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Vol.2 By William Anderson Gittens Author, Cultural Practitioner, Media Arts Specialist and Publisher
ISBN 976Page-8080 1 of 90 -59-0 In memory of my father the late Charles A. Gittens
People
Vol.2
By
William Anderson Gittens Dip. Com. B.A. Media Arts, Author, Media Arts Specialist, Post Masters Works in Cultural Studies, and Publisher
ISBN 976-8080-59-0
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system,
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
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Edited by Stewart Russell, Magnola Gittens and William Anderson Gittens
Published by William Anderson Gittens
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Foreword
Through the lenses of a Media Arts Specialist I have discovered that People are ambassadors of their Creator and representatives of their Diaspora, operating within the universal space 1 .
In this space the people whom I have referenced in this text are part of the world’s population totalling seven billion 2 who provided representation3, shared ideas and habits they would have learnt, with their generation and ultimately with generations to come.”4
William Anderson Gittens Dip. Com. B.A. Media Arts; Author, Media Arts Specialist, Post Masters Works in Cultural Studies, and Publisher
1 Elaine Baldwin Introducing Cultural Studies (Essex: Prearce Hall,1999).p.141. 2 United States Census Bureau (USCB)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population 3 Elaine Baldwin Introducing Cultural Studies (Essex: Prearce Hall,1999).p.141. 4 Michael Haralambos and Robin Heald Sociology Themes and Perspectives Great Britain: University Tutorial Press Limited.1980.3.
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Acknowledgements
In memory of my father, The Late Charles Gittens, who would have had a great influence on my life.
Special thanks to the Creator for his guidance and the creative gifts he has given me. Thanks also to my wife Magnola, my family, friends, and well-wishers who contributed to the developmental process of this text which can be categorized as a work in progress.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
Foreword ...... 2
Acknowledgements ...... 3
Overview...... 6
Chapter 1The Rt. Excellent Grantley Adams, The Rt. Excellent Errol Barrow ...... 7
Chapter 2 Anthony Carter, Aretha Franklin ...... 12
Chapter 3 President William Jefferson Clinton,President Barack Hussein Obama II ...... 13
Chapter 4 The. Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, The Rt. Hon. Sir Lloyd Sandiford ...... 17
Chapter 5 Dame Nita Barrow, The. Hon. Mia Mottley ...... 20
Chapter 6 Mohandas Gandhi, Pres.Mandela, Rev. Dr. M. King Jr ...... 21
Chapter 7 Sir David Simmons, Mr. Eric Holder Jr ...... 24
Chapter 8 The Hon. David Thompson, The Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart ...... 26
Chapter 9 Sir John Stow, Sir Arleigh Scott ...... 28
Chapter 10 Dame Antoinette Miller, Baroness Margaret Thatcher ...... 29
Chapter 11 Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Frank Worrell ...... 30
Chapter 12 Comparative Features...... 32
Chapter 13 Personal Reflections ...... 43
About The Author ...... 44
Works Cited ...... 45
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Overview
The scope of this text highlights a few selected people who, being part of the world’s population totalling seven billion 5, have been defined and influenced by distinctive characteristics such as Ancestry, Alma Mater, Colour, Culture, Ethnicity, Geography, Identity, Political affiliation, and Religion.
The text provides some analysis of their journeys, of how they6 operated within the universal space, how they provided representation7, shared ideas and habits learnt, with their generation and ultimately with other generations8.
These Icons are outstanding and well known locally, nationally, and internationally.9 In their quest to succeed they used the many obstacles such as, limited education, financial constraints, economic crisis, resistance to social reform, imprisonment, jeopardized health, and even assassination of others, as motivating stepping stones to propel them to the pinnacle they had envisioned.
In executing their respective roles as Activists, Artistes, Attorneys General, Chemists, Chief Justices, Cricketers, Doctors, Economists, Entertainers, Musicians, Nurses, Lawyers, Lecturers, Politicians, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Reverends and Specialists, they used their analytical, critical, creative, observant, investigative and other skills, and allowed their tenacity and convictions to empower them to make their significant contributions to improve the well-being of other people in this global space.10 Using their education, qualifications, skills, training, gifts, talents and wit to function in this global village, they have excelled and in so doing have created legacies for current and future generations.
5 United States Census Bureau (USCB)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population 6 United States Census Bureau (USCB)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population 7 Elaine Baldwin Introducing Cultural Studies (Essex: Prearce Hall,1999).p.141. 8 Michael Haralambos and Robin Heald Sociology Themes
and Perspectives Great Britain: University Tutorial Press Limited.1980.3.
9 Right Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams QC, KT. Bachelor, CGM, The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, P.C., Q.C., President William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton President Barack Hussein Obama II, The Rt. Excellent Sir Garfield St Auburn Sobers AO OCC Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell, Dame Nita Barrow GCMG, Honorary FRCN. The Hon Mia Amor Mottley Q.C., M.P., the Hon. David John Howard Thompson Q.C, M.P. The Rt.Hon. Freundel Stuart Q.C. M.P. Prime Minister of Barbados,Sir John Montague Stow, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O Sir Arleigh Scott, K.C.M.G. K.C.V.O (1900-1976), The Rt. Hon. Owen Seymour Arthur M.P. Right Honourable Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, .K.A Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Mahatma Gandhi ), MargaretHildaThatcher,BaronessThatcher, LG OM PC FRS (née Roberts), Dame Billie Antoinette Miller, DA., Sir David Anthony Cathcart Simmons, K.A., B.C.H., Q.C., LL.M. (Lond.), Hon. LL.D (Lond.), Attorney General Eric Himpton Holder, Jr. President Nelson Mandela, Aretha Louis Franklin and Anthony “Mighty Gabby” Carter 10 Woodward, Jeannette A. Writing Research Papers: Investigating Resources In
Cyberspace. (Lincolnwood Chicago: NTC Publishing Group, 1997). p.7.
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Chapter 1 The Right Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams QC, KT. Bachelor, CGM 1898-1971 The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, P.C., Q.C. January 21,1920-June 1, 1987 In 1998 the Barbados Parliament passed the Order of National Heroes 11 Act. That being established, it started the process of candidates’ selection for our Heroes of Barbados.
Those chosen candidates were deemed social reformers, who by and large had contributed significantly to the development of this country and changed the course of history by their deeds, against a background of resistance.
Two of the ten National Heroes12 on whom I will focus are the Rt. Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams and the Rt. Excellent Errol Walton Barrow. 13 The information
11 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbadian_national_heroes Importantly, April 28th is celebrated each year as National Heroes Day11in their honour.
12 National Heroes are styled by "The Right Excellent." The ten National Heroes are:
The Right Excellent Bussa (Born in Africa and killed during a 1816 slave uprising fighting for his freedom in Barbados.)
Page 7 of 90 researched clearly illustrates that they were passionate about making life better for Barbadians. 14 Their ideas and dreams, when developed, greatly advanced the Barbadian civilization. That being highlighted, let us examine some comparable distinctive features of these two great icons.
On 28 April 1898 in Barbados, the most easterly island in the West Indies chain, Grantley Herbert Adams was born at Colliston, Government Hill, St. Michael. On completion of his secondary school education at Harrison College in 1918, the young Grantley won a Barbados Scholarship15 and departed the following year to Oxford University in Britain to pursue his undergraduate studies in law. After successfully pursuing his bar finals at Gray’s Inn, and being politically active in England for a while, he returned to Barbados in 1925.
The training and education he received empowered him to put in motion the framework to establish the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) in 193816. During the period 1958-1962”17he was leader of the party. He became the first Premier of Barbados and later the only Prime Minister of the now defunct West Indies Federation. Knighted18 in 1957, and after making significant social changes resulting in much improvement to the lives of the masses of his generation, and subsequently to the country as a whole, The Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams died on Nov 28, 1971.
The Right Excellent Sarah Ann Gill (1795–1866)
The Right Excellent Samuel Jackman Prescod (1806–1871)
The Right Excellent Dr. Charles Duncan O'Neal (1879–1936)
The Right Excellent Clement Osbourne Payne (1904–1941)
The Right Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams (1898–1987)
The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow (1920–1987)
The Right Excellent Sir Hugh Worrell Springer (1913–1994)
The Right Excellent Sir Garfield St. Auburn Sobers (1936– )
The Right Excellent Sir Frank Leslie Walcott (1916–1998)
13 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbadian_national_heroes Importantly, April 28th is celebrated each year as National Heroes Day13in their honour.
14 Michael Haralambos and Robin Heald Sociology Themes and Perspectives Great Britain: University Tutorial Press Limited.1980.3.
15 www.caribbeanedu.com/coral/refcen/Biography/readbio.asp?id=3 16 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grantley_Herbert_Adams 17 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Barbados 18 http://caribbeanheroes.com/index.php/27-sir-grantley-herbert-adams.html
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On June 10, 189819, the same year The Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams was born, U.S. Marines landed at Guantánamo Bay.
In this era yet another great Barbadian was destined to greatness. In 1920 on January 21, the Rt. Excellent Errol Walton Barrow was born in Barbados in the parish of St. Lucy. At the age of 11 Master Errol Barrow had demonstrated excellent competency skills having won a scholarship to attend the Combermere 20School. He continued to hone these skills and at age 14 he won yet another scholarship, this time, to Harrison College. In December 1939, he was the recipient of a scholarship in Classics to Codrington College. However, he did not pursue those studies.
Mr. Barrow, like Mr. Adams studied Law. He also studied economics. In 1947, Mr. Barrow pursued his law studies at the Inns of Court and economics at the London School of Economics. He was successful in his Bar finals in 1949 and graduated with a B.Sc. in Economics the following year.
Mr. Barrow, on completion of his studies returned to Barbados in 1950. In 1951 Mr. Barrow was elected to the Parliament of Barbados as a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). In 1955 September 22, the year that hurricane Janet21 impacted Barbados, Mr. Barrow departed the BLP and formed the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) as a progressive alternative to the Barbados Labour Party.
The DLP won a decisive victory in the December 4, 1961 General Elections with the Rt. Excellent Errol Walton Barrow at the helm becoming Premier. From this post he successfully led Barbados into Independence on November 30, 1966 bringing the long process of decolonisation to an end.
His record of achievement led to the DLP's landslide victory in the September 1971 General Elections, capturing 18 of the 24 seats in the House of Assembly. During the years to follow, Mr. Barrow’s popularity was on the decline and in 1976,22 he was defeated at the polls by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). By this time the BLP23was
19 http://worldhistoryproject.org/1898 20 http://www.dlpbarbados.org/site/about-us/errol-barrow/ 21 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Janet
22 http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/barrow_errol.asp 23 March 1985 John Michael Geoffrey Manningham "Tom" Adams former Barbadian Prime Minister became the first sitting Prime Minister of Barbados (1976 until 1985) to die in office. On March 11th his deputy-PM, Bernard St. John, succeeded him. The Hon Bernard St. John served the shortest tenure as Prime Minister in the history in Barbados. (11 March 1985 – 29 May 1986)23In 1987 when the Rt Excellent Errol Walton Barrow died, Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford was sworn as Prime Minister of Barbados.
Page 9 of 90 led by the Rt. Hon. John Michael Geoffrey Manningham "Tom" Adams24, the son of Sir Grantley Adams, Mr. Barrow’s predecessor.
Mr. Barrow was elected twice as Prime Minister, 1966 to 1976 and again in 1985 to 1987. Below is a list of strikingly similar achievements the two aforementioned heroes accomplished. Scholarship winners Were lawyers Served in the same party Formed and lead their party Achieved Prime Minister25 Status Barbados National Heroes Status Have Monuments erected in their honour Have their images recorded on Barbados’ currency Were affectionately known by their nick names
Despite the ideological differences between the Rt. Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams and the Rt. Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, they both instituted several progressive social programs which furthered the advancement of Barbados.
In the year 1920, the same year the Rt. Excellent Errol Walton Barrow was born, the League of Nations held its first meeting on Saturday 10 January, 26 and ratified the Treaty of Versailles ending World War I.
Of note, the late Dr. Sir Richard Christopher Haynes, KA, former Minister of Finance in the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) departed that political party to form the National Democratic Party.
In February27 1989, four MP’s of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) government left the party to form a new one, the National Democratic Party (NDP) with Dr. Richard Haynes as its leader. The other members were Richard Byer, Peter Miller and Edgar Bourne. The NDP unsuccessfully contested the 1991 election losing all four of its seats in parliament. Dr. Haynes was however the only successful NDP candidate in the 1994 General Election. Dr. Sir Richard Christopher Haynes KA, died 23 June 201328.
24 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Adams_(politician) 25 The Prime Minister advises the crown, appoints ministers, controls a majority in the House of Assembly, and appoints 12 senators. Although the Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General of Barbados, they are almost always the leader of the majority party. 26 http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/1920/ 27 http://www.caribbeanelections.com/blog/?p=2392 28 http://www.caribbeanelections.com/blog/?p=2392
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Another note of interest on the political scene:
Mr. David Andre' Comissiong29 is the Chairman of the Peoples Empowerment Party (P.E.P), and President of the Clement Payne Movement (CPM). Mr. David Comissiong is a 45 year old Attorney-at-law who was educated at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill (Barbados) and the Hugh Wooding Law School (Trinidad & Tobago). He is married and is the father of 3 children.
Mr. Comissiong has been involved in public life in Barbados for the past 21 years. He first came to prominence in 1985 as a member of the youth arm of the opposition Democratic Labour Party.
After assisting the D.L.P during it’s successful 1986 election campaign, Mr. Comissiong was appointed to the Senate, affording him the honour of being the youngest Senator in the history of Barbados.
Events continued to unfold in 1955 namely: Hurricane Janet30 that impacted Barbados September 22,1955 195531 Margaret Thatcher was not a candidate in the general election 1955 April 27th Mr. Barrow departed the BLP and helped formed the Democratic Labour Party32
29 http://www.caribbeanelections.com/barbados/candidates/pep/DavidComissiong.asp 30 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Janet
31 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher 32 http://www.barbadospocketguide.com/our-island-barbados/politics/democratic-labour-party-dlp.html On the night of 27th April, 1955, twenty-six persons met at "Glenhurst", Lands End, St. Michael, Barbados. They represented varied backgrounds and outlooks. Some had already had considerable experience in Politics, because four of them were then members of the House of Assembly, and two of them had sat in that Chamber some years before. By the time the meeting ended, twenty-five people had started something that would change the course of Barbadian history. Thus was the Democratic Labour Party born. At the "Glenhurst" meeting, the Constitution of the Party, which was to come into force on 1st May, 1955, was adopted by the following foundation members who formed the first Provisional General Council of the Party: Mr. O. T. Allder, Mr. E. W. Barrow, Mr. J. Best, Mr. O. Blackman, Mr. J. M. Bonnett, Mr. J. M. Brathwaite, Mr. L. B. Brathwaite, Mr. L. D. Burrowes, Mr. H. Coulston, Mr. D. Farrell, Mr. C. A. Gill, Mr. D. Holder, Mr. A. E. S. Lewis, Mr. A. H. Lewis, Mr. F. G. Smith, Mr. H. Springer, Mr. J. B. Springer, Snr Mr. J. B. Springer, Jnr Mr. D. Straker, Miss. E. Tudor, Mr. J. C. Tudor, and Mr. L. Wood.
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Chapter 2 Anthony “Mighty Gabby” Carter and Aretha Louise Franklin
March 25, 1942 –The famous American singer-songwriter and musician Aretha Louise Franklin was born.
Also born in March 25, 1942 is Richard O’Brien, an English actor and writer.
Aretha began her career at age 14, performing before the congregation of her father, Minister C. L. Franklin's church.
In 1987 Aretha became the first female performer to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Seven years later33, she became the youngest artist to receive the Kennedy Centers Honor. Being very prominent in the 1960’s and 1970’s she was dubbed the ‘Queen of Soul’. She was the Godmother to another singing sensation, the late Whitney Huston.
On March 30,1948 Anthony Carter was born.
33 https://www.rockhall.com/pressroom/announcements/amm-aretha-franklin/
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This famous Barbadian, familiarly known as "Mighty Gabby" would become a legendary singer-songwriter ,musician and a Cultural Ambassador for the country.
Anthony "Mighty Gabby" Carter has the honour of being the youngest calypsonian to have won the calypso crown in Barbados. This feat was achieved in 1968 at the age of 1934. He subsequently won that title again in 1969, 1976, 1985, 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2010.
Apart from his singing talent, “Gabby” as he is affectionately called, is also a prolific song writer, having written hundreds of songs, not only for himself, but for other young aspiring calypsonians.
These two iconic artistes are legendary entertainers who have served their diaspora with resounding success.
Chapter 3 President William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton President Barack Hussein Obama II
34 http://www.barbadospocketguide.com/our-island-barbados/meet-a-bajan/the-mighty-gabby.html
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On August 19, 1946 William Jefferson Blythe III, was born in Hope, Arkansas35. His name was later changed to William Jefferson Clinton.
Also born in 1946, was Charles F. Bolden Jr., American space shuttle astronaut, and NASA Administrator since 2009.
William Jefferson Clinton, familiarly known as "Bill" Clinton, became the 42nd President of the United States, succeeding George Bush Sr. He was first elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1998–2001.
In 1996, 1998 and 2000 he made attempts to capture Osama Bin Laden, but they were unsuccessful. However, one of his greatest achievements was the improvement of the American economy, due to the prudent measures he implemented. Regarding the issue of universal health , President Clinton made a major speech to Congress regarding a health care reform plan on September 22, 1993, aimed at achieving universal coverage through a national health care plan. This was one of the most prominent items on Clinton's legislative agenda and resulted from a task force headed by Hillary Clinton. Though at first it was well received in political circles, it was eventually doomed by well-organized opposition from conservatives, the American Medical Association and the health insurance industry. However, John F. Harris, a biographer of Clinton's, states that the program failed because of a lack of coordination within the White House. Despite the Democratic majority in Congress, the effort to create a national health care system ultimately died when compromised legislation by George J. Mitchell failed to gain a majority of support in August 1994. It was the first major legislative defeat of Clinton's administration.36
Rev. Dr. King Jr. was one of Bill Clinton's heroes. President Clinton watched the famous “I have a Dream” speech on television and was so deeply moved by Dr. King's words that he memorized them. He admired Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's gift for communicating a clear vision and his ability to pull people together to work toward a common goal. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." 37 When Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s quotation is examined in this context I humbly suggest that this citation may have: Framed the national discourse that impacted the American cultural and political landscape Established the framework for the legislating of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
35 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_1946 36 Klein, Joe (2002). The Natural: The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton. Doubleday. ISBN 0-7679-1412-0.
Bill Clinton, New Democrat". DLC. July 25, 2004. Archived from the original on 2012-05-30. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
Blumenthal, Sidney (2003). The Clinton Wars (1st ed.). Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 0-374-12502-3.
Harris, John F. (2006). The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House (1st ed.). Random House Trade Paperbacks. ISBN 0-375-76084-9. 37 http://www.archives.gov/press/exhibits/dream-speech.pdf '(1 HAVE A DREAM ..." (Copyright 1963, Martin Luther King Jr.) Speeoh by the Rev. Martin Luther KING At the "March in Washington"
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