Are we free?

For this is the inquiry burdening our thoughts. The inquiry lacerating our psyches. The perennial inquiry—Am I a free man? Am I a free woman? Am I a free child?

However, before we delve, this admission—the writer wish not to disparage any nor their religion. Nevertheless, this inquiry is most germane. Before we were dragged to these shores, in shackles and chains, were we always worshippers of their White God? Were we always disciples of their White Christ? Were we always believers in a Bible which indoctrinates—Slaves be obedient to thy earthly masters(Ephesians 6:5-9)?

For if our ancestors had followed, the aforementioned scripture, this would’ve been—They would’ve been obedient, despite being dehumanised. They would’ve been obedient, despite being raped. They would’ve been obedient, despite being murdered. They would’ve

been obedient, despite being emasculated. They would’ve been obedient, despite being physically abused. They would’ve been believers, despite their circumstances. Despite the circumstance of being raped of their culture. Despite the circumstance of being raped of their identities. Despite the

circumstance of being raped of their names. Despite whatever, they should’ve been obedient slaves.

Thus, our story we explore, to open eyes and exorcise spirits. Exorcising spirits through this revelation—When we were dragged to these shores, we had our established religion and culture. But the evidence will show that those who weren’t followers of the European Christian belief structure, were castigated non-believers. And as non-believers, they were forcefully converted, even as their religious belief(Obeah) was demonised, and outlawed.

However, the slave masters were conning, for cognisant they were, the avenue to our domination, is through their religion, which renders us non-thinkers. Thus, they introduced faith to our vernacular, even as the non-believers faced being converted. Converted through coercion, that in believing, an imminent end, awaits their dehumanising tribulations. But the question was, await the end of what tribulations? Certainly not that from the brutal Bible carrying slave masters.

Thus, once again the inquiry—Are we really free when we can’t critically appraise our religion? For fire and brimstones will be in abundance, burying this

freethinking writer, who has illuminated the role of Christianity, in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. For blasphemy will lace their tongues. For sacrilege will reverberate their vocal cords. For faith has blinded their eyes.

But after much religious fury, this inquiry awaits—Were our ancestors actions, when they revolted against their masters, consistent with the slave scripture? For most certainly, informed by the slave scripture, none can argue that their actions were compatible with that of a believer. For a believer would’ve blindly followed the slave scripture, in not revolting against thy earthly masters. But thankful am I, their refusal to be obedient to the slave scriptures. For if they had, today we would’ve all been burdened by both mental and physical chains.

Thus, once again the inquiry—Are we really free? Are we really free when an innocuous word, Jagabat, would’ve us in shackles and chains? Are we really free when we can’t be critical of the PPP demagogues? Are we really free when we are being fired without due process? Are we really free when we are being denied oil, and the riches of our lands? For our ancestors’ blood soaked these lands and seabeds, yet we are without a home.

Nevertheless, many will proffer that in the absence of physical chains, we stand a free people. However, of such a postulation, this writer will vehemently repudiate.

For Dr. Roger Luncheon was without physical chains, yet was enslaved. For Robeson Benn is without physical chains, yet enslaved. For Kwame McCoy is without physical chains, yet enslaved. For Mark Phillips is without physical chains, yet enslaved. For Joseph Hamilton is without physical chains, yet enslaved. For Hugh Todd is without physical chains, yet enslaved. For Oneidge Walrond is without physical change, yet enslaved. For Dr. Jennifer Westford is without physical chains, yet enslaved. For they’re are without physical chains, yet afflicted by mental slavery.

And as a consequence of mental slavery, they’re blinded to our realities. So blinded that they

doggedly follow, without critical thinking, the PPP discriminatory policies.

Thus, once again the inquiry—Are we really free? Are we really free when we cannot critically appraise our political parties? Are we really free, when we cannot critically appraise our religions? Are we really free, when we cannot recognise the true origin and meaning of our ancestors’ religion, Obeah? For this writer would argue, far from free are we, thus emancipation isn’t

worth commemorating.