–on the subject of Emancipation

IT’s been 179 long years now, so one cannot help but wonder, given what is happening in the world today, particularly among Peoples of African Descent, whether it was all for nought; whether those of our ancestors who waged a relentless war so that we their descendants can enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted would have died in vain.
It is with this thought in mind that our reporter took to the streets to find out, particularly from his peers, what are their thoughts on the subject of Emancipation.
And, we were pleasantly surprised! As what they had to say was priceless!

TOWANIE THOM: Supervisor
“My eyes can’t be compared with the tearful eyes of my ancestors. My kinky-fibred hair represents the hardships they bore; my full plump lips signify the uniqueness of my kind.
“As Afro-Guyanese growing up, I would anticipate the excitement on August 1: The way the cultural aroma of conkee, metemgee and cook up would caress my nose; the way the heat from mom ironing our Emancipation outfits would kiss my skin as I passed.
“I always felt that the colours and patterns on the African print spoke strongly about bondage and freedom.
“Whenever I’m dressed in any African attire, the feeling of pride would run through my veins. For me, Emancipation isn’t only related to physical freedom, but also to the freedom of whatever may be holding us in bondage from within.”

DIANA CRUICKSHANK: Coordinator of The Roraima Institute and Vice-Chair of SASOD Women’s Arm Guyana (SWAG), Co-Founder of Student Society Against Human Rights Violations (SSARVHI)
“When I think of Emancipation, I remember Ernestine Rose, when she said, ‘Emancipation from every kind of bondage is my principle. I go for recognition of human rights, without destruction of sect, party, sex or colour.’
“I strongly embrace her statements here, because it is very applicable to our world and our country today. Personally, I would go on to add that Emancipation means Freedom of the Press, which is still in question presently; freedom of dress; and freedom of minority groups like the LGBTQ community.
“It means uniting people and destroying polarities that separate us socially, economically and politically. Emancipation is showing respect and love to one another despite our ethnic makeup, and working together to make Guyana a truly free and progressive nation.”

NKOFI HODGE: Student and Consultant
“Emancipation, in my opinion, is freedom from physical and psychosocial limits that were (and in some cases still are) implemented to restrict the growth and development of an individual, organisation or country.
“Being emancipated gives me the ability and the right to live a free, limitless life however I see fit.”

GABRIELLE MOHAMED: Scribe for the University of Guyana
“It was my assumption, as a young female Guyanese dat dis e-man-ci-pa-tion woulda lift de curse ah imperialism, thus washing away all traces of patriarchal and colonial DNA that has been embedded into our memories.
“However, this assumption has been proven, thus far, to be false, and as such we as a Guyanese whole should have entered a period that would have facilitated the restoration of the individual’s mental self, in addition to the formation of the Guyanese Nationalist Identity.
“Instead, we are faced with a society that rejects the idea of freedom, thus denying us the possibility for our stories to be heard, and to enable us with the power to vocalise these traumas.
“I swim in the honey swirls of my diluted eyes, and have come to the realisation that Guyana, although physically free, is still being mentally controlled by the imperialist’s ideology.
“I stand still in crowd of my fellow Guyanese and recognise the sight of confusion in their eyes; their thirst for wholeness is blatantly ignored. Perhaps, this is a period of colonialisation.”

AISHA JEAN-BAPTISTE HAYNES: ACDA Events Coordinator and Entrepreneur
“Your question made me think immediately of the Sankofa Bird; and the W.E.B. Learning Centre’s description is my favourite and I would like to share it with you as I always refer to it during this time.
“Emancipation, for me, is a time of celebration and reflection. Symbolically, it means… The Sankofa Bird, which, according to Ghanaian culture, is a mythic bird that flies forward while looking backward with an egg, symbolizing the future, in its mouth.
“… it teaches us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward; we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us, so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward.
“Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone or been stripped of can be reclaimed, revived, preserved and perpetuated.”

ANDREW HUTSON: Medical Doctor, Writer, Proud Guyanese
“I tend to be ideal, in all regards, when asked about Guyana. Emancipation represents freedom to me, and I don’t mean dust curling, iron shackles falling; that long breath of fresh air after the sudden thud and recoil from the ground.
“And I don’t mean the clinking of the rounds in the chain link in the fit of that great adrenaline rush either.
“I mean the pursuit of a Guyanese dream; one, in my humble opinion, that I think is poorly defined; one that I feel is owed to us by our artists; a portrait, rather, that every Guyanese can lose themselves in awe of.”

ACKEENI BENTINCK: Teacher
“There is more to Emancipation that just physical liberation. To be emancipated is to be emotionally, spiritually, and mentally free and no longer suppressed to believe what our oppressors brainwashed us to believe.
“To me, it’s more than just a ‘proclamation’, but an emblem of our forefathers’ strength, sacrifices and desperation for freedom, which paved the way for future generations. Emancipation is a continuous cycle.
“To me, Emancipation is perpetual, for we must continue to overcome and conquer that which suppresses us on a daily basis.”

ESTHER HAMER: Dancer and Choreographer
“There are many trees of African ancestry: They are deeply rooted, and their branches spread to support a wide canopy.
“I feel privileged to be a fruit of one of these trees. I firmly believe in learning from history my past.
“Emancipation is about history, legacy, sacrifice. Most of my actions are not based on conscious reflection of my ancestors, but Emancipation Day is a sensory reminder of where I came from; and in that way, I reconnect with it and teach my children to appreciate their roots and work hard not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
“It is also a time to have fun with exploring the Guyanese adaptations of African traditions in art, music, dance and drama, and realising anew that I am a living example of this unique adaptation.”

LISA WILLIAMS: Teacher
“For me, Emancipation is a time to celebrate the heritage of the African people: Our strength, resilience and beauty. It reminds me to exploit the opportunities before me.
“Like my ancestors, I can work hard. Unlike them, I can reap the fruits of my labour. Emancipation reminds me that the stride and struggle towards success is not only for myself, but for my people; African descendants and Guyanese.”