There is a district in Jamaica called “looked behind”, it was said that when the slaves were running away from the plantations, the owners would get on their horses and ride to look for them. The slaves would hide in the bushes and when the horse was passing by, they would pull the owners off from behind.
Jamaica was fully emancipated in the year 1838, but although the people were set free, the society remained the same. The energy of the new planters was geared at converting the ex- slaves to a stable labor force on the plantation. The perception of the planters was that it was the same mule, with the same rider, galloping towards the same future.
Someone once was noted to have said, “The societal system that rested during and after slavery is based on the conjecture that superiority or inferiority of the social position were philosophically or physical fitting with superiority of inferiority of a race.”
Planters was not interesting in protecting anyone and they had full support of the British Government behind them, while the former slaves had nothing but labor, ambition and their power to withdraw it. The power that the slaves had to withdraw it, was never sufficient for them to fight successfully against all that was imposed on them economically, this remained so for hundred of years after Emancipation.
Emancipation had some effects of racism, it was partly disguised by the legal system, but it became foremost in social control, there was arrogance displayed towards the manifestations of the non-European cultures. The whites in Jamaica were challenged with organizing the production around the free labor, while keeping the spirit of inequality that existed in the plantation system alive. A constant struggle existed between the white elite and the black middle class, all that was needed was a new order that did not confront the chain of command of race and class. But in the background there was still this irritating doubt that Emancipation was complete, and still the freemen hands continued to be tied by the law.
A lot of the islanders could not identify with emancipation, the Rastafarians that emerged in the 1930’s, saw freedom not as declared as August 1, but as a resettlement and repatriation to Ethiopia. The brown Jamaicans was of the view that they were the ones to inherit the white Jamaica and if it was left to them the blacks would stay primarily what they were before as the muscle of the labor force.
With all of these disputes, the Emancipation was still being celebrated; there was the bruckins party along with the jonkonnu that was a part of this celebration. Emancipation Day is celebrated in Jamaica annually now on the 1st of August.
The Independence
In the year 1962, the legislation approved a new constitution and the General Elections were called, the first Premier (name for prime minister before independence) was named Norman Manley. After Jamaica gain independence on August 6, 1962, Alexander Bustamante was then elected as the first Prime Minster.
Jamaica becoming independent, means that they were a now a member of the British Commonwealth. The British no longer had control over the administrative affairs of the country. The responsible now lies with the Prime Minister and his elected members of cabinet.
Each year Independence is celebrated on the 6th of August with lot celebration in the festivals. Independent also sees Jamaica acquiring emblems, symbols, Jamaican currency, an army and passports for the citizens. |