In celebration of Black History Month, we would like to share a truly outstanding example of Black courage and heroism drawn from the annals of Barbadian history.
It was 1675, and the oppressive British slave colony of Barbados was celebrating its 50th year. Indeed, by 1675, the island of Barbados had developed into the prized “jewel” in the British “crown” of colonial territories, and boasted a white population of 23 000 people, and an enslaved black population of some 33 000 souls.
It was in this milieu that a network of enslaved Blacks or Africans, spent three years meticulously hatching a plot to overpower and destroy the white slave master class, and to take control of the island. This momentous event in the history of Barbados was recorded in a 1676 United Kingdom publication entitled Great Newes from the Barbadoes, or A True and Faithful Account of the Grand Conspiracy of the Negroes.
Unfortunately for the network of revolutionaries, a female domestic slave by the name of Anna (alias Fortuna) overheard one of the rebels trying to persuade a reluctant teenager to join the plot. Anna spoke with the young slave, discovered that the uprising was due in two weeks’ time, and persuaded the youth to go with her to inform her slave master, judge Gyles Hall.
Judge Hall, in turn, went in haste to the Governor, Sir Jonathan Atkins, and he immediately mobilised his corps of military guards to arrest the known conspirators. Governor Atkins also declared martial law, and within days more than 100 African-Barbadian suspects had been arrested.
Seventeen of the Blacks were immediately found guilty and sentenced to death, with six being burnt alive and 11 beheaded and dragged through the streets of Speightstown.
It was against this background of utter horror and barbarity that the shining, imperishable heroism of an African-Barbadian revolutionary hero known simply as, Tony, emerged.
Tony, described by his captors as “a sturdy rogue, a Jew’s Negro”, was in the presence of another condemned rebel who was being prepared for death by burning. The Provost Marshal urged this unfortunate man to confess and to name others before he died.
Tony immediately spoke up and admonished him: “Thou Fool, are there not enough of our Countrymen killed already? Art thou minded to kill them all?”
One of the white spectators shouted to Tony – “Tony, Sirrah, we shall see you fry bravely by and by!”
Tony’s response to this threat of the most horrible death imaginable was to declare proudly and defiantly: “If you roast me today, you cannot roast me tomorrow!” – and to bid the executioner to proceed.
Tony was burnt to death – one of 42 heroes executed for having the audacity to claim their freedom and dignity.
Tony’s example, and his immortal cry of courage and defiance should be remembered, honoured and cherished by every generation of Barbadians!
