The Tribune

THE issue of slavery, as an abhorrent exploitation of human beings, will always arouse strong emotions. We mark the ending of this iniquitous system in The Bahamas by celebrating Emancipation Day each year with events appropriate to the occasion – and last Monday the usual festivities duly took place, with the best known held in Fox Hill.

It is important to maintain this tradition because, with a short history as an independent nation, we need to know our past in order to understand ourselves as a people. But we wonder how many of the younger generation fully realized what they were actually celebrating earlier this week.

In modern times, the idea of slavery, in which people were forcibly transported from Africa to British colonies in the West Indies, including The Bahamas, and treated as chattels or possessions, is so repellent as to be almost unbelievable. Whatever historians may say about the gradual improvement of the local conditions of slaves, which was achieved under pressure from public opinion in England in favour of abolition, they were held in perpetual bondage.

The plantation system depended on slave labour and became the foundation of a colony’s wealth and economy. So, as the emancipation movement in England gradually gained sway in the late 18th century, slave owners in each colony resisted pressure to free their slaves as unacceptable interference in their way of life.

Despite the considerable opposition, however, it was becoming increasingly clear that it was only a matter of time before the British government would be able successfully to bring the practice of slavery to an end throughout the British Empire; even though, of course, it continued elsewhere, notably in America.

Bahamians who have not studied the history of their own country are often unaware that it was largely the strength of this emancipation movement in faraway England that persuaded its own government to take decisive action on the issue.

The first step was the ending of the Atlantic slave trade in 1807, with the Royal Navy forcibly preventing ships from carrying slaves from West Africa. Abolitionists were determined that this should be followed by a complete ban on slavery within the empire and this was finally achieved through the Emancipation Act which came into force in 1834 and was followed by payment of substantial compensation by the British government to plantation slave owners.

All this is a vital part of our nation’s history, the ramifications of which affect us in various ways to this day, but other aspects of our past are similarly important in so far as they are linked to the future.

Some people, determined to live exclusively in the present, have been known to cite the view of Henry Ford, who, it is claimed, famously declared that ‘history is bunk’. Perhaps he meant that, in relation to the manufacture of vehicles, tradition should not be allowed to obscure the need for constant innovation. But none can seriously refute the notion that, in the broader context of life, what happened in the past can be influential in determining how to handle the problems of the present.

The received wisdom in relation to history that has almost become a cliché is that, if we ignore the lessons and experience of the past, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes. While such a proposition surely makes good sense, the need for awareness of history goes deeper. Knowledge and understanding of the past, particularly in a young country like ours still in the process of nation-building, make us aware of our identity as a people and our place in the world. Most people want to know about their roots and origin in order better to understand who they are.

History also provides a collective memory and a sense of connection within a community which serves to extend people’s horizons beyond the narrow limits of family and friends – and it should at the same time induce national pride and an appreciation of a country’s culture.

We believe that the teaching of history in our schools should be made a high priority. Children should be encouraged to look beyond themselves and learn about their country’s past. They should also study and celebrate the lives and achievements of those who have contributed in one way or another to the building and development of our nation – not only prominent political leaders, but also individuals in many other fields. Moreover, our institutions like museums, art galleries and the admirable Department of Archives should be cherished and promoted as places of excellence which are available to everybody seeking to learn about our country and its history and national achievements.

Let us hope that young people can be made increasingly aware of our history, including the system of slavery as a harsh blot on the past, so that they themselves will be better placed to contribute to the future of their country.