[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2030-E2031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WHAT EMANCIPATION MEANS TO JAMAICA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2005

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 167th 
anniversary of Jamaican Emancipation, established on August 1, 1838.
  On August 1, 1838, when the enslaved Jamaicans found out that they 
were freed, tears flowed incessantly, while shouts of freedom rang from 
every direction. The sentiment of the day was jubilance; however, there 
was an underlying reverence for the freedom of hundreds of thousands 
enslaved men, women, and children. They had been freed from the 
oppressive social and economic system to which they had been subjected 
to for generations.
  Similar to the Quakers in the United States, the Quakers of Jamaica 
were very instrumental in aiding the fight for the abolition of 
slavery. Many of them started campaigns against the slave system, one 
of which was led by the ``Society for Effecting the Abolition of the 
Slave Trade''. This community of abolitionists believed that slavery 
was against the will of God and a denial of civilization. Freedom and 
only freedom was and is the true natural state of man. The booming rise 
in the sugar industry quickly fostered economic excuses in favor of 
slavery, which quashed the Quaker's efforts within the 17th century.
  However, entrance into the 18th century, and the initial decline of 
the sugar industry ushered in much opportunity that encouraged a 
resurgence of the abolitionist movement within Jamaica. In 1807, 
abolitionists gained their first victory through the ``Total and 
Immediate Abolition of the Slave Trade'' in the British Parliament, 
ending Jamaican involvement in the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, cutting 
off their human cargo from Africa and the influx of more potential 
slaves. Meanwhile, enslaved Jamaicans were taking their freedom into 
their own hands through the many slave revolts staged across the 
island. The most famous revolt took place a few days after Christmas in 
1831. Reverend Samuel Sharpe, who was a leader of a secret society of 
slaves, and is today recognized as a national hero of Jamaica, planned 
that the slaves should simply stop work, present their demand for 
freedom, and then hold fast in resistance until the demand was met, 
which was one of the first acts of organized civil disobedience, prior 
to our modern day examples. However, the slaves still armed themselves, 
in case they needed to defend themselves, as of course they did. The 
strike turned into a running series of fights, which accumulated and 
spread, to over two hundred plantations. Slaves did not take the 
initiative in attacking their white masters, but they did 
systematically destroy plantation houses and equipment. Within a short 
time, they had control over settlements and communications in virtually 
all the western end of the island. This 10 day rebellion mobilized some 
60,000 slaves, numbers that quickly got the attention of Parliament.

  With the possibility of a general uprising looming, the idea of 
abolishing slavery was once again proposed to Parliament. In 1833, it 
decided that slavery was no longer an effective economic system. The 
Emancipation Act of 1834 declared that all enslaved peoples under the 
age of six and those born after the enactment of the bill were legally 
free. Those who were older were forced to become apprenticed to their 
former masters up until August 1, 1838, after which they would be free. 
Indeed, in 1838 all those who were once enslaved were made free.
  Emancipation Day is celebrated across the island within churches and 
town squares where there are a variety of all night vigils that take 
place. Then at midnight, there is a nation wide celebration of 
drumming, pealing of bells, and much more which carry on into the dawn 
of the ``First of August''. All this is done to simulate or re-create 
the atmosphere that existed during that morning when slavery was 
abolished. The celebration of Emancipation Day is of the utmost 
importance to the historical integrity of Jamaica. It not only pays 
homage to those millions of Africans that were subjected to one of the 
worst crimes against humanity, it provides a historical foundation for 
the country to evolve from. As Rev. Dr. Burchell K. Taylor, Pastor of 
Bethel Baptist Church, states ``an event as significant as the 
Emancipation of our people from slavery and all it signifies in terms 
of human cruelty, suffering, sacrifice, folly, courage, deception, 
greed, triumph of the human spirit and faith and hope, cannot be 
allowed to slip from our collective memory. There are lessons to be 
learned that are of lasting value. Remembering Emancipation can itself 
be an ongoing liberating experience.''
  I submit to you an editorial written by the Honorable P.J. Patterson, 
Prime Minister of Jamaica, found in the August 9th edition of the 
CaribNews newspaper, addressing the people of Jamaica and the 
significant lessons that this celebration brings with its 167th year.
  There are many lessons that we, the U.S., can learn from Jamaica and 
its national and cultural acceptance of their past. We truly cannot 
know where we as a country are headed unless we first recognize, 
reconcile and then celebrate our history, all of our history. 
Emancipation is a celebration that should not be reserved for those who 
are descendants of slaves and abolitionists. As the Prime Minister 
suggests, ``the abolition of slavery meant more than the emancipation 
of slaves. It also meant the emancipation of those who held them in 
bondage, at least from the burden of callousness and greed-factors that 
devalue human life and desecrate any society intended to nurture that 
life.'' We too must engage in similar reconciliatory celebrations and 
find strength in our past.

           What Emancipation Means to Jamaica and Its People

                          (By P.J. Patterson)

       One hundred and sixty seven years ago, our forebears 
     gathered in churches all over this island (of Jamaica) to 
     give thanks for the release of some 400,000 former slaves 
     into full freedom. On that day, a clear message was sent to 
     the world that, as children of a Common Creator, no one could 
     rightly, justly or morally be the property of another.
       The assertive character of Jamaican has never allowed us to 
     sit idly by and allow that part of our history to be either 
     forgotten or ignored. It is our solemn duty to secure the 
     gains won by the invincibility of the human

[[Page E2031]]

     spirit against such great odds with passionate and loving 
     care.
       We are about to celebrate yet again that freedom which set 
     hundreds of thousands of our ancestors free and to give the 
     society they were to inherit, as free men and free women, the 
     capacity to become civil, tolerant and enduringly humane.
       The great Haitian leader, Touissant l'Ouverture in his 
     memorable reply to the President of France, the colonial 
     ruler asserted (and I quote) ``It is not a circumstantial 
     liberty conceded to us that we wish, but the unequivocal 
     adoption of the principle that no man whether he is born red, 
     black or white can become the property of his fellow man''.
       It is that spirit of determination to effect human equity 
     and equality for which we here in Jamaica have struggled, 
     regardless of race, colour, political affiliation or creed.
       The celebration of August First, then, remains an important 
     observance for all who inhabit this land of ours. Today's 
     challenges may appear formidable. But the fact that our 
     forebears could overcome the greatest hardship of all--that 
     of being enslaved--is cause enough, both for hope and for the 
     strengthening of our resolve, to overcome every obstacle.
       We dare not betray the trust placed in us who have come 
     after the generation of 1838. We must never give up the fight 
     to become the self-directed, liberated human beings we were 
     created to be.
       The abolition of slavery meant more than the emancipation 
     of the slaves. It also meant the emancipation of those who 
     held them in bondage, at least from the burden of callousness 
     and greed--factors that devalue human life and desecrate any 
     society intended to nurture that life.
       So, let us again say thanks for that Emancipation which 
     allowed thousands of others, whose descendants now call 
     Jamaica ``home'', to enter a free society. They were still 
     being exploited on contract during the period of indentured 
     labour, but at least there were prescribed rules of 
     engagement covering conditions of work.
       They bequeathed this precious legacy to our workers and 
     their trade unions, to our professionals and their staff 
     associations, to our citizens and their right to choose their 
     leaders who hold power in trust on their behalf. It was this 
     legacy which was to help guide us into Independence, another 
     milestone that we will observe in a few days. This legacy set 
     us on the road to civil society, democratic governance and 
     peaceful co-existence.
       Our Emancipation Day observance is therefore a fitting 
     tribute to that legacy of determination and inner strength 
     which our freedom-loving ancestors have given to posterity.
       May I wish blessed and pleasant Emancipation Day to 
     everyone!
       (P.J. Patterson is Jamaica's Prime Minister. The 
     Emancipation Day Message was read to hundreds of worshippers 
     at a Thanksgiving Service on Sunday afternoon at Hanson Place 
     Central Methodist Church in Brooklyn by Dr. Basil Bryan, 
     Jamaica's Consul-General in New York).

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