I HAVE always looked forward to Black History Month, not because I share any romantic thoughts of Africa or repressed anger about our past experiences, but because it is a time to reflect on the black experience.
I am a West Indian, a Caribbean man, and that means I have the right and advantage of drawing from a wide-ranging set of cultural influences. Never-theless, I oftentimes think that the youth today are taken away by the shine of North America. It is for these reasons that I believe that in sensationalising the Queen's visit to the island we mock our celebrations of Black History Month. For while we live in a melting pot of different cultures, African is at the heart of Jamaican people.
Though our lives may be a fusion of many worlds, our African heritage is the root from which we all grow, and create. It echoes in our speech, our dance, our dress, our rhythm, our passions and our imagination. We are often called a lost generation, but I sincerely believe that if we take that deeper look, if we take a step into our past, which is ultimately our today and tomorrow, then we will be a step closer to putting a finger on just who we really are.
I am a bit confused though. How is that the Queen's visit to the island is an event? The English monarch is the ultimate symbol of slavery. It is the symbol of oppression, of dehumanisation, of racism, of exploitation and of a deceit that continues to take us down a road of illusions. At the risk of sounding bitter I will stop here, but if any man has the answer please tell me whether it is that we have forgotten and forgiven, or if we simply don't care.
