A humble dark-skinned maid becoming the wife of a red-necked Londoner created havoc in an already racial society.

The white overseer
The late 50’s. A sugar plantation on the West Coast Demerara named Uitvlugt. This plantation, like the others, was owned by a giant British consortium – Bookers. And its management was all white expatriates. Some brought their families. Others were young bachelors. And they were on strict contracts. No socializing, intimacy or marriage to any peasants especially the low-income maids. As best as it could these aristocrats were to use male services and the mess hall.

The Maid
But one red-neck decided to hire a maid. She was an uneducated country gal. She was tall, dark and charming. She was flashy and had many suiters but chose to remain single. Her sharp personality and vivacious conduct earned her that coveted job

Black Beauty
One of the conditions was that she would report for work at 6am and leave at 2pm. The strict security enforced this rule as the compound had to be cleared of all workers by 4pm.

More than a maid
But on this day the maid did not exit. A report was made to management. The next day the manager summoned Mr. Warwick, her boss, to his office. It was clear. Either this overseer fired his maid or face deportation to England.

The Maid or his job
Warwick lost his job but he was able to take his Black beauty back to London. He was trapped in the maid’s amorous web.
It was sensational. It was the talk of the estate and an insult to the elite establishment. They deemed this ‘Bacra’ mad.

“Gal you hear? Ratta get married to White Man Warwick! Yes gal, she played her charm well. Another fool. He go find out later and she going to England! Well deh weh de problem go begin. Big race ting over deh. You ain’t hear how Rafik was stabbed six times by a white man? De gal gone lef he. She go do she own ting. Ah wish she well. Leh she try deh. White man na like black people. He get ketch she give he good and he so young and handsome. Dem used to warn he about she wicked ways.

Play Girl
“Well da she luck nah. Ah we village gal go gone. Ah wah Ivan go do. He did praply love she. All ah he daddy money gone pon she, but she like de White man more how uncle Jai must be pleased she na go become his daughter -in-law.”

Off to London
Finally the ship sailed. And among the passengers were Mr. & Mrs. Warwick. All eyes on this couple. White in contrast to black never seen before and heading for a racially-torn country but Warwick cared little of the gossip and stares. He embraced his bride all the way. And she basked in the glory. It was love all the way- honeymoon, the cross Atlantic cargo/passenger ship docked at Liverpool. The stevedores looked with surprise at this odd couple stepping onto the gang plank. Some cheered them on. Others ground their teeth. The White guys were furious and some Negroes detested the union. They argued that a black is not suited for a ‘limey’. That he would just use her and dump her. Some pitied her. She was going to be ostracized.

Pessimism
Out on the street, they tried to get a cabby. Warwick did not tell his parents of his dismissal from British Guiana and his marriage. He was going to give them a surprise. Even the cabby refused their patronage. They took the tube part of the way and walked the rest. When they entered their neighbourhood some folks stared in disbelief. It was an all-white community. Some cursed. Warwick waved at his neighbours. They didn’t respond. Instead they closed their doors and shutters but began to peep.

Mother’s Shock
Warwick rang the doorbell. His lovely wife clung to his side very anxious to see his parents. Mrs. Warwick opened the door. She was shocked “Mother….” said Warwick with a smile, “I’ve resigned my job in Guiana and I’ve returned to live back here. This is my wife. Mrs. Warwick’s complexion turned blue. “What?”
(TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK)