick to its intended date, July 28, and not infringe on Cup Match, the beginnings of which had very little to do with Sir George Somers.

That is for future governments to decide and may very well take another 100 years.

For now, though, passing on the spirit and the education of Cup Match are paramount. It is questionable whether enough of modern-day Bermuda properly understands, so the message bears repeating ad nauseam.

Cup Match is not about Somerset Cricket Club and St George’s Cricket Club; it is bigger than them. Their job is to serve as grand hosts, which for the most part they do successfully.

Cup Match is not about the players; it is far bigger than them. Their job is to provide the backdrop to the celebration, while not becoming too much of the story (Cup Match 2013 failed sensationally in that regard).

Cup Match is about freedom. Freedom to express oneself, freedom to earn, freedom to build, freedom to explore, freedom to provide.

The celebration does not necessarily have to be executed in the East End or the West End; it is to be celebrated wherever one lays one’s head. For some, that may mean going to the beach; for others, it may mean taking a trip abroad. It could also mean staying at home with a radio nearby.

Celebration has many different faces, but it is essential through all that the theme remain the same — fellowship, compassion, understanding, respect.

For today’s sportsmen, the challenge to abide by the aforementioned traits is strangely overwhelming, as was the case at the Eastern Counties Cup first round in St David’s last week when the worst of our nature was put on display.

Seemingly lost in the cut-throat quest to win at all costs have been the very virtues that brought this great two-day holiday in the first place.

As such, our young neither know nor care deeply about how this precious gift came to be bestowed upon them — and there appear to be fewer and fewer authority figures (eg, coaches, managers) adequately equipped to remind when societal boundaries have been overstepped.

It is imperative that the clubs come to the forefront in this regard. No one should be allowed to represent St George’s or Somerset in Cup Match before having gained a full understanding of what went before and how they must carry themselves. Knowledge of self is so much more important than the collection of riches.

So said the late great Bob Marley: “Don’t gain the world and lose your soul; Wisdom is better than silver and gold.”

Events such as what the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs has put on, culminating in last night’s “The Trail of Our People: Passing the Torch” at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts, should be mandatory. Paying respect to and honouring those who have gone before is at the heart of selflessness.

It is right that the cricketers know their craft so that they may execute their skills as best they can. But let’s not be fooled, these are not the best 22 cricketers on the Island — hardly ever have been. They are simply the best that either club can, or have chosen to, call on.

So it is more with hope than expectation that the cricket on display will be great. But it should always be more with expectation rather than hope that fellowship, compassion, understanding and respect come to the fore — at the match or wherever the celebration takes one.

What was set into action 181 years ago should not be allowed to run aground on the back of ignorance, intransigence and ill will.

We have to be better than that. Much better.