Paul Bogle or Thomas Jennings? Black History tweet has Jamaicans, Americans divided on Twitter
Another year and the legitimacy of Jamaican
National Hero Paul Bogle’s image is being brought under scrutiny as a Black
History tweet conflates the anti-slavery freedom fighter with American inventor
Thomas L Jennings.
The (uncanny) similarity between the two
black figures was made even more glaring for Jamaicans on Twitter, who were not
so amused at the fact that Bogle seemed to not have an identity outside of his facial
‘linkages’ to Jennings.
Random — Tariq Nasheed Ÿ‡ºŸ‡¸ (@tariqnasheed)
Random — Tariq Nasheed Ÿ‡ºŸ‡¸ (@tariqnasheed) #BlackHistoryMonth fact….The creator of modern dry cleaning was a Foundational Black American named Thomas L. Jennings pic.twitter.com/hVcXZFHZy0February 1, 2020
Apparently, the image does belong to
Jennings, with Jamaican officials claiming it was Bogle without authentication around
the late 1960s.
Jennings, who is credited with being the
father of modern-day dry cleaning, became the first African American to be
awarded a patent in 1821.
It’s a conversation that happens like clockwork on social media around two times of the year, Black History and National Heritage months, but some Jamaicans, none the wiser, have contested the Jennings tweet claiming that the image bears the likeness of Paul Bogle.
Paul Bogle did guh pon work n travel — Gyal dem BBQ Zinger Ÿ‡¯Ÿ‡²Ÿ” (@OatsPorridge)
Paul Bogle did guh pon work n travel — Gyal dem BBQ Zinger Ÿ‡¯Ÿ‡²Ÿ” (@OatsPorridge) https://t.co/AstzqSq3ebFebruary 2, 2020
The Colonial Standard, the state-run news
arm of the British monarchy in Kingston, detailed in 1865 that Bogle’s physical
attributes were much more defined.
An article, published on Wednesday, October
18, 1865 – listing Bogle as wanted following the death of St Thomas Custos
Baron von Ketelhodt and fifteen vestrymen at the Morant Bay Court the week before
– the embattled deacon was described as “a very black man, with shining
skin, bearing heavy marks of smallpox on his face, and more especially on his
nose.â€
Lol never know that Paul Bogle had a twin who was an inventor — EdwardNewgate (@KAntoneal)
Lol never know that Paul Bogle had a twin who was an inventor — EdwardNewgate (@KAntoneal) https://t.co/5Ai0LQEMTFFebruary 3, 2020
“[T]eeth good, large mouth with red, thick lips; about five feet eight inches in height, broad across the shoulders, carries himself indolently, and has no whiskers,†the bulletin, which disclosed a £2,000 reward for his capture, added.
It is unclear if there are any other
records of Bogle, either as a citizen or the vilified ‘colonial criminal’ he
was so described in centuries past.
I still can’t understand who get up one day & just tell lie seh a Paul Bogle. — Lij Tafari (@lijitimate)
I still can’t understand who get up one day & just tell lie seh a Paul Bogle. — Lij Tafari (@lijitimate) https://t.co/p8r5Lww84tFebruary 2, 2020
The question also remains: Why, when many
have uncovered the truth about the image’s disputed genuineness, is the
likeness of Jennings still perpetuated as Bogle if, in truth, Bogle’s true
identity has been lost?
