I READ THE guest column by Robert “Bobby” Morris on May 5, headlined Conversation Must Continue.
He wrote: “The intention of my sermon on the 1816 uprising led by General Bussa and other Africans, as well as Joseph Pitt, Washington Franklin and other free coloureds, was to stimulate a meaningful conversation on issues of slavery . . . and the search for freedom as we celebrate our landmark 50th anniversary of Independence. “
1) Why is it that the great and mighty historians have not told the semi-literate like me Bussa’s full name?
2) Did Bussa study military strategy while still in Africa or after he was brought here where by he is given the title general?
Is that title given to him for greater effect on the minds of the “poor”? Was he a general in the Salvation Army?
These things must be cleared up otherwise the children will become adults fully loaded with misinformation.
Search for freedom
He also mentions “The search for freedom as we celebrate our 50th anniversary of Independence”, Morris, are we not yet free? So what are we celebrating, Independence without freedom?
Ah, oh yes! We are in search of freedom from excessive taxation.
Nevertheless, that first paragraph remains brilliant. So much so that the average person would see only beauty and his conviction in it. Morris deserves a knighthood for the 50th.
Conversation
Conversation! Several years ago, I went to a lecture/discussion when the argument was who started /led the 1816 slave revolt. It was not a conversation then or at any other time.
The argument was always caustic. And as long as the “conversation” continues it will always be rancid. And every generation would be left hanging in the air because the people do not really know and they have no time to scratch through old papers here today and there tomorrow – in search of the truth.
Will the conversation rage year after year until a settlement is reached? But neither side wants to lose the “conversation”.
If the combatants can only acknowledge the indisputable truth, which is, the leaders attempted to free themselves and the other slaves failed and engendered greater rigour against the slaves that survived, the “conversation” would end in peace.
So let us cease fighting over who led a lost cause.
– HORACE GREEN
