An objection to remembering Africa

Aug 02, 2018 Letters

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Dear Editor,
As I pen this piece millions around the world would be celebrating Emancipation Day. Many will be running around all happy with smiles on their faces dressed with their African apparel shouting “Happy Emancipation Day”. But are we really emancipated?
It was only recently that I had a heated debate with a childhood friend. We had both attended the same church. I no longer attend. The church has been in existence since 1863. Its headquarters is in Germany but most of the many million followers are blacks from Africa.
The head of the church since its 155 years existence has always been white. Never black. The hierarchy in the church called apostles is disproportionately white with a few token blacks. The church magazine which serves to educate and relay news to the followers is a predominantly white affair with the occasional token black.
The Sunday school books used by the teachers to teach the kids have all white characters; Jesus white; his disciples white; all the bible Godly characters are whites. The devil is black with horns on his head. Judas is black.
Women in the church have to know their places. No female voices. The women’s role is to sit on the pews and keep the kids quiet while the men do God’s work. They can never be leaders or active voices in the church.
I argued that the church is institutionally racist. I also argued that the church is sexist. My friend did not concur. He argued that whites will do a better job than the blacks. He had no comments on the status of women. I was shocked, this coming from a university educated person, very shocked that a black person would make such an ignorant and blind statement.
Mind you this gentleman once said blacks are more likely to commit crimes than whites. This gentleman also said whites are academically superior to blacks since they were the ones that made all the scientific discoveries.
I have a serious problem with his arguments and I let him know. He called me a black militant who wants to live in the “white man” country and wants to change it. I did not take it personally. I’ve been called worse. I’ve been once told I have self hate when I was critical of black men stating that they are useless and only live for their phallus.
In return I called him a blind educated fool. He became offended. Unfriended me on Facebook and blocked me on WhatsApp.
It’s good when the garbage can take itself out. Tell me, are we really free when we continue to see the whites superior to the blacks? When we cannot question what we see around us when the evidence is overwhelming? Just following blinding!
Guyana will have oil soon. An American journalist wrote some difficult to read truths about that Guyana. I supported him. I stated that it may be difficult to read but it is the truth. Many of my countrymen and women did not agree.
Because I did not support the common black view I was called a colonist. Again I was not offended. I’ve been called worse. Are we really free when we are still living with the mental chains of colonisation? Are we really free when we cannot accept differing views from our black brothers and sisters without characterising each other as Uncle Toms?
Bill Cosby was found guilty of rape. I argued that he is guilty because 62 women cannot be lying. Lots of my black friends put forward different conspiracy theories of whites trying to destroy a successful black man. I had none of it and maintained that he is guilty.
It is impossible to have 62 women all saying the same consistent story to be part of a conspiracy. I was abused for my position. Of course I was not offended. I have a thick skin. I give as much as I received. I intentionally infuriated my attackers by saying Michael Jackson and OJ Simpson were also guilty. The attacks got worse. I just sat back and smiled.
Are we really free when we feel the need to defend someone just because he is black?
I would argue that we are not truly free. The physical chains and shackles were removed. Sadly we still have them mentally. When we are thinking that whites are better than us we are mental slaves. When we cannot accept the constructive criticism of a white person we are mental slaves. When we feel compelled to defend an obviously guilty person just because he is black then we are mental slaves.
We are mental slaves because we do not have that ability to be rational.
Today we will dress in African apparel. I refuse to wear any such. Africans sold me into slavery. They continue to murder each other just because we may be different tribes, look differently and serve the same God differently. For me to ever want to be associated with Africa, the leaders not their minions have to apologise for what they did and continue to do.
So I will not celebrate Emancipation Day. I never did as an adult. I was forced to as a child. Today just reminds me that we are not free. Until that day when a black or white man is judged based on his character and not the colour of his skin or historical past then we will just be co-existing as mental slaves.
Regards
Dr. Mark Devonish

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