Eminent regional scholars hail latest chronicle of Caribbean’s history
LAUDED as an excellent work that doesn’t read like a history book, Professor Tony Martin’s untypical scholarly publication entitled ‘Caribbean History: From Pre-Colonial Origins to the Present’ was launched at the Umana Yana last Thursday, May 24th. The work is the most up-to-date Caribbean history book currently on the market, according to its author, Dr Tony Martin, Professor Emeritus of African Studies at Wellesley College, Massachusetts.
‘Caribbean History’ came with the high recommendation of eminent History Professor Winston McGowan, who reviewed the work. Dr. McGowan noted that the book’s contents start as far back as 6000 B.C., and comes up to the year 2011, making it the most up-to-date history book in the Caribbean.
He praised the book as well written, and not in academic language; but with a lucid, easy-to-understand style. He opined that ‘Caribbean History, which boasts 346 pages of text laid out in 15 chapters, should not only be used by university undergraduates, as recommended, but should also be read by all C.X.C. teachers and C.X.C. and C.A.P.E. students.
He opined that the author was writing from a completely different perspective as he quoted another prominent Professor, Dr Clive Thomas, to substantiate that Professor Tony Martin’s perspective was that of the poor, the powerless, the oppressed and the masses.
Dr McGowan said that Dr Martin made a deliberate attempt to provide new information in his work, including using the findings of new scholarship. He also praised Dr Martin’s care to document his research, pointing out that in many Caribbean texts the sources of information are unknown. He said the book has a wide ambit, pointing out that it not only dealt with the Caribbean, but with other places which had similar experiences. The work examined the role of the non-British Caribbean more than other general Caribbean texts.
Professor Mc Gowan observed that there was a profound focus on Africans in the work, both in the pre- and post-emancipation periods. He praised Martin’s examination of largely ignored or barley touched on aspects of slavery, such as the sexual exploitation of female slaves, child rape, and more.
Other outstanding aspects noted by McGowan in his review included an examination of why Maroonage was successful (a full 45 pages are dedicated to this topic), immigration – including internal Caribbean immigration and black power with ‘Caribbean History’, even including a section on late Guyanese Historian and Social Activist Dr Walter Rodney.
Commenting on his own work, Dr. Tony Martin said ‘Caribbean History’ was the culmination of an academic career. He underscored that a lifetime of work was put into the book, and highlighted important aspects of the publication, especially the maps used, which he said represented countries of the world to scale.
The launch included a presentation segment in which Martin lovingly dedicated the work to his beloved five-year- old son Shabaka, who he said was his constant companion through the writing of ‘Caribbean History’, and he also presented him with a copy of the work.
Master of ceremonies at the event, Mr Christopher ‘Kit’ Nascimento, lauded the work, and opined that every school in Guyana and in the Caribbean should make the book compulsory reading, because it is only from assimilating the knowledge of our past and that as Guyanese we can truly know from whence we came and who we are.
He regretted that the book had not been available during his own school years, recalling that he had learned about the kings of England and Oliver Cromwell, but not the Middle Passage or slavery; and the immigration of East Indians, Chinese and Portuguese.
Nascimento noted that, even today, many students in school remain largely ignorant of who we are and why we came.
Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony graced the event with his presence.