SO it was Emancipation Day and revellers were enjoying the fun and frolic in the Sun. Yes it was August 1st 2010 another year of grand celebration of Freedom day towards the African ex-slaves that were freed from their Slavery 176 years ago. It was a time now to advocate new laws and practice, new rules and regulations. It was a time to introduce a new way of living. A life that was free from racism and every one was to live in harmony. I was on the beach preparing for this special event on August 1st morning. I was glad to participate in this colourful and zesty Celebration that ended up into a beach party that was filled with laughter, entertainment, barbeque and iced cold beverages to quench the thirst of the young beautiful girls that were dancing their tribal dance to the music of all kinds that was being played. No. 63 Beach was as powerful as ever for this occasion. Everyone was having a grand time. People were by the thousands and the vehicles were parked in a lengthy row, you could not see where the line started nor ended. People were involved with activities such as Playing Music from their vehicles or walking with their gigantic boom boxes to entertain the public for dancing and listening purposes. The majority was walking up and down the lovely golden sand beach enjoying the refreshing cool Atlantic breeze by the waters edge. Some relaxed in their parked vehicles glad that there was a holiday to get away from the rat race life in town and others relished a family picnic while some attraction took place as few water scooters traversed the length and breadth of the beach and a Water jet with foreigners landed in front of the Sunsplash Resort on No.63 Beach to take a look at what the beach bash was all about. It was not just celebrating Sunday August 1st  but the after party sure did take place the following day in which I was thinking if people would really be on the beach the Monday since everyone already sported out their money Emancipation Day? It happened that to my surprise people flooded the beach the Monday as well since it was dubbed from some time back as “August Monday” where people would go socialize and have fun in the sun. It seems like Guyanese always have money to sport while the foreigners are only thinking how to make money in America and never really stopping to think about their life and enjoy it like people in Guyana.
So I was on the beach for the second as well but I enjoyed the first more since there was a portable stage with people dancing to the latest hot music, a real beautiful scene that emancipated our lives too. I could not help myself to move around the crowd to see the illuminating atmosphere of people having a grand time. I even swayed my hips and moved my arms to the music and cooled off by the bar with the unique people surrounding it. I will never forget this year August 1st, I believe it was the brightest one yet with people cheering and happy smiles filled the air. Emancipation Day was a thrilling festivity that inspired the nation. It was celebrated throughout the entire country in different ways, but I feel I had the best of it yet at No. 63 beach.
Remembering Martin Luther King a man of great integrity that ended black slavery in America, and also Brother Bob singing his redemption song and Catch a Fire that has influence and molded our minds to believe in feelings and unity and to end racism totally, have made a legacy in the abolition of slavery, and changed the lives of the people in control around the world today. If everyone could cooperate and live as fellow sisters and brothers, what a wonderful world it would be. Standing together and ending racism is a key task to building a bright future ahead for our children who are our leaders of tomorrow, our community/ society in which we dwell in and also the main objective is keeping our country happy and peaceful from all negativity and reinforcing positively a new friendly environment altogether. I was pleased to be a part of the fete, soiree, or should I say Cultural African activity that kept the rhythm of the Afro-Guyanese nationality flowing. It was good to see that Africans did not forget their roots and were able to identify this holiday of great significance and participate with it in full endurance ending it off tiresome after dancing the whole day onto the moonlight night that casted its abundant golden hues upon the calm Atlantic Ocean. I was even more glad to see that our President Bharrat Jagdeo was pictured in front of Guyana Chronicle’s August 2nd and 3rd Edition wearing Cultural African Clothing and smiling warmly with the Africans that took part with a grand show at the National Park on August 1, 2010, Emancipation Day. If everyone can learn to be diverse and take part in other cultures and customs and even dress, we can learn to respect one another and lead progressive lives and a better future in participating in countrywide national holidays ahead.