Book Review…The deadly side of racial bigotry

Feb 21, 2016 Book Review…, Features / Columnists

Book: The Killing of Girlie Moonsammy
Author: Albert R. Cumberbatch, PhD
Reviewer: Dr Glenville Ashby

On the heels of his debut novel, “Boogie nights,” Guyanese Albert Cumberbatch, showcases

The book cover of The Killing of Girlie Moonsammy.

his prowess as an authentic writer with quite an enviable range and imagination. “The Killing of Girlie Moonsammy,” the story of the mysterious slaying of an East Indian girl in a racially charged Guyana, circa 1970s, holds the reader’s attention with multiple plots and sound character development.
Indeed, the baleful shadow that hovers over the lightest of moments leaves us expectant of an imminent evil. And as the drama unfolds the characters more than prove their salt. The Jones brothers – Freddie, Doug, and Cliff – tower as individuals, capable of standing alone. But they are interdependent. Here, no man is an island and their symbiotic relationship serves them well.
And Rudy, who is roped in as a de facto blood relative is commanding and arguably the linchpin of the group. Ever notable is Blackie, a tragic, inscrutable, imposing figure who leaves an indelible imprint long after he is no longer physically present. There are love interests, some as genuine as they get. And the lusts of roaming eyes can be innocuous although in the case of Girlie Moonsammy, it could well portend her demise.
Bearing all the signs of a whodunit mystery clothed in Shakespearean tragedy, Cumberbatch manages to overwhelm us with a grey, threatening atmosphere and a relentless cadence as Blackie unveils his primordial sexual exploits. Rudy wrestles with his conscience when the body of Girlie Moonsammy washes up on the river banks.
Maybe he could have saved that poor girl from the clutches of Blackie; after all, he saw their last encounter. But did his eyes betray him? Why didn’t Girlie Moonsammy scream or put up a valorous struggle? Is Blackie capable of this monstrosity or is he a victim of malicious tongues?
Throughout, a brewing, indefinable storm lurks, poised to exact a pound of flesh from ýunsuspecting characters. Alcoholic demons press on in their effort to claim victims; Freddie’s revelation that sickle cell anemia might cut short his life; the secret he takes to his grave; and his comment: “Life is a bitch, then you die,” reverberates, determined to teach us painful lessons. And the prophetic words, “We all have our demons, some have more than others, and how you deal with them shows your true character,” emerge as the unswerving statement of this narrative.
But beyond the plotting of mischievous gods there is a troubling reality that never goes away. Tribalism based on race, religion, and ethnicity is ever present, and so are misogyny and sexism. Rudy listens with incredulity when he raised the possibility that the rape of Girlie Moonsammy might be taking place right under their nose, only to be told, “Rudy, you have to ask yourself what she is doing out there this late in the evening, all by herself. Looking for it, maybe?”
We shake our heads in disappointment as Blackie’s handicap becomes the subject of ridicule. Children can be cruel and insensitive at times. Adults should know better, but they are more culpable than those in their care. Blackie is condemned, never given the chance to prove otherwise. No room for impartiality, doubt, or a fair shake.
Throughout, the boys dominate with impressive business ventures. They are resourceful, savvy, daring, and their first project as building contractors gets off to a fortuitous start. Multiple contracts follow. They are not to be reckoned with, never intimidated by unionists – standing their ground under pressure – and winning.
Business is their gateway to financial independence and influence, and their prodigious plan to establish a home-owners association in the district of Major Tom is another step in consolidating their image as serious businessmen. And so much can be learnt from their philanthropy.
Hand in glove, they are the perfect fit for success. Their construction business explodes. Single-handedly, they transform the infrastructure of their community. “We are in the upper middle class now,” Rudy boasts. “We will be in the rich class soon. Think about it. People will want a piece of us,” he adds, as is if divining with a crystal ball. His predictions come through and the power brokers of Guyana, including the president are present at the soil turning for one of their community undertakings.
“We must educate children to not just be effective turners of the wheels of industry, commerce and government, so to speak, but in how to create the wheel,” says Rudy, brimming with an ambitious plan for the next generation.
But sometimes riches cannot wash away the pain of losing a loved one, as he later discovers.
On the surface there is a happy ending to this irrepressible tale. But ironically, in a world searching for meaning, the only winners are Blackie and Moonsammy – victims of skewed pride and racial prejudice. Their end, though, is not as regrettable as it seems. There is a redemptive, inexorable lesson in their calamitous existence – an admonition as old as time. But we never learn.
Admittedly, Cumberbatch’s work does not bask in darkness, but the promise that life offers is devoured by the wretchedness we create. The tragedy of Moonsammy and Blackie is an albatross, a lingering stain on a community and nation. To his credit, Cumberbatch succeeds in delivering this profoundly philosophical message.

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The Killing of Girlie Moonsammy by Albert R. Cumberbatch, PhD © 2015
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 978-1-5035-3355-4
Available at Amazon
Rating: Recommended