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Who owes us what?
published: Monday | March 5, 2007 <DIV class=KonaBody vsvsd="true">
Garth Rattray
Our quest for financial restitution from Britain for slavery is just, but it's also wishful thinking and fails to address the true cause of our transplantation and our sad state as a nation. No amount of monetary compensation can repair Jamaica's real problems: the psycho-social legacy of slavery, aggression, materialism, corruption and 'tribalism' (which exists today as politics and gang affiliation).
British Prime Minister Tony Blair made a non-specific, nondescript symbolic overture to the African Diaspora when he declared "deep sorrow" for Britain's role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Naturally, he did not apologise because that would clear the way for an unending cataract of litigations. Considering the time factor and numerous generations of aggrieved descendants involved, if Britain offers any financial recompense for slavery, she would no doubt spend decades and billions of pounds sorting and settling claims worldwide. The chance of an unmitigated apology (an admission of culpability) or any form of financial restitution from Britain is very slim.
But, why focus on Britain's role when the trans-Atlantic slave trade (the 'Triangular Trade', as it was euphemistically called), was very big business for West African, South-West African and several inland African states (where thousands died on the long march to the coast)? African slave merchants benefited tremendously, so too did coastal farmers (that sold food to slave ships), the coastal state coffers and rulers (from anchorage duties, other fees and 'gifts'). Don't they owe us something also?
Thriving business
For over 400 years, more than 170 African city-states and kingdoms made a thriving business out of selling prisoners of real and fomented tribal wars, kidnapped individuals, people condemned by the judiciary or religious leaders, debtors, people given to rulers as tribute and existing slaves. <NOBR></NOBR>
Endemic tribal conflicts already institutionalised the practice of fights, raids, abductions and slavery among the Africans. So, selling the vanquished to the Europeans for textiles, alcohol, salt, mirrors, beads, horses, knives, swords, guns and ammunition (used to obtain even more slaves) was a natural progression for them because they had a ready-made system to support the trade. The Europeans took advantage of the existing situation; only occasionally would they organise military campaigns in a cooperative effort to capture slaves.
Demanding money for restitution gives the impression that we are in it to fulfil our desperate financial needs. Jamaicans are bright, innovative and hard-working. Had we not fallen prey to the ravages of self-denigration, disunity, politics, indiscipline, corruption and violence, we would be a prosperous nation. I submit that we would not simply seek financial compensation from Britain alone; the issue would be about the far greater quest for 'truth and justice'.
Role of our forefathers
First we need to address the grievous role that our African forefathers played; they betrayed and sold us out. I understand that some there still refer to us derogatorily as 'slavery babies'. We should therefore also debate seeking 'psychological reparation' (at the very least) from the African countries that participated in and benefited from the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
And, before stretching out our hand to Britain for money (which won't even dent our plethora of problems), we should seek to have them specifically admit that their forefathers were wrong to treat us like inferior beings, and that th
published: Monday | March 5, 2007 <DIV class=KonaBody vsvsd="true">
Garth Rattray
Our quest for financial restitution from Britain for slavery is just, but it's also wishful thinking and fails to address the true cause of our transplantation and our sad state as a nation. No amount of monetary compensation can repair Jamaica's real problems: the psycho-social legacy of slavery, aggression, materialism, corruption and 'tribalism' (which exists today as politics and gang affiliation).
British Prime Minister Tony Blair made a non-specific, nondescript symbolic overture to the African Diaspora when he declared "deep sorrow" for Britain's role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Naturally, he did not apologise because that would clear the way for an unending cataract of litigations. Considering the time factor and numerous generations of aggrieved descendants involved, if Britain offers any financial recompense for slavery, she would no doubt spend decades and billions of pounds sorting and settling claims worldwide. The chance of an unmitigated apology (an admission of culpability) or any form of financial restitution from Britain is very slim.
But, why focus on Britain's role when the trans-Atlantic slave trade (the 'Triangular Trade', as it was euphemistically called), was very big business for West African, South-West African and several inland African states (where thousands died on the long march to the coast)? African slave merchants benefited tremendously, so too did coastal farmers (that sold food to slave ships), the coastal state coffers and rulers (from anchorage duties, other fees and 'gifts'). Don't they owe us something also?
Thriving business
For over 400 years, more than 170 African city-states and kingdoms made a thriving business out of selling prisoners of real and fomented tribal wars, kidnapped individuals, people condemned by the judiciary or religious leaders, debtors, people given to rulers as tribute and existing slaves. <NOBR></NOBR>
Endemic tribal conflicts already institutionalised the practice of fights, raids, abductions and slavery among the Africans. So, selling the vanquished to the Europeans for textiles, alcohol, salt, mirrors, beads, horses, knives, swords, guns and ammunition (used to obtain even more slaves) was a natural progression for them because they had a ready-made system to support the trade. The Europeans took advantage of the existing situation; only occasionally would they organise military campaigns in a cooperative effort to capture slaves.
Demanding money for restitution gives the impression that we are in it to fulfil our desperate financial needs. Jamaicans are bright, innovative and hard-working. Had we not fallen prey to the ravages of self-denigration, disunity, politics, indiscipline, corruption and violence, we would be a prosperous nation. I submit that we would not simply seek financial compensation from Britain alone; the issue would be about the far greater quest for 'truth and justice'.
Role of our forefathers
First we need to address the grievous role that our African forefathers played; they betrayed and sold us out. I understand that some there still refer to us derogatorily as 'slavery babies'. We should therefore also debate seeking 'psychological reparation' (at the very least) from the African countries that participated in and benefited from the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
And, before stretching out our hand to Britain for money (which won't even dent our plethora of problems), we should seek to have them specifically admit that their forefathers were wrong to treat us like inferior beings, and that th