Cricket As a Catalyst for West Indian Independence: 1950-1962
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Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 8-21-2013 12:00 AM 'Massa Day Done:' Cricket as a Catalyst for West Indian Independence: 1950-1962 Jonathan A. Newman The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Dr. Don Morrow The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Kinesiology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Master of Arts © Jonathan A. Newman 2013 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Sports Studies Commons Recommended Citation Newman, Jonathan A., "'Massa Day Done:' Cricket as a Catalyst for West Indian Independence: 1950-1962" (2013). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 1532. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/1532 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ‘Massa Day Done:’ Cricket as a Catalyst for West Indian Independence, 1950-1962. Thesis format: Monograph by Jonathan Newman Graduate Program in Kinesiology A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada © Jonathan Newman 2013 Abstract This thesis examined the manner in which West Indies cricket became a catalyzing force for West Indians in moving towards political independence from Britain during the period 1950- 1962. West Indians took a game that was used as a means of social control during the colonial era, and refashioned that game into a political weapon to exact sporting and especially political revenge on their colonial masters. Analyses (CDA, narrative analysis, examination of calypsos and cartoons) of the historic cricket tour to England in 1950, the decolonization movement, and the appointment of Frank Worrell as the first black captain of the team, among other significant indicators and events, revealed recurring narratives that linked the success of West Indies cricket to a readiness for political independence from Britain. These narratives reflected a feeling that “the time was now” for West Indians to forge a political identity for themselves separate from the subservient pupil of the British master. Politicians utilized rhetorical strategies that appealed to feelings of racial unity to fuel their push for political independence. Taken together, the overriding narrative revealed by this analysis applied to selected newspaper articles and political speeches, could be encapsulated in the epithet, “massa day done”. The discourse emanating from the success of West Indies cricket set West Indians on a course toward political autonomy from Britain. Key Words: Cricket, West Indies cricket, Decolonization, Frank Worrell, C.L.R.James, West Indian Federation, West Indian Independence, Calypso, Critical Discourse Analysis, Colonialism ii Acknowledgments I owe many thanks to a select group of people, whose help was crucial to the completion of this thesis. Don, your patience and expert guidance was indispensable throughout this entire process. Thank you for your generosity; I will be forever grateful. Drs. Allahar and Heine, many thanks for keeping me on the right paths as I plotted my way forward with this study. The seeds of this thesis can be traced to my academic awakening at Ithaca College. The tutelage of Dr. Stephen Mosher cultivated in me a critical perspective on sport and the world that informed this thesis, and is one that I am thankful to have going forward. To my partner Jim, I cannot thank you enough for your support and unfailing belief in my abilities to make it through this journey. Your advice and selflessness were always reassuring; I am lucky to have you by my side. My academic achievements are due in large part to the love and support of my parents, Chris and Jackie, whose dedication to my education is a gift for which I could never fully express my gratitude. Your unwavering encouragement, especially in the most difficult times, made this all possible. Finally, special thanks to all my friends and family, whose moral support was a vital source of inspiration while writing. iii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................. iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... iv Glossary ............................................................................................................................. vi List of Appendices ........................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1: Introduction, Review of the Literature, Methodology, and Methods ................ 1 Research Questions .................................................................................................... 2 Organization of Thesis ....................................................................................... 2 Literature Review .............................................................................................. 5 The Development of West Indies Cricket ................................................ 6 The Social and Political Importance of Cricket ....................................... 7 Calypso .................................................................................................... 8 Race and Nationalism .............................................................................. 9 Methodology .................................................................................................... 11 The Idealization of Englishness/Whiteness ........................................... 11 Discourse Analysis................................................................................. 12 Method ............................................................................................................. 16 Chapter 2: Cultural Imbroglio: Englishness and the Development of West Indies Cricket, from Settlement to Test Status .................................................................................... ..23 Part One: The First Years of Cricket in the West Indies.....……………………..24 Cricket During Slavery .......................................................................... 24 Emancipation Leads to Better Acessibility to Cricket ........................... 25 Cricket as Resistance ............................................................................. 28 The West Indies Cricket Team, 1865-1928 ........................................... 30 Part Two: The Ideal of Englishness: Anything Black Nuh Good ..................... 32 Fanon and Rhone: The Idealization of Englishness Explained Through Caribbean Literature .............................................................................. 34 Overcoming Englishness ....................................................................... 38 Chapter 3: Fields of Change: West Indies Cricket: 1928-1950 ......................................... 46 West Indies Cricket Team: The Formative Years (1928-1950) ....................... 47 Transportation ........................................................................................ 48 Selection of the West Indies Cricket Team ........................................... 48 First Test Tour to England ..................................................................... 50 Pioneers Of West Indies Cricket ....................................................................... 53 Learie Constantine ................................................................................ 54 iv George Headley ..................................................................................... 56 The Three W's: Walcott, Weekes and Worrell ...................................... 59 Political Climate in the West Indies……………………………………….. 60 Chapter 4: Massa Day Done: The Role of Cricket in Achieving Independence ............... 71 Methodology ..................................................................................................... 72 Discourse and Critical Discourse Analysis............................................ 72 Textual Analysis .................................................................................... 74 Discursive Practices ............................................................................... 75 Social Practices ...................................................................................... 76 Method .............................................................................................................. 77 Newspapers ............................................................................................ 78 Calypsos ................................................................................................. 79 Political Speeches .................................................................................. 81 Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) .................................................................. 82 1950 West Indies Tour to England ........................................................ 82 West Indian Federation and the Campaign for Worrell's Captaincy....91 Chapter