More Caucasians should support Emancipation celebrations – Cromwell Smith
Speaking on the Thursday, July 4, 2019, edition of his ZBVI ‘Umoja’ show, Smith implored that while ‘White People’ collaborate with people of African ancestry in other areas, when it comes to emancipation celebrations there is a notable absence from the descendants of African enslavers.
Celebrate with Us – Mr Smith
“I would like to see some White people come, to me when White people participate in our celebration, our emancipation celebration it shows that they understand or they empathise with what we went through and it shows some sorrow for what their ancestors put us through,” he told guest, Reverend Melvin A. Turnbull.
Mr Smith, who had previously suggested that since no African was indigenous to the Virgin Islands (VI) and they should stop engaging in harsh discussions toward immigrants, is imploring all people of European ancestry to support the African celebrations.
“And recognising that by showing more support for our celebration it brings a positive impact on them,” he said, adding that their participation can benefit the image of ‘Whites’.
Mr Smith further charged, “Because to stay away to me says… you still do feel no responsibility for what your ancestors have done.”
More Support
Reverend Turnbull, in agreeing with the sentiments, implored that there have always been ‘White people’ who were against slavery and the marginalisation of the African people, such as those who fought alongside and supported the cause of Martin Luther King Jr.
According to Mr Smith, “I see a lot of white people with the clubs, white people and black people working together with Rotatory, Lions and many other clubs, but I don’t see that same sharing, working together during our emancipation celebrations."
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28 Responses to “More Caucasians should support Emancipation celebrations – Cromwell Smith”
Leave the people them, let them be. Let sleeping dogs lie. If they do not want to participate what is that to you? Furthermore, is it the culture for white people to be spread eagled with this rear in the air their hands on the ground with a man behind them?
Encouragement to attend the Emancipation Festivities is one thing. "Welcome" is a radical form of acceptance. Chastisement isn't welcoming.
White Boy!
Anyhow, Cromwell let sleeping dogs lie. You only creating confusion. Let our people enjoy our custom and let the white people enjoy theirs. Plus it is the hurricane season any way. They are eager to be in their safe zone in their homeland.
A win win for everyone.
As to joining in the emancipation celebration, I and my family do so every year. It's a pity when it runs late every time. Not for the waiting crowd but mainly for the dancers who have to wait for hours in the hot sun.
Don't try to shame people into attending; each should do so willingly if they wish to.
Enjoy the festival this year.
After Emancipation, most Whites left the BVI, declaring it as an impoverished place and only good as a bird sanctuary. Now regentrification is on the uptick. It is clear that Whites like living in a tropical paradise and like the employment and investment opportunity(s) but dislike living among Blacks, the majority of the population. They isolate themselves, creating two separate societies. An example of the dislike living among locals is the current situation at Clairmont Community in St. Croix. At the Clairmont Community, Whites are going all out to chase out a Black property from the Community.
On top of that, Belongers complain every year that festival has become a ratchet music festival full of foreign acts. Not the sales pitch to those residents or visitors looking for a real or family BVI cultural experience.
And to echo the above, very very few families owned slaves and plantations and very very few families owned the large industrial companies in the UK, Netherlands, Spain and France. The rest of our ancestors worked in very poor and dangerous conditions for barely enough money to survive or time to enjoy it. Don’t confuse the people among you with the governments of their countries. As is still evident today, many are vehemently against the policies of their governments.
1. Turn off the internet
2. Stop live broadcasting. videoing, livestreaming, etc. of the the Festival events
3. Stop it from raining from 3Pm to midnight.
Follow these steps and everybody in the BVI will have to get out of their comfortable chairs in front of the TV or other screen and actually go down the hill into RT and participate.
It's "write". not "right"
"respect [SPACE] for"
Privilege
We good. We don’t need the colonizers over seeing our history