Alred C. Frett. Photo: VINO/File

November is also recognised as World Diabetes Awareness Month which we fail to give enough attention considering that this, along with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), plagues our People throughout the Caribbean… Some have tried linking these chronic conditions to African Ancestry but simple research show these Ailments being far more prevalent in the Descendants of Slaves.

In a culture of Slavery and Colonialism with Diets high in Carbohydrates/Sugars and Sodium/Salt, that mutation was passed on from Generation to Generation… This is true testament to the Body’s ability to adapt and evolve and Today we are seeing a similar New World’s Evolution where addiction to Drinking, Smoking and eating Meats is already causing significant increases in various Cancers.

Ironically, November is also observed as BVI Culture Month but it is impossible to recognise or celebrate our Culture if we refuse to acknowledge the meaning of the term ‘Culture’… If we did we would find that this reflects ‘the Sum of learned behaviours, beliefs, values and symbols; considered to be traditional to a People and passed along through imitation from one generation to the next’.

Furthermore, a well-respected English Dictionary defines Culture as, "the way of life, especially the general customs and beliefs, of a particular group of people at a particular time." - This depicts Culture as subjective - Maybe we have no Culture of our own since for Emancipation Celebrations we see BV-Islanders ignored or displaced while the Territory’s Dollars are shipped overseas.

This is the 21^st Century and there is no rationale for forcing our People into accepting a Culture of Mental and Physical Abuse when what we really need is the Culture and Willingness to Learn so we may change for the Better… Unfortunately, we encourage self-victimisation by selecting Slave-style Attire as our National Dress and Leaders who still promote Slavery as BVI’s Culture.

When Culture means more than Stagnation & Music:

I got a firsthand look this month when I was invited to Perform at Schools in East End, Long Look and Road Town… The High School paid tribute to my late Brother, Pete Frett, as a Member of our Band the Bad Ones… He was just 21 years old when he died on November 14, 1979 but, according to the Newspaper, he died on the 21^st and was buried on the 19^th which would be 3 days before he died.

His tragic passing is irreversible and following his death original Members lost interest – However,  what made him and the Bad Ones special and different was the unwillingness to limit themselves to Slave Inspired Music and therefore played a wide variety and latest songs… That approach lives on so no one should be surprised when I play the old Bang, Bang Lulu or latest Adele’s Hello.

The sessions at the Primary Schools in East End and Long Look were especially enlightening - This is our Birth District so it was great seeing how the Children interacted and enjoyed themselves – They were a lot more forthcoming than in our Day and there is no doubt that they possess a World of potential… The question and concern is whether they would ever get the opportunity to use it.

This is growing less and less likely as Stumbling Blocks are being placed in their way – It is almost impossible for our Children to acquire real Self-worth when the first thing they hear, at Home and at School, is that they are Nobody unless they worship and obey Leaders and Imaginary Friends, intent on keeping them retarded and enslaved so that the Less Fortunate will always remain less fortunate.

Ironically, because the Gallows built for others often hang the Builder’s Son, America realised the Trap intended for the Children of Slaves was also catching Master’s Children so they endeavored to block Prayers from their Schools… And, while some may not know better there are those who willfully seek to return our Children to this Culture of Slavery even if it means ensnaring their own.

Understanding the difference between Hebrew Slavery & African Slavery:

Conservatives and the Righteous like equating African Slavery in the West with that of Hebrews in Egypt without knowing or understanding either - Just ask them how Hebrews got enslaved in Egypt and although they claim to have read it all, they fail to recognise that while Africans were forced into Slavery, the Hebrews virtually forced themselves into Slavery… Just think about how it started.

You may recall that, because Joseph, the oldest son of Jacob's second wife, Rachel, was treated as his favorite son his older brothers hated him enough to sell him as a Slave into Egypt… Initially he did well in Egypt and was favoured by his Master until he was falsely accused of attempting to rape his master's wife and ended up in Prison until released to interpret the Pharaoh’s Dream.

Pharaoh believed his interpretation of 7 years of prosperity for Egypt to be followed by 7 years of famine so Joseph was elevated to be his Advisor and to gather up the entire Surplus of Food so it could be stored for the Famine…  When it came, it was so severe that people from surrounding nations came to Egypt to purchase Food and Jacob's family was among those seeking to buy.

Subsequently, Joseph not only provided this Freely to his Family but resettled his entire Family and Servants in Egypt where they lived like Kings while Joseph forced all Peoples of Egypt, except for Priests, to buy food with all of their silver, then all of their lands and ultimately with their freedom… Furthermore he mandated that Egyptians would pay Government 20% of whatever they produced.

In this way, all Egyptians became enslaved in their own Country for as long as Joseph lived… However, he eventually died and as Pharaohs forgot about him, the bitterness of what happened under his rule was not forgotten and as a consequence the tables turned and the Hebrews were then enslaved by the Egyptians and unable to leave captivity or help themselves – Please read it.

When Leaders see themselves as House Slaves they treat their People like Field Slaves:

Those are the Biblical Facts but it is not just in the Virgin Islands that we find Oppressors pushing us into Denial as they use Slave Descendants to victimise Slave Descendants… Perhaps our own Black Leaders are imitating International Black Leaders like Judge Clarence Thomas and Candidate Ben Carson who seem not to realise the present and future Damage they are doing to our Children.

It is unbelievable that even with open Admissions, Tangible Evidence and Smartphone Pictures, Mr Thomas and Mr Carson still deny that Blacks face Racism or that Black Youth are victimised by the Police… Too many Parents still have difficulty acknowledging that once some Leaders believe they ‘have made it’ they look down on us and conveniently forget from whence they came.

The House Slave Mentality lives on and teaches us that, ‘Silence is Golden and we should go along to get along’ so, we claim to reach for Stars while living on our Knees and we find false joy in sacrificing the values of Life while seeking for promises of Death… This is wrong - Our Children deserve better but instead of being helped forward they are pushed backwards - This must stop.

PS: I will continue addressing some of your Questions & Comments on Live BVP Radio Programmes