Deon P. Green, Gleaner Writer
Norman 'Bunny' Barnett. - CONTRIBUTED
JAMAICAN-BORN British businessman Norman 'Bunny' Barnett wants more economic cohesiveness among black people, particularly Jamaicans and others living overseas.
He set out the parameters for success in his book titled Black Heroes and theSpiritual Onyame.
"It has been a very intriguing journey," he told the Financial Gleaner. "Black people have moved forward a great deal economically, yet such gains have been fragmented, insufficiently grounded and not cohesive. The book aims to encourage the kind of cohesiveness, for example which exists within the Indian and Chinese communities."
GREATER SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING NEEDED
The author pointed out that during a search of the historical development of black people including Jamaicans, he has discovered that economic advancement is connected with a system of principles associated with the spiritual, which if utilised properly could have universal impact.
He said the text focuses on what patriots such as Marcus Garvey, Nelson Mandela and Paul Bogle have spoken about. "We need a greater understanding of who we are spiritually and to recognise our philosophical and economical contribution to civilisation. There is a need to look inward to achieve," he told the Financial Gleaner.
Mr Barrett said Onyame, which is a Ghanaian word, describes the nature of God in all his manifestation. He added that it is a tool for the individual to find him or herself through an inward analysis of the individual.
The author argues that Jamaicans should seek to reconnect with the source of our being.
RECAPTURING AND UTILISING
Mr. Barnett shows in his book the connecting thread that still exists between West Africans and Egyptians of the past. He also pointed out Ghana as a country in Africa that has relative economic stability on a continent experiencing deprivation.
"The recapturing of the traditional cohesive glue that existed in Africa is a vital component in our social and economic stability. We as a people need to recapture, re-evaluate and utilise that bond for individual, community and nation building," Barnett said
He pointed out that he has been inspired to write such a diverse text because of the history of black people which has been his basis for establishment of a successful enterprise in the United Kingdom since he arrived in England in 1963.
"I was personally inspired by many in Jamaica, including former journalist with The Gleaner, Percy Miller and pilot Roderick Francis."
The intriguing text is available in major bookstores in United Kingdom and via the Internet at the Amazon bookstore.
