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Part 4 Journeying Towards Reconciliation

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Part 4 Journeying Towards Reconciliation JOURNEYING TOWARDS RECONCILIATION THE LEGACY OF RACISM: LOOKING BACK IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD By Everton Gordon As the demand for labour increased in many of the colonies, millions of Africans were taken Everton Gordon has worked in a variety of areas in into captivity. Young and old, men, women the field of social service since immigrating to Canada and children were transported the coasts of from Jamaica in 1990. These Included his work at Africa to the shores of the Caribbean and to the Across Boundaries, an ethno-racial community- Americas and sold at auction. Through much of based mental health centre where he developed and the 17th and 18th centuries, Africans were forced delivered anti-racism education and training. He is to toil and build the colonies that sustained the also the organist and music director for the African- economic development of much of Europe. Caribbean Choir at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Many of the financial infrastructures required Church in Toronto. He is presently doing doctoral by the slave trade inaugurated new systems of studies in education at OISE/UT in the department banking and insurance (Rodney, 1981; Williams of Sociology and Equity Studies, focusing his & Palmer, 1994). research in the area of racism and mental health. For those who are of African descent, this is a tough time to reminisce, to enter into historic The transatlantic slave trade is perhaps the best- memory, to recall the pain and suffering, to known image that comes to mind when one ponder the enormous atrocities that were talks about the experiences of people of African perpetuated on African Peoples in the name of descent, whether they are on the continent or “development”. For many people who are of in the Diaspora. With this in mind, March 25 European ancestry, memory of the slave trade in the year 2007 will mark a major milestone as may invoke feelings of guilt because much of it commemorates the bicentenary–200 years to what constitute today’s “progress”–such as the day–since the British Parliament passed the the economic wealth and cultural dominance Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. of all that is European in “White” places like Since Britain was at the very front and London, Paris and New York were derived centre of the slave trade, taking action to end from the backs of Africans. it had a tremendous influence over the system Marking the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery as well. Marking the end of the slave of the slave trade in the British Empire is an trade is to recognize a first crucial step on the important time to recall Sankofa. Sankofa has a long road that led eventually to the abolition of powerful meaning in the fabric of Ghanaian slavery itself within the former British Empire. social and cultural expressions. It is an Akan The Slavery Abolition Act was passed in 1833, word symbolized by a bird whose head although it did not go into effect until 1838 turns back, looking to the past. It also works and slavery in the Americas was not abolished metaphorically as a guidepost–a way of until1888. Sadly, even today, it is estimated that helping us remember that we must go back over 20 million people are still in some form and understand our past in order to sustain of slavery or servitude, on the continent of our claim in the present and move forward to Africa. the future. It is well known that the transatlantic slave In other words, it is a way of reflecting trade greatly enhanced the wealth of Europe on the struggles of the past, to assess and and laid the foundations for modern capitalism. appraise what progress we have made; to 46 Journeying Towards Reconciliation contemplate how we are going to deal with important because some of these behavioural the many challenges that we are confronted attributes have been positive and empowering, with requiring healing and recovery; and to revealing the resilience of the people, while ensure a viable future for millions of African others have been detrimental, resulting in forms people everywhere. This is crucial for Africans of socially destructive behaviour. DeGruy in order “to understand who we are and where argues that the manifestations of such harm we stand in the struggle”, to quote the lyrics of can be seen through poor mental and physical one of Bob Marley’s songs. health, family and relational dysfunction, and An important memory of the period of self-destructive impulses. By reminding us on slavery that still lingers and very much affects the importance of looking to the past, Sankofa so many African people is the world today is offers an affirming way of helping us in the Anti-Black Racism. As we know, racism erodes healing and recovery process. our very humanity and no one can be truly Although they were stolen from Africa, liberated while living under such tremendous the Mother Continent, brought through the weight of oppression. This is the central point Middle Passage to the Americas, and scattered made by Dr. Joy DeGruy Leary in Post Traumatic throughout the Diaspora, African men and Slave Syndrome: America’s legacy of enduring women have carried with them in their injury and healing (Uptone Press, 2005). struggles a deep sense of spirituality through Dr. DeGruy traces some of the unique ways the gifts and treasures of sacred songs and that both overt and subtle forms of racism chants, moans, groans and other forms of and oppression have damaged the collective ritualistic cries, all of which were important in African-American psyche. To subject so many sustaining them in separation and captivity. African people on the plantations of the As early as 1691, slaves in colonial homes Caribbean and in the mines of the Americas were proficient in the use of many European to the inhumane and degrading conditions musical instruments such as the fiddle, French of slavery, to monotonous, insane and severe horn, flute, trumpet and guitar. Many of the labour, with little dignity and or respect, slaves who were musicians were highly valued without religious ritual was to enslave not only not only for the skills they exhibited but also for their muscles but also their collective spirit. their spirituality and the spirit-filled atmosphere Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome provides a that their music generated. (Bennett, 1966) The useful understanding of the psycho-emotional African sense of spirituality was so pervasive impact on Africans of well over three centuries that in 1755 a prominent English Minister of of slavery. Furthermore, the individual and Religion, Reverend Samuel Davis wrote: “The systemic racism and oppression that has [Negro] ... have an ear for Musick, and a kind continued has resulted in multigenerational of ecstatic Delight in Psalmody and there are adaptive behaviours that can be linked to the no books they learn so soon or take so much slavery experiences. It is crucial to understand pleasure in, as those used in that heavenly Part that while the institutional form of slavery of divine worship”. (Bennett, 1966) no longer exists, the mental impact of slavery Today this rich historical legacy of their continues into the present and that these spirituality continues to inform and guide issues have been passed along through the African people wherever they are physically generations. and socially located. Many Black religious Remembering and reflecting are vitally leaders play a visible and prominent role in 2007 Racial Justice Resource - Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network 47 Journeying Towards Reconciliation personal and public life on behalf of Black of Blackness, I now return to the bicentenary Community. In particular, leaders from Judea- commemoration and argue that this is an Christian congregations, whether here in event of epic significance. It is a time not only North America or in the many countries of to reflect but to recognize the hurt and the their origin, including Continental Africa and harm that the Slave Trade and the attendant in the Caribbean Region, show how dominant institution of Slavery have caused African a force religion and spirituality are in the life of people. Two hundred years later, the damage African people. it has done to us has left us wounded, inflicted It is well known that Christianity was used with “Spirit Injury”. We now need to come by Europeans in facilitating the exploitation to terms with how to heal and recover. As of Africans, offering the Bible and taking their the late, renowned Reggae superstar Robert lands. Organized religion was also involved in “Bob” Marley famously recorded in one of slavery, in some instances to secure conformity his popular albums: “Two thousands years of and in others to secure liberation. Serving as history cannot be wiped away so easily”. institutions of teaching, preaching, and of As we reflect on the past, we should be co-operative benevolence, churches are both mindful that blatant racism based on skin places of refuge and sources of strength for colour, while it has become objectionable in most many Black families. In expressing important Western pluralistic democratic societies, still rituals, ceremonies and other symbols of exists. Racism is now fashioned through ethnic African-ness, Black people are preserving and and cultural issues in the Canadian Context perpetuating our culturally enriched ways of and is often masked by the politics of cultural life. Educators and other professionals who are diversity. In reclaiming Black pride and dignity assessing the needs, strengths, weaknesses and we should remember the patterns of an abuser coping abilities of Black children, youth and in an abusive relationship. In order to make families in the educational system must pay things “work”, the victim is often expected to close attention to how religion and spirituality love the abuser, forget about the litany of past are manifested and integrated in their lives.
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