For it was Vishnu Bisram’s argument, that the Indian indentured labourers, singlehandedly built and
contribution in this nation’s
Notwithstanding, slavery was our ancestors’ harsh reality, having been forcefully brought from Africa, in chains and shackles. For they were forcefully enchained, and shipped like cargo, under the most inhumane of conditions. Where facing such harsh conditions, nearly 100 million chose to leap to a watery death, even as incalculable millions malnourished, died of diseases, from their disease-ridden environment.
However, that aforementioned brutal introduction was just the prelude to worse atrocities, since those who survived, faced the forced labour of slavery. Forced labour, that was ruthlessly represented by 16hr-day of incessant and barbaric
Nevertheless, these atrocities were wholly legal, since in the slave master and Catholic Church judgement, slaves were subhumans, therefore didn’t justify humanly treatment. Which means, they were denied their identities, being forced to take on the identities of their masters. Further, they were forced to take on, through cultural genocide, the culture of their masters. Furthermore, their African religions were outlawed and demonised, even as they were forced to adopt Christianity of their masters.
Thus, slavery wasn’t only of harsh forced labour. Slavery wasn’t only of brutal rapes. Slavery wasn’t only of savage lynchings. Slavery wasn’t only of barbaric beatings. Slavery wasn’t only of inhumane living conditions. Slavery wasn’t only of chains and shackles. For slavery was brutish. For slavery annihilated our African societies. For slavery obliterated our African identities. For slavery invalidated our religious practices. For slavery was injurious to our psyches. For slavery is incomparable.
On the other hand, indentured labourers who were mostly from British India, were voluntarily contracted and remunerated, to work on the plantations vacated by the slaves. However, despite working on the plantations, they didn’t suffer the harsh realities of slavery. For they weren’t barbarically beaten. They weren’t lynched. They didn’t face genocide. For they were permitted to keep their names. For they were permitted to maintain their cultures. For they were permitted to practice their religions. For they were seen as employees and not properties, as with the slaves.
And it’s for these reasons, I am very angry. In fact, if our ancestors were capable of articulating their emotions, they too would’ve been equally angry. For indentureship is under no circumstances, equal to slavery. Therefore, conflating a non-argument of indentureship reparations with our reparations, is to minimise the atrocities experienced by our ancestors.
The fact is, indentured labourers were contractually remunerated, by the plantation owners. And having been paid as per contract, the descendants can’t now unilaterally amend that contract, in demanding more pay in the form of reparations. Neither can today’s descendants argue for reparations, on account of the then working conditions. For if the indentured labourers weren’t pleased, they could’ve left. For this is basic contract law, where the contract could only be amended by those party to it. Therefore, the indentureship reparations argument, is nothing but a PPP political tool, to create a wedge between the races.
On the other hand, slavery was 400yrs of forced brutish labour, without remuneration. Where based on the United Nation estimates, the UK owes the descendants of slaves reparations, in excess of US$ 24 trillion. Thus, any who attempt to dilute our history by equating it to indentureship, must be visited with great condemnation. Therefore, PPP conspicuous and contemptuous attempts at dividing the races, by distorting history, must be swiftly repudiated.
