From Chains to Cement: African Guyanese, Know Your Worth – Wade

By Attorney Darren Wade- With their bare hands, enslaved Africans built the very foundations of what we now call Guyana. They painstakingly dug the canals, trenches, and water conservancies that crisscross our land. With immense effort, they constructed the roads and sea walls, creating the infrastructure we rely on today. They toiled and died without experiencing the freedom they deserved, their sacrifices immense.

Their blood, sweat, and tears laid the groundwork for our nation. How then can we repay them by compromising our souls and dignity? While you are free to support any political party you choose, that support must not be based on nepotism or corruption, nor should it come at the expense of your fellow citizens. Do not turn your back on your brothers and sisters simply because you have gained access to the estate house.

Your self-esteem is low, your ambition lacking. You should be demanding reparations! This nation, Guyana, owes billions to its people of African descent. The meager wages you might get for cleaning drains or laying cement on the very structures your ancestors built are nothing compared to what you are truly owed and what you deserve. Know your worth. I love you.