[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15243-15244]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF JAMAICA'S 40TH YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound pleasure that I speak 
today in honor of the 164th year of Emancipation and the 40th 
anniversary marking Jamaica's independence from Great Britain. On 
August 6, 1962, Jamaica won its political independence from the 
colonial rule of Great Britain. This year, Ambassador Seymour Mullings 
will be leading the Jamaican and Jamaican-American communities in the 
United States in their yearly tradition of celebrating freedom from 
colonialism and slavery.
  To give a brief history, Jamaica's first inhabitants were the South 
American Arawak Indians. In 1494, Columbus arrived on the island and 
claimed the land for Spain. Suffering a similar fate of the nearby 
Caribbean islands, the Arawak Indians were enslaved or died from 
diseases carried over by the Spanish settlers during their 160 year 
reign.
  In 1655, the island was captured by the British and immediately 
started the large-scale importation of Africans for slave labor in the 
sugar plantations. The inhumane nature of slavery made slave revolts a 
common phenomenon in Jamaica. Both freed and escaped slaves (Maroons) 
continually fought their British captors for their right to live free. 
The most famous of these rebellions happened in 1831 by Reverend Sam 
Sharpe. Known as the ``Christmas Rebellion'', this insurgence lasted 
for four months and is credited for bringing about the end of slavery. 
Today, Sam Sharpe is recognized as a national hero in Jamaica.
  It was not until after the American Colonies declared themselves 
independent from England in 1776 that the abolition movement began to 
flourish throughout Jamaica. March 1, 1808 marked the year when slave 
trade between Africa and Jamaica was abolished by the British 
Parliament.
  In 1834, the Emancipation Act officially ended slavery; however, the 
slaves did not gain complete freedom until four years later on August 
1, 1838. Many ex-slaves settled down as small farmers in the Blue 
Mountains, far away from the plantations they used to cultivate. Those 
who stayed on the plantations now received compensation for their 
labor. Struggles over land culminated in the Morant Bay rebellion, 
leading to the deaths of two Jamaican national heroes: George William 
Gordon and Paul Bogle, and forcing Great Britain to proclaim Jamaica as 
a crown colony in 1865.
  Inspired by the political ideas of Marcus Garvey, a national movement 
for independence began in the late 1930s. Political parties started 
forming and years later in 1944, Jamaica was proud to hold its first 
democratic elections. Over a decade later on August 6, 1962, full 
political independence was granted, allowing Jamaica, a new member to 
the British Commonwealth, to draft its own constitution and create a 
bicameral Parliament with elected representatives and a Prime Minister.

[[Page 15244]]

  Jamaican-born Marcus Garvey was ultimately recognized as one of 
America's greatest Black leaders. He challenged the myths of racial 
inferiority and inspired hundreds of thousands of Black American 
supporters with hope for a better future. It is my hope that this 
Congress will support my bill, H. Res. 50, to exonerate this 
internationally renowned leader in the struggle for human rights. I ask 
my colleagues to join me today in clearing Marcus Garvey's name in 
honor of Jamaica's Emancipation from slavery and Independence from 
colonialism.
  With 4,411 square miles of beautiful beaches, mountains and farms, 
Jamaica overcame centuries of economic and social struggles to become 
internationally acclaimed in all aspects of human culture, including 
tourism, music, and sports. Millions of tourists from all around the 
world vacation in Jamaica and experience for themselves the beauty that 
the inhabitants of this great nation get to see year round.
  Although it is a small island nation of only two million people, 
Jamaica has had a remarkable impact upon the world of music. With its 
reggae beat played throughout the world, Jamaica has produced the 
musical stylings of Harry Belafonte, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh and Bob 
Marley. The country is involved in all sports competitions, including 
cricket, soccer, basketball, boxing, and even more remote sports like 
baseball, hockey, and bobsledding. Great Jamaican athletes such as 
Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis and Patrick Ewing of the New York 
Knicks have contributed extensively to the American sports culture.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to speak in recognition of what has been 
accomplished by the people of Jamaica as we celebrate its independence. 
Jamaica has elevated itself from the perils of slavery and oppression 
to a country of great power and prestige. As we move forward, I am 
confident that our friendship with Jamaica will continue well into the 
future.

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