Rooting the Periphery, Not the Core: White Supremacist Domination in the Caribbean
Is Black Self-Rule a Delusion?
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All Global Research articles can be read in 51 languages by activating the “Translate Website” drop down menu below the author’s name or on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version).
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“Although slavery may be abolished in all parts of Europe and America, the people of Africa and their descendants elsewhere are still enslaved by the values and memories of white oppression. They face oppression every day, politically, economically and socially that are still griming reminders of enslavement of their people not long ago.” – Eric Flanagan (2010) [1]
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Before World War II, only three states in the West Indies were independent – Haiti, Dominican Republic and Cuba. Since 1945, most of the Caribbean has undergone decolonization from the former colonial states of Great Britain, France and The Netherlands. [2]
At first glance, freedom from the grip of the Big Powers would seem to be a moment to celebrate! A victory for the mostly black populations working since slavery days for the benefit of the White Masters. But the good news of these transformations of state control are complicated by the bad news of full extrication from the grasp of White European and American control.
In 1804, Haiti became the first country to win independence after the 13 year Haitian Revolution prosecuted by slaves against the colonizers. It was liberated in a slave revolt! However, after being occupied by the U.S. in the early 20th century, and then subjected to despotic rule under Duvalier and his successors Haiti is now the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere. [3]
As for the latter day liberators in places like Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the state of repressive conditions within the apparently Black-run societies continues. [4]
The rots at the heart of it may seem to be self-imposed. Much of it, however, may be the consequence of the ongoing paradigms of the asymmetric power between the small countries on the periphery, and the more established entities in the person of the United States, Great Britain, France, etc. that can assert their power, through the tendrils of influence from which Black countries have not really emancipated themselves.
This episode of the Global Research News Hour attempts a revisit of the Afro-Caribbean communities and indicate how hope for restoration can be secured both by the people on the West Indian islands, and within the Canadian population which in reality perpetuated White Supremacy on their darling vacation hubs.
In the first half hour of the show, we hear from Tina Renier, a Jamaican researcher, about her articles on the problems with Black populated countries developing true self-autonomy after a new managerial elite grounded in a colonial mentality and colonial values is replacing an old one. And she will comment on the International Development programs originating in Canada to extend help to Black people as the latest “Great White burden.”
In our second half hour, we hear from Jafrikayiti, a Canadian born in Haiti, about the 20th anniversary of the coup targeting President Jean- Bertrand Aristide, how this compares with a U.S. led military invasion threatening the country soon, and about what needs to change to end what he has called ongoing crimes of White Supremacy.
The following film was made earlier in the week, detailing a protest by Haitian-Canadian people 20 years ago before the coup took place!
Tina Renier is an independent researcher based in Jamaica. She is a regular contributor to Global Research. Her areas of research interests are international development, with special emphasis on labour and development, education and development and women, gender and development.
Jafrikayiti, also known as Jean Saint-Vil, is an Ottawa-based author, radio host and social justice activist who publishes in English, Kreyòl and French on his blog http://Jafrikayiti.com. With Solidarité Québec Haiti comrades, Jafrikayiti often tweets #BlackNationhoodMatters. He continually calls on Canada to stop interfering in the governance of his native Haiti.
(Global Research News Hour episode 422)
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Notes:
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Flanagan, E. (2010). Black Struggle in Colonization. The Dread Library. Retrieved from http/www.debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/flanagan.html
- https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Indies-island-group-Atlantic-Ocean/Decolonization
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/Haitian-Revolution
- https://www.globalresearch.ca/caribbean-black-nationalism-problems-black-self-rule-20th-century-caribbean/5845084
