Dear Editor,

On August 1, 1834, colonial powers proclaimed Emancipation for the enslaved Africans brought to the Americas to forcibly serve and forcibly labour for the colonialists.

The fight for liberty was a long, hard one. From the days of the European occupation of the West Indies, in particular Jamaica, free Africans from Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia who travelled the Americas as explorers joined native Indians (Tainos/Arawaks) to resist slavery.

The free Africans and original inhabitants (Tainos) coexisted for decades in the rural sea coasts and mountainous areas of Jamaica, while the Spanish occupied sections of the island. Several established free cities existed on a substantial section of land from east to west of the island; Maroon Town, Moore Town, Charles Town, Flagstaff, Scott’s Hall, Accompong, Treasure Beach and others.

The proclamation of Emancipation did not come without a long, hard resistance from the enslaved Africans themselves. Rebel groups of Africans continuously fought for their liberty. They would burn plantations and kill colonialists whenever they could in the fight for liberation of the enslaved Africans. These continued rebellion/raids made things difficult for the colonialists, as their illegal profit plummeted each time a cane crop was burnt and colonialist lives were lost.

When the British colonial powers arrived in Jamaica, they overran the Spanish and took control of areas they controlled. Spanish colonialists fled the island.

The invasion of the British gave enslaved Africans an opportunity to flee slavery. Many of them joined forces with the Africans and Tainos who coexisted in the mountains of Jamaica forming an army that fought the British for a period of 180 years before the Emancipation proclamation.

The Maroons (free Africans and Tainos), in 1738, signed a Blood Treaty with the British signalling an end to a Maroon War, with agreed establishment of sovereignty and independence for the Maroon nation.

Emancipation came from great courage and skill from Maroons. As we join in the celebration, let us be mindful of where we are now and, more importantly, where we are coming from and where we are going.

Now is the time to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, as none but ourselves can free our minds and souls.

Duncan Bertram Buchanan

juniorbuck1@yahoo.com