Jamaica’s history matters

A people without a knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots – Marcus Garvey

It seems that in Jamaican schools, colleges, and universities, the interest in studying history continues to wane. There is a view that history is not relevant; it is a dead subject; it is boring; and career options are limited. Worse, Jamaican/Caribbean history is about slavery, exploitation, oppression, and suffering. As Jamaicans are predominantly black people, we should put that dreadful episode behind us.

Marcus Garvey was spot on. Knowledge of our history is essential and gives us roots.

The dictionary definition tells us that history embodies the inquiry into or study of the entire series of past events related to an individual, a family, a country, place, event, era, an institution, and so on. History is the story of the human race. It is the story of us.

All of us are living histories. We have ancestors, those who came before us and whose DNA we carry. We have traditions, culture, religious practices, education and work experiences, political and economic philosophies, and we benefit from science and technology. All these have a background reaching back into time. We learn from and build on this platform to take us into the future.

NOT A DEAD SUBJECT

History is not a dead subject. It connects the past to the present. We make it every day. History is very much a living subject. To understand some current international developments, we have to go back to their history. To craft new policies and legislation, it is necessary to examine historical records. To conduct some real estate transactions, one must review the titles that carry the history of property ownership. The past impacts the future. It also has economic value.

The journey for Jamaicans has been from Africa, Europe, India, China, and the Middle East. It has involved relocation, colonisation, slavery, sugar cultivation, emancipation, indentured labour, rebellion, religion, self-government, federation, and independence. On the personal level, for some of us, the journey may have been from slavery, into the peasantry, and through education and enterprise, into the middle class or to foreign parts. For others, it may have taken a different route. From our journeys, we have had varied experiences from which we have evolved into unique people.

The contributions of Jamaicans have also gone beyond our borders into the international community, and through immigration, have impacted the history of other countries and institutions, including in the USA, Britain, Canada, Cuba, Central America, and Africa.

Understanding our history also facilitates our participation in the country’s development and political processes.

HISTORICAL DRAMAS

On whether history is boring, note that some of the most popular US and British television series in recent years have been historical dramas – Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, The Crown. In Jamaica, we need more of our own television historical dramas and documentaries.

History also inspires great literature, art, and music. In 2019, it was inspiring to hear the Kongkongkraba (Abeng) Symphony, based on the Maroon Wars, composed by Dr Andrew Marshall, performed by the Immaculate High School Orchestra.

The history of Jamaica and Jamaicans matters and is worth preserving, studying, knowing, recording, and analysing - the good, bad, and ugly of it. It is our story, which has shaped our identity and provides the foundation from which to make new history.

Jamaica’s history organisations could benefit from new members and support. These include the Jamaica Historical Society, the Georgian Society of Jamaica, and the Archaeological Society of Jamaica. More parish chapters are needed.

Contributed by Marcia Thomas