The AfriCaribbean conversations are quite timely and much needed. The trade pathways that we are building – retraces those paths that established a region. Yet now, feels like returning home after time away from a parent.
That return feels like a warm embrace of comfort and leadership we didn’t get. The years we yearned with no tending. Us, hurt and ready for guidance, from those older and wiser. A great commodity to trade.
We however, cannot brush over the fact that we are hurt and have been wounded for years. We are in pain that shows within our society. We are resilient and strong but we have been in survival mode the entire time. Our people are aggressive and at war among themselves. The genders divided. The islands/ countries are still fighting each other. We have matured in many ways but our society needs improvements with our social challenges.
Social Challenges
We are still slaves of rum and sugar. Alcoholism and diabetes plagues us. We are still slaves to systems, with harsh working conditions that keep us in a high blood-pressure epidemic. The natural beauty of our habitats has been one of our comforts through it all. Sea, sand and sun is our backdrop. Yet Climate change has put us under attack and increasingly vulnerable. Our roots not well anchored to face storm-force winds.
Self love is a challenge. We have been made to feel for so long as worthless; beyond the price that they pay us. Insecurities are high, safety is low, across the board – food insecurity, economic insecurity, housing insecurity. The Truth about our identity still seems unknown thus lying is rampant among the people.
The mental impact shows. Our pain deemed obscene – with censorship of our reactions and responses. Gaslighting! The pain is demonstrated more than verbalized. A trend of silence of pain exists, overlooking the loud presence of depression and mumbling. The harsh tones they once used still echo among us. The need for control, imposed upon us, to mask anxiety. The disrespect we have turned among ourselves, along with the abuse. Numbing, and escapism through addiction is also noted.
Understandably moral is low. Gratitude is low and purpose is low. Internal peace is low. In many cases external peace also. Children forced to grow up, innocence taken prematurely. The stories are disheartening and far too common. Reinforcement is needed into our social infrastructure, core values are needed to re-frame us.
Much of our education system has taught us that we are incorrect; our language, our memories, our medicine. “Illiteracy” of colonial language, “senility” and high mortality still linger.
The luxuries of life feel distant. We are also not desirous of becoming slaves of the pursuit of that either. Visiting our neighbours though is difficult. We need more play in our lives and rest. We need to feel heard and seen and understood. Attention seeking to be acknowledged – Validated.
Caribbean Strengths
The framing thus far seems remiss of the joys we have had. We have still succeeded in creating homes within this region. We have used our inheritance to develop a society with warm passion that matches the sunlight.
African customs and traditions can be noted in many areas. Our meals made from our resources are rich in flavour and love – you can taste it. Our dances, chanting, story-telling and performances, our vocal range, and lyrical genius have not forsaken us. Our songs still project our souls.
When the rhythm of the music changed, we remembered to change our dance as well, and adapted with all the challenges received. We have also maintained community and self-pride. We have remained cultured, respectful and graceful. We still are friendly, and kind.
Our fashion and charisma – our finesse, remain fabrics of our society. Our zest is ever-present. We are expanding our expression. Once crimes that we have rebelled to regain, now our self-actualization. We too are born of Creation, now we are allowing ourselves more and more to create, to be. With little we have made so much.
We have risen to global heights, and global influence. We have persevered. We have learned to compete in games with moving goal posts. We have persisted. We have created our own currencies, banks, schools, universities, organization, systems of trade and development. We have taken accountability of our circumstances and started addressing our insecurities. We have built up our capacity.
Our leadership has steered us well to have reached this point, and we always extend our appreciation. Our communities have led the charge. Individuals have taken it upon themselves to light our way through the tunnel, many gone unacknowledged.
African Investment opportunities
We have thus far treated some of our symptoms, however we are desirous of remedies that target root causes. Rehabilitation is needed. Detox is needed. Love is needed. Hope is needed. We need to more than survive now, it’s time for us to live.
Help us return to ourselves, invest in our self-view, reclamation of our identity. This area of investment is particularly critical from the African continent. This would also be in alignment to CARICOM’s Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice Point 7: African Knowledge Program and Point 8: Psychological Rehabilitation.
These are long-term investments or perhaps capital ventures to be explored that will provide their returns much later. Human capital we have made use of most, but the sustainability of constant activity, with little down time, may hurt us sooner rather than later. While conversations around business investment are at the forefront perhaps environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration into these, with a mandate for corporate social responsibility (CSR) that provides the repair to our outlined challenges should be considered.
The following of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) could also be integrated into these social investments:
- Goal 1 – No poverty
- Goal 2 – Zero hunger
- Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 4 – Quality Education
- Goal 5 – Gender Equality
- Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.
We can continue to align with almost every goal below but the first 6 would be a great start. To clarify, we have already taken initiative on all these fronts, these are being highlighted as opportunities for Motherland investment.
A family tie is like a tree. It can bend but it cannot break. – African proverb
Warm regards,
