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Disappointment at no statement from elected reps on Black History Month!

According to Mr. Smith, due to the sacrifices of their ancestors, persons of African heritage are now benefiting and to which they should show gratitude.
Mr. Smith (left) is not happy that no elected representative has made any public statement on Black History Month. Right: Natalio Wheatley
Mr. Smith (left) is not happy that no elected representative has made any public statement on Black History Month. Right: Natalio Wheatley
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Talk show host and public activist Cromwell Smith is disappointed with the absence of elected representatives from the 3rd Annual Tossing of the Wreath Ceremony held on Sunday February 5, 2012 in the vicinity of the cruise ship dock and that no statement has been forthcoming from them.

The Tossing of the Wreath ceremony, which is to remember those Africans who perished during the journey across the Atlantic during the slave trade, is part of the observances of Black History Month, which is celebrated in the month of February.

Only Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron Walwyn was present at the ceremony on Sunday, which Mr. Smith said was a big deal for them although Hon. Walwyn did not get an opportunity to make a comment. But he lamented that he has not heard anything from the elected representatives or the church leaders on Black History Month.

According to Mr. Smith, due to the sacrifices of their ancestors, persons of African heritage are now benefitting. He also mentioned such names as Harriet Todman, Marcus Garvey, Raymond Blyden, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, who championed the cause for persons of African heritage. “Maybe they might have mentioned it in the church I don’t know, but in a public forum whether in the online media or on radio or television we have not heard anything from them and they are the beneficiaries of the sacrifices of their ancestors that they so quickly deny,” said Mr. Smith on his radio talk show Umoja, which was aired February 9, 2012.

He noted that Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks in particular sacrificed themselves so that today persons of African heritage could attend colleges in the United States or afford a college education there.

According to Mr. Smith, the new excuse is “well I got white in me, my ancestors were half white so that is why we go out of the way to claim our white heritage and continue to deny our African heritage and to market for bleaching cream....so we still have some challenges.”

Co-host of the show Natalio Wheatley said there is a misnomer that Black History Month is an American “thing” and that may be part of the reason people are not really recognising it.

This year’s theme for Black History Month is “Black Women in American Culture and History”.

15 Responses to “Disappointment at no statement from elected reps on Black History Month! ”

  • dem say (10/02/2012, 07:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Come on Puncheee if you waitin for dey NDP to talk bout black history or progress issues you have a long wait…we know who dem in bed wid!!!
  • YESA (10/02/2012, 07:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Whats your point, you guys believe everything we must have an elected member to speak......the past government wasnt doing a good job, speak about that...............people like you guys make me sick coming on here reading bull crap............. We need to read positive not negative.
  • ReX FeRal (10/02/2012, 09:36) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    That's a US AfroAmerican thing. why all the hype. We spend their money eat their processed foods, what else a blood test next.
  • for real (10/02/2012, 09:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    They are too busy doing real work!
    • keep it real (10/02/2012, 11:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      real work yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaa right!!! trying to shut down the media, trying to fire civil servants, removing logo from schools and trying to give dem friend and wivies contracts..that is real work may bouy! opppps I forget fooling the youths
  • Get Real Please (10/02/2012, 11:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why is Cromwell expecting government officials to make a statement on Black History month? Why doesn't he lead the charge and do it. If they did would that give it more meaning? The garb you wear or hairstyle you fashion is not a measure of your consciousness (African or other). We must first find ourselves, become comfortable with ourselves and who we are and not try to identify with every fad, fashion or movement that passes our way. We are very good copy cats and that's what it's all about. Why should any government or government officials have to make a statement on Black History during Black History month? Why do we think government must take the lead in everything? Blackness is an internal fact that should be celebrated every minute of our lives as a people of African descent. It does not have to be about pomp and circumstance and pageantry. Rather, it should be about how we live our lives, which includes how we are one to another and the cultural traits and values that we chose to perpetuate and inculcate in our children. It is about the values and principles that have helped our fore parents us to reshape our destiny by taking control of it. Why do we have to copy everything from the United States? We now celebrate Thanksgiving Day (even though most of us know nothing of its origin and significance). How far do we have to go to find our identity? How much do we have to import to validate our existence as a people? Here in the Caribbean there is a rich enough culture replete with iconic figures and culture bearers we can celebrate and emulate. There is hardly a category in which Caribbean people have not excelled yet we seem to find it difficult to find role models and examples from among us. We blame the youth when we ought to shoulder the blame for not sharing with them the richness of our cultural history and identity. We have had Nobel Laureates (Sir Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott of St. Lucia 1979 and 1992 respectively), Pan-Africans like Marcus Garvey and Edward Wilmot Blyden and a host of other significant contributors not only to Caribbean Regional Development but the internationally as well. We depend on the schools to educate our children while many of us do nothing to assist in the educational process to help to transform their lives. We are all too comfortable to see our children become surrogates for American Pop Culture while our own is discarded, disdained and systematically replaced. Who do we blame but ourselves? Perhaps if we begin to look within then we would be better shielded from outside influences. We are very good copy cats and that's what it's all about. Why should any government or government officials have to make a statement on Black History during Black History month? Why do we think government must take the lead in everything? Blackness is an internal fact that should be celebrated every minute of our lives as a people of African descent. It does not have to be about pomp and ceremony and pageantry. Rather, it should be about how we live our lives, which includes how we are one to another and the cultural traits and values that we chose to perpetuate and inculcate in our children. It is about the values and principles that have helped our fore parents to reshape our destiny by taking control of it.
  • HELLO!! (10/02/2012, 21:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who the hell did he invite? I heard about this thing the day before. Was not advertise at all. If it was advertise, I am sure more persons would have turn out. He could have personally sent invitations to the elected officials and church leaders etc. if he wanted them there. They have lives other than catering to every function. What difference would their presence make? Do government officials have to hold our hands in everything we do here in this country?
  • jamiel (11/02/2012, 07:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Comwell the ndp and the slave master is one check out where they hang out and the private jet
  • New Yorker (11/02/2012, 08:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is a black American celebration we are the BVI so I am confused about the fuss!
  • HHmmmmmmm (11/02/2012, 13:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Black History Month is recognized in the United States, and for good reason. In the Virgin Islands, where our population is predominantly black, our history is BLACK HISTORY and should be celebrated and recognized every single month.
  • Quiet Storm (11/02/2012, 17:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We celebrate Thanksgiving, Holloween, Super Bowl, World Series....etc.; these are all American events. Further, we adore American foods, clothing, music and other entertainment. So why not recognize.Black History, whiich the majority of the population has link to. The majority of BVI residents are of African origin. We should celebrate our African heritage. Every other ethnic group are proud of and celebrate their heritage. Even the ones with a sordid history do. Are we afraid that we may offend Caucasians? We should not be afraid of where we came from, the dehumanizing treatment our ancestors endured, or the long torturous journey we travelled to get where are. We are standing tall on the shoulders of our slave ancestors. Our ancestors endured unimaginable dehumanizing treatment and much personal sacrifices to leaves us this land. And least we can do is recognize and show appreciation for painful experience. A people who do know its history is lost people and is doomed for failure. Our young men and women must be informed of our history. They must to avoid the hazards of the past. And more importantly they must be architjects of their own destiny. They must be informed that Africa had a great civilization. And African enclaves around the world have the interlect to do great things. Utbut to make this happen we must educate ourselves. If we do not educate ourselves we will be omen dependent on others and be second rate bit players in our own country. We are on the precipice of this happening due to our lost of focus. Too much time has been wasted. Lets awaken and preserve what our ancestors left us so that we in turn can preserve it for the next generations. ) We are standing on the shoulders of slave ancestors. They endured unimaginable dehumanizing treat
  • Enlightened (13/02/2012, 13:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr. Cromwell Smith: We are not an American Colony, we are British (dependents, citizens, etc.). Black History Month is not one of the Territory's publicly recognized holidays and therefore should not be celebrated as such. However, I agree with a few of the other comments that state that BVI History IS BLACK HISTORY, we don't need Gov. Officials at Every event to make it meaningful, YOU could have properly advertised the tossing of wreath well ahead of time and personally invited Honorees if you felt it so important and etc. Another thing I must stress: of all the great blacks you named, where are our Caribbean counterparts? Why didn't you mention any of the BVI Greats? Do we have any? Who was the first slave to stand up against that terrible Slavemaster, Aurthor Hodge? Why do we only mention H. Lavity Stout and recently Noel Lloyd, don't we have any other greats to look up to as founders and role-models? I believe that rather than stress an American tradition, we should truly found our own? Surely Mr. Lloyd and the PAM aren't the only persons to influence where and who we are as a people today? Why not take this opportunity to stress that BVI History be taught to a deeper level at the High Schools, Primary Schools and yes, even Private Schools, so that we as a people, a country, a kinship and family can truly unite and respect one other and understand each others' culture and traditions. We need to know that we have our own identity, our own voice. Maybe if we did, there would be more BVIslanders 'repping' the Territory at international sporting events, even local events. Case in point, why are there more whites and expats on various sailing teams than locals, as part of the various yacht clubs that seem to have a prestigious, country club type atmosphere? they represent us and many local and international affairs - i would like to see the local graduates of the KATS programme enter more of the junior competitions at such events waving our BVI Flag proudly. I'll end with this. What we all need to realize and come to grips with is the following: WE ARE BRITISH! We are under the rule of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I feel that the grumblings I've heard so far regarding the White Paper (yes, it should not have been rushed and forced on us thusly) and subsequently independance is vastly disrespectful. We have been allowed many privledges because of the UK and while a quest for independence is not wrong, I feel that the way we are going about it is. But I digress... So in closing, every month for us should be Black History month... but every day is a day in the life of a Human Being who (if they really want it and believe and strive towards it) is destined for greatness, regardless of the colour of his skin.
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