Race debate a sensitive issue
by Sir John Goddard
In the midst of the current race debate, it might be helpful to reflect on certain extracts from two letters that I wrote and which were published in both daily newspapers shortly after Emancipation Day was officially celebrated in Barbados for the first time on August l, 1997. They seem to have even more relevance now than they had at that time. “Slavery has existed as long as mankind. This is a fact of history and not a justification of slavery. It existed for the purpose of applying inexpensive forced labour, usually on a massive scale, to achieve the economic, military, cultural, political and other goals of those who owned and controlled the slaves. “Slavery was international and it permitted mankind to develop out of the Dark Ages into the civilisation of modern times. Regrettably, it still exists in certain parts of the world today. It remains as history’s classic example of man’s inhumanity to man. “In Barbados, the Caribbean and the Americas, slavery was introduced approximately 400 years ago for economic purposes. Constant agitation and revolts by slaves, combined with enlightened thinking of progressive minds and emerging social considerations, ensured its demise in the 19th century. “The process started when native men and women in West Africa were gathered and sold by persons of their own race to slave traders of another race from Britain and Europe. They were brutally transported on sailing ships across the Atlantic Ocean over the infamous Middle Passage to the Caribbean and the Americas. Many died and those that survived the rough voyage were sold again to new owners and forced to work on the plantations. “In a relatively short time, the slaves lost their names, nationality, language, religion, music and culture. However, they and their descendants never lost their dignity and desire to be free because freedom is a universal human aspiration. It was finally won many generations after the arrival of the first slaves and was formally proclaimed by Acts of Emancipation in the 19th century. “Recent calls for apologies and reparations from descendants of former slave owners are undoubtedly serious and sincere. However, it is unfortunate that a few such calls have the hollow ring of exploitation of the issue of slavery to advance personal agendas. “With reference to those calls that have been made, there are some important questions to be addressed. Who has the authority to be the spokesperson for the former slave owners of so many generations ago? How and from whom is such authority derived? Regardless of personal feelings of regret and remorse feelings that I have in common with many others – it would take tremendous presumption and arrogance for anyone to believe that such authority exists and resides in them. “How are reparations to be determined? How far back in time will they apply? For how long will they be paid? Who will do the calculations and how will the beneficiaries be identified? How and by whom will the reparations be administered? The questions are endless and only emphasise the futility of the proposed exercise. “As we all know, we live on a small, densely populated island with limited natural resources and with an open and fragile economy. • Continued on Page 16A. “In the conduct of our national affairs, the margin for error remains very small and hence our unchanging need to be pragmatic. We also know instinctively that our people are our most valuable resource. In our own common interests, therefore, we need to increase our efforts to improve social harmony and cohesiveness as well as sustain economic growth and development. “Slavery must be one of mankind’s most painfill memories, especially for persons whose ancestors had been enslaved. That pain still lingers and scars remain after many generations. Only through honest and constructive discussion, along with serious and sincere efforts at reconciliation and living and working together in greater harmony, can the burden of the heavy psychological baggage, which has been inherited by the descendants of slaves and slave owners alike, be lightened and eventually lifted completely. “The lessons to be learnt from events of the past are important and can assist us if we study them calmly and in the context of their times. In the spirit of brotherhood and love, and out of our personal and collective feelings of regret, remorse and forgiveness, let us take full and shared responsibility for creating our own future in a rapidly changing and much more complex and competitive world. “Let us now also focus on the future and on the wider world. Their challenges are inescapable and we can only deal with them successfully through reconciliation and working together in greater harmony”. What have been the main changes, if any, since August 1997? While the same periodic calls for apologies and reparations continue, reparations are now seen in terms of forgiveness of national debt rather than as personal handouts. Evidence has surfaced recently of Marxist thinking which has failed to receive any support. The lines between race and class relations have continued to become more blurred. So far, Barbadians generally have silently chosen either to ignore or not to participate in the race debate. This is their right and it is particularly evident in the higher socioeconomic groups. This could be a reflection of our sustained economic growth and development, social stability and greater upward social mobility. Whatever the reasons may be and regardless of our different opinions on the matter, let all of us ensure that we always deal with the issue of race with sensitivity, courtesy and mutual respect.“In the conduct of our national affairs, the margin for error remains very small and hence our unchanging need to be pragmatic. We also know instinctively that our people are our most valuable resource. In our own common interests, therefore, we need to increase our efforts to improve social harmony and cohesiveness as well as sustain economic growth and development. “Slavery must be one of mankind’s most painfill memories, especially for persons whose ancestors had been enslaved. That pain still lingers and scars remain after many generations. Only through honest and constructive discussion, along with serious and sincere efforts at reconciliation and living and working together in greater harmony, can the burden of the heavy psychological baggage, which has been inherited by the descendants of slaves and slave owners alike, be lightened and eventually lifted completely. “The lessons to be learnt from events of the past are important and can assist us if we study them calmly and in the context of their times. In the spirit of brotherhood and love, and out of our personal and collective feelings of regret, remorse and forgiveness, let us take full and shared responsibility for creating our own future in a rapidly changing and much more complex and competitive world. “Let us now also focus on the future and on the wider world. Their challenges are inescapable and we can only deal with them successfully through reconciliation and working together in greater harmony”. What have been the main changes, if any, since August 1997? While the same periodic calls for apologies and reparations continue, reparations are now seen in terms of forgiveness of national debt rather than as personal handouts. Evidence has surfaced recently of Marxist thinking which has failed to receive any support. The lines between race and class relations have continued to become more blurred. So far, Barbadians generally have silently chosen either to ignore or not to participate in the race debate. This is their right and it is particularly evident in the higher socioeconomic groups. This could be a reflection of our sustained economic growth and development, social stability and greater upward social mobility. Whatever the reasons may be and regardless of our different opinions on the matter, let all of us ensure that we always deal with the issue of race with sensitivity, courtesy and mutual respect. 
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