Jamaica & National Heroes’ Day
Jamaica is one of the Caribbean islands that is commonly known to the outside world. The food, music, athletes, and stars have influenced more people and places than I can count. In addition to the “mainstream” idea of Jamaica, the influence they have had on movements regarding the culture and treatment of Black people around the world is indisputable.
Jamaica has many national awards. One award, of the most senior order, is the “Order of National Hero.” National Heroes Day, founded on October 20th, 1969, recognizes all who have received the honor of this award. The motto for the Order of National Hero is “He built a city which hath foundations.” Now recognized on the third Monday of October each year, the people honored did just that.
The 7 National Heroes of Jamaica are: Paul Bogle, Marcus Garvey, George William Gordon, Samuel Sharpe, Norman Manley, Sir Alexander Bustamante and Nanny of the Maroons (Queen Nanny). This list of heroes not only influenced the history of Jamaica but that of the other islands and Western World as well.
Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr.
August 17th, 1887- June 10th, 1940
Marcus Mosiah Garvey was the first Jamaican to be named a National Hero. Born in St. Ann, Jamaica on August 17th, 1887, he spent a part of his childhood living in a variety of places such as Costa Rica, Panama, and England. His father was a mason and his mother was a farmer. Before beginning his travels, he left school after Standard Six to become an apprentice for a printer; it is said that he led a strike for higher wages. Influenced by the large family library his father kept, Garvey loved to read. I am sure that his love for reading, in addition to his experience while traveling, heavily influenced the man he is known as today.
After his travels, Garvey returned to Jamaica in 1914. Shortly after his arrival, he wrote The Evolution of Latter Day Slaves: Jamaica, a Country of Black and White. In this, Garvey rips into the current state of Jamaica, the “pearl of the Antilles.” In one section, he listed the current population of the island and then broke down their feelings and state of living. He later touches on the “American negro” and the difference in behaviors between them and the Afro community on the island. Understanding that the context of how slavery and oppression continued to be shaped in each respective area is different and directly responsible for how they communicated with each other. This writing, though known, is not what Garvey is “best” known for. Still, reading it produced an emotion for me that I pray stays with me forever.
Do I know my history? Do I really understand WHY I interact with my community the way I do? What am I doing with the information I have available to me? There was a lesson to be learned from reading “The Evolution of Latter Day Saints” and I hope that you all feel it as well. Garvey has always known his history. He was very aware of how it directly influenced the community. What we feel, how we see our life, who we trust all stem from not just being aware of what has happened, but taking the intentional time to remember. All of the details. Even the difficult ones. The emotions and understanding birthed from him having this awareness, are an evident foundation for the Universal Negro Improvement Association. An organization he founded in July of that same year.
The Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) was founded on principles that promote unity and development amongst black people. The organization encouraged and supported the development of Black Owned Businesses, one of which was the Black Star Line, a shipping and passenger company that transported both goods and people between North America and Africa.
Garvey was known as the “Black King,” and a major player for Black Nationalism not only in Jamaica, but the United States as well. Two years after founding UNIA he moved to the United States and chartered a branch in Harlem. By the 1920’s, there were approximately 700 branches in over 38 states. Large chapters were built in hubs such as New York and Chicago but UNIA picked up in small towns as well. The messaging was something they needed and the community it built among the African- American community, made it easy to build support. As the UNIA and their message grew, Garvey and supporters caught the attention of the FBI. To “trap” him, Garvey was charged for mail fraud.
There is not a wonder in my mind as to why Marcus Mosiah Garvey is recognized as a National Hero of Jamaica. In Jamaica, he is known for his activism through his writings and of course, the creation of the UNIA. In the United States, he fathered the Pan-Africanism and Black Nationalist movement. So many other organizations, were birthed from his principles. His reach went beyond the Americas, making it to Africa as well. He is considered prophet in the Rastafari religion, as they use many of his principles as a foundation of their beliefs. A man whose influence cannot be ignored, he is not the first Jamaican to spark a movement. As a man who knows his history, I am sure that he has learned much from those before him. One being Samuel Sharpe, the face of the Christmas Rebellion.
Garvey, Marcus. The Evolution of Latter day Slaves: Jamaica, a Country of Black and White.
https://jis.gov.jm/information/heroes/marcus-mosiah-garvey/
Sam Sharpe
Unknown - May 23rd, 1832
Samuel Sharpe, born into slavery in St. James, Jamaica, is a great example of how unity and advancement of all are the foundations of the Jamaican community. Sharpe, a last name given to him by the plantation owners Sameul and Jane Sharpe. Though they “gave” him his name, Samuel did not allow the plantation owners to dictate his life. He used newspapers and books to teach himself to read and write. Through that, he learned to read the bible and eventually became a well known preacher and leader in the Baptist Church. This allowed him the oppurtnuity to have freedom to travel to different planattions to preach to other enslaved peoples. Just like traveling provided insight for Garvey, Samuel took advantage of the fact that the British allowed religious meetings and began to organize slaves, ultimately creating the largest and longest slave rebellion in Jamaican history.
The Christmas Rebellion, also known as the Baptist War, began on December 27th, 1831 and lasted ten days. While visiting other enslaved peoples Samuel gained support on his plan for passive resistance. The plan was for slaves to resist working from Christmas day and beyond unless they received better treatment, conditions and consideration for freedom by plantation owners. This timing was perfect because it was cane season and if the sugar cane was not cut, the plantation owners would lose their crops. His main supporters, coined as leaders, were sent off to spread the word across parishes and the word spread quickly.
What began as a peaceful protest, quickly turned into a more active resistance as the British Armed Forces and plantation workers began to fight with the slaves. 14 White people died and over 200 Black enslaved people lost their lives. Samuel, named as the main instigator was captured and hung in 1832 with 300 more enslaved people who participated in the rebellion in Montego Bay. The spot he was executed in was later renamed Sam Sharpe Square and a memorial was placed in his honor.
The rebellion, ending in both his as well as other enslaved people’s death, led to an investigation of the condition of slavery in the Caribbean. The reports contributed to the 1833 decision by parliament to pass the Slavery Abolotion Act. In 1838, slavery was abolished in all British Colonies. Named a National Hero in 1975, Samuel’s dedication to brotherhood and justice for his people is a piece of history that all islanders should remember. He used his strengths of reading and writing to build his critical thinking in organizing a rebellion that did not leave any parish out. Looking at all of this, especially as someone who migrated to the States. I think about how I can use my skillset to continue to promote community and support my own. How can I make my advancement, our advancement? Samuel was able to create a message and spread it across parishes; gathering the support of other enslaved peoples. Beaten down and belittled, they still had time to think of those other than themselves. They supported each other with what they had. If there is any message to take away from Jamaicans, that is one of them.
Unity, a priority under his leadership, showed a unifying force. His wisdom and courage was heard over 4,000 miles away and 6 years after his murder, a change that changed the structure of the world is still here today. Caribbean people were free. I am sure that Queen Nanny looked on, proud that rebellions against the enslavement of people were continuing.
Jamaican National Library http://www.nlj.gov.jm/content/sam-sharpe-1; Junius P. Rodriguez, ed. Encyclopedia of Slave Resistance and Rebellion (Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood, 2006); Delroy Reid-Salmon, Burning for Freedom: A Theology of the Black Atlantic Struggle for Liberation (Kingston, W.I. Ian Randle Publishers, 2012).
Queen Nanny
c.1680s - c.1760s
Queen Nanny was born in Ghana and bought to Jamaica with the arrival of other Africans during the Slave Trade. After a few tries, she escaped with a group of other enslaved peoples into the Blue Mountains. In that group included her three brothers Accompong, Cudjoe, and Quao. Small communities were formed in the areas that are known as Saint James and Saint Elizabeth. They became known as Maroons, a term that was used to describe Africans and their descendants who formed settlements away from plantations. Her brother Cudjoe lead the Leeward Maroons in the west and she led the Winward Maroons in the east, also known as nanny Town. They thrived in the mountains.
Queen Nanny did not see peace with the British as an option. When her brothers made treaties with the British, she was upset. Like Garvey, she wanted the advancement of Black people to be created and controlled by them without the risk of the British changing or influencing decisions surrounding the community. The formation of these treaties did make it clear that the British saw the Maroons and Queen Nanny were powerful. They utilized rebellions and plantation raids as a means to an end where freedom was the goal. In the early 1730s the first Maroon war took place as a result of the successful slave rebellions and planattion raids that took place by her hand. This was not only embarrassing to the British but it hurt their pockets as well. Search parties were sent into the jungles to search for Nanny and other Maroons. Exceptional at Guerilla warfare, the Maroons were able to hold their own against the British. Though lives were lost on both sides, the Maroons under her leadership were able to prevent the British from overpowering them. During this time, Queen Nanny is credited for freeing thousands of slaves.
There are many accounts on what happened to Queen Nanny. Some say she was captured by a British Colonel, while others believe she lived a long life and died of natural causes. There are also varying accounts on who Queen Nanny is, the Nanny of the First Maroon War is who the stories are all about.
While known for her leadership in the war and her success in freeing slaves, there is something else that stands out to me on who Queen Nanny was. Accounts report that Queen Nanny prided herself in the teachings of West African Culture, passing down legends and customs to continue to hold true to who they were as a people. This art of storytelling to fuel inspiration and pride in the Maroons is something that is still evident in the Maroon communities of Jamaica today, as well as the island as a whole.
Spreading the message and making it clear who they are, is one thing Jamaicans will forever be known for. Regardless of what outsiders may or may not know, Jamaica knows their culture and it is evident everywhere they go. Whether it is to put together a group of activities to spark a much needed rebellion or using education to write papers and influence political structures - they have done it all. This opinion is further proved by the last four national heroes who provide a timeline on the fight for freedom all the way to independence.
Mavis Campbell, The Maroons of Jamaica, 1655-1796 (Trenton, New Jersey: Africa World Press, 1990); Edward Long, The History of Jamaica, VolumeII (T. Lowndes, Fleet Street, London 1774);
Paul Bogle George William Gordon Sir William Bustamente Norman Manley
1820 - 10/24/1865 1820 - 1865 2/24/1884 - 8/6/1977 7/4/1893 - 9/2/1969
“Give us vision lest we perish.
Knowledge send us Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above.
Justice, Truth be ours forever
Jamaica , land we love.
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love.”
This last bit of the Jamaican National Anthem, “justice, truth be ours forever” is one that the last four National Heroes prove to be true. The words the island holds dear to their heart aren’t all talk, they are held in the highest regard by all of their people. And it is evident in how the country carries itself when standing up for what they believe. And they’ll always make sure we hear about it.
Paul Bogle and George William Gordon both did this in the 1800s. Both men focused on better living conditions for lower-income Black people in Jamaica. Both of these men are significant to post-slavery history. Many Black islanders, post-slavery, were farmers. They had to pay for the land they worked on and conditions were far from great for them. Bogle, a deacon and activist committed himself to better the conditions of Black people in Jamaica. In October of 1865, he led a march to the courthouse to support two Black men who were on trial for trespassing on an abandoned plantation. Police became involved and the march turned violent. A few days later, bogle protested again. Police involvement led to over 20 deaths and Bogle and other protestors took control of the parish for two days. Many more men and women, children included, were killed. Bogle was later executed. A day before Bogle’s execution, Gordon, a mixed-race landowner was executed for assisting bogle in the organization of the rebellion. Though he was considered upper class due to his assets, he was very outspoken about the discrimination and conditions that were negatively impacting the Black community in jamaica. This is who Jamaica is. They stick with their own and support each other regardless of how it may impact them at the moment. They’re always looking at the bigger picture.
Sir William Alexander Clarke Bustamente is an activist and founder of the Jamaica Labour Party. Born in 1884, he lived in Spain until he returned to Jamaica in 1932. Upon his return, similar to Garvey, he immediately spoke up. Bustamente, a name he took in honor of the Spaniards who adopted him, was displeased with the colonial rules in Jamaica and wrote about it in the Daily Gleaner. Many of his articles were in defense of the poor working class and he was later elected treasurer of the Jamaica Workers’ Union (JWU), later making him a leader during the 1938 rebellion. After the labor riots, he began a trade union that quickly gained membership by thousands. Bustamente, like many Jamaicans, knew the importance of spreading a message. In doing so, he was able to be a force that contributed to the structure of the Jamaican political system and was named the first Prime Minister of Jamaica after they gained independence in 1962.
Bustamante’s cousin, Norman Manley, also contributed to the development of Jamaica’s governing system. Manley, a lawyer and soldier in World War I, is the founder of the People’s National Party. During his time, he provided pro bono legal advice for workers in the 1938 labor rebellion that his cousin, Bustamante, took part in. He also advocated and was a member of other suffrage groups. A priority of his was Jamaica’s independence to lead into self-government, His work in this lead him to be a Chief Minister as well as a Premier. Both Bustamante and Manley dedicated their lives to upholding the work the National Heroes before them did; creating a long-lasting structure of Jamaican independence and leadership by Black people. All of the rebellions led by Queen Nanny and Samuel Sharpe, the passionate writings about the need for unity and development of Black people by Garvey Jr. are all evident in the structure and work that both these men did. They understood the importance of those that lost their lives to make Jamaica free and they advocated to ensure that would continue to be true.
Forever talked about on social media and the news, Jamaica is always making noise. Just like the National Heroes, She has a name that will never be forgotten. There is not a place you can go on earth where Jamaica isn’t known. Samuel Sharpe, Garvey, Queen Nanny, Bogle, Gordon, Bustamante, and Manley all made sure of that. Their impact made them heroes on their island but their influence made sounds across the seas. The noise She has makes waves. There is nothing Jamaica cannot do for Her country. There is nothing Jamaica will not do for her country. They stick together, lift each other up and rebel against all things that do not make them one. There is much to learn from a place like Jamaica, beyond what mainstream could ever identify. She unites. She transforms. She revolutionizes.
Jamaica is THAT GIRL.