I WALKED into my staff room and proudly proclaimed “I am an emancipated Negro I must not work.” Everyone looked at me with puzzled gazes, possibly thinking what in the world has gone wrong with this man? In fact the question was asked by one of my associates, “Mr. Adams, are you alright?” My reply was: “I am alright, but I maintain that I must not work.” This is the crucial point of my discourse today.
Once a certain ethnic group of persons were freed it was their erroneous view that work, as we know it, should be a thing of the past. The newfound philosophy was that they were not required to direct their energies at anything strenuous to earn a living, but to focus on the attainments of others and get it “by any means necessary.” This is the philosophy of many a Black youth in Guyana today. So when we visit the scene of another gruesome robbery, it is that the perpetrators of such heinous crimes are operating under the notion that it is their right to take what the rich has. They should not be “workers” but, as they put it, “takers” of what others possess.

Now, this is not an overnight thought of theirs, but rather, it is one that was fostered by some in the so called “educated community.” This group of persons preach the doctrine of emancipation, whereby Black youths should be a bunch of “not working kings and queens,” walking around aimlessly in an empire that their ancestors built. And whenever things go wrong – which it surely will – in that community, then they blame it on the other race (in this case Indians) because it is their fault that this has befallen them. This is the new emancipation story written and directed by Hinds and company.

I cry shame on all those who foster such ideas of laziness amongst the people or peddle the idea that the race ought to look grudgingly on the wealth of others. I say shame on you for mentally enslaving our youth. These dwarf-like and decrepit ideas will only lead to more hatred and murder, as we so often see.
In fact, what these people are not telling you is that the strides made by the freed men soon after slavery is phenomenal, whole villagers were bought with the proceeds of hard labour and frugal saving. We were the forerunners of the co-operative movement – pooling our monies together in “box hand” each one helping the other to achieve their goal. This is what epitomised Black communities all across Guyana, not the modern day gun-toting, non-ambitious banditry that is often perpetuated.
We were and still are a proud Black race. However, somewhere, somehow a sizable group of us lost our way in the new-found gun culture. Their minds became enveloped in an eddying whirlpool of foolishness that brings shame and disgrace to the race. I do hope that, with the reading of this article; that those trapped in that mode get out of it before it is too late.
Some of the lyrics of Brother Marley speaks to this fact “emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.” People of the ilk of Hinds and company probably sing and dance to this popular ballad without paying one iota of attention to its educated lyrics. The song is calling for an “emancipation of our minds,” something up until now Hinds and company cannot fathom.
So the next time this song is played I wish some folks gain the inspiration that is required and lift themselves to a higher level of existence.
Emancipation is freedom from forced labour, not freedom from labour, as is erroneously taught by some.

NEIL ADAMS