As a people in a predominantly black Caribbean society, tracing our ancestral roots to the continent of Africa, our stories which embrace the successes and triumphs as a black people within our geographical space here in the western world warrants much celebration and attention. For instance, the 1935 Buckley’s Riot (28th January 1935) which is historically known to have championed the cause for the betterment of the working-class people here in the Federation of St.
Kitts and Nevis and further afield. The Rastafari Nyabinghi Theocracy Order must be applauded for being the focal organising group efforts made to commemorate the significance of historic day dubbed ‘Buckley’s Uprising’ in celebration of the success for the rights of workers and social justice.
The St. Kitts-Nevis Trades and Labour Union (SKNT&LU) founded in 1940-formerly the Workers League (of 1932)-belong in this conversation when it comes to the subject positively impacting the well-being of workers. There are a lot of young people who verbally protest in conversations that the historic past of St.
Kitts and Nevis should be taught in schools. Some young adults in hindsight of the education system in gaining knowledge or insight about local history say things like ‘This is what we should have been studying in school’ and ‘They had us learning about all kinds of things except our own local stuff.” Many people on a global scale-including here in our Federationlike to use the famous saying of the late Black nationalist icon Marcus Garvey -of Jamaicawho expressed that “A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
But what is the use of using this quote if we are not putting the right focus into ensuring that our future leaders truly understand from very early and impressionable ages about the richness and vibrancy of history and culture as a people. This can be immediately addressed by revamping our education system for our youngsters to study our national history via a curriculum.
Studying local history creates an avenue in fostering a sense of personal connection and respect to the past in nurturing the minds of children and our young people in general to understand the significance of the particular historical events that shape our present lives. The bigger picture is that educating our future generations of our early childhood unit, primary school and high school in a structured way no doubt can have a positive impact in sharing and teaching the values and understanding of our nation and cultural heritage.
We have so much to celebrate as a black people! Let us embrace our local cultural heritage!
