Rowley to Academia: Focus on Afro Trinidadians

PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley has called for more academic focus on Afro-Trinidadians.

In his African Emancipation Day 2024 message Dr Rowley highlighted the importance of acknowledging these achievements against the backdrop of the harrowing history of African ancestors.

He recalled the centuries of enslavement, the destruction of families and cultures, brutal physical suffering, and the relentless demand for freedom endured by African ancestors. These sacrifices, he noted, have allowed current generations to stand as proud citizens of a progressive, modern nation.

Dr Rowley recounted the historical context of slavery, particularly the European capture of Africans in the fifteenth century to meet labor demands in the Caribbean and the Americas. Over the next three centuries, Europe built an empire on the trafficking of millions from Africa, turning the islands into imperial possessions.

He said that enslaved Africans were treated as commodities, subject to sale, abuse, and murder without consequence.

Referencing Dr Eric Williams, Trinidad and Tobago’s first prime minister and Caribbean historian, Dr Rowley pointed out that Britain’s wealth was significantly built on the African slave trade and plantation slavery.

Following the Emancipation Act of 1834, British planters received 20 million pounds in compensation for their “losses,” while the enslaved received nothing. This compensation was reinvested into British industries, fueling the First Industrial Revolution and further investments across the British Empire.

Dr Rowley said much of the Western world was built on the enslavement of Africans and called for the recognition of the ongoing demand for reparations. Despite the glory of past empires, he stated, the shame of enslavement must be acknowledged, and the diaspora’s claims should not be ignored.

Reflecting on the journey since 1834, Dr Rowley noted that the phrase “emancipated, but not free” has often been used to describe the ongoing struggle of the descendants of the enslaved. He criticized attitudes that suggest the enslaved should be grateful for the experience, highlighting the importance of today’s celebrations in recognizing the resilience and determination of African descendants.

He urged the National Library (NALIS) and the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago to focus on the contributions of outstanding Afro-Trinidadians and Afro-Tobagonians. He specifically mentioned figures such as Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), George Padmore (Malcolm Nurse), Dr Eric Eustace Williams, and many others who have made significant contributions both locally and globally.

Dr Rowley also called on the nation’s universities to research and promote the African heritage in various cultural forms, including art, literature, music, religion, and more.