Annually we participate in the independence celebrations. But independence is a misnomer and a fallacy. The Dominican mind, society, and culture are, in many respects, mirror images of their slave and colonial counterparts, and a symptom of the Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.
Whilst watching a documentary on the slave trade, I was reminded of a fundamental truth: the legacy of slavery is to be found not only in the ruins and dug out artefacts of the concentration camps of the Caribbean and other slave centres but in the minds of Blacks and Whites. Whilst archaeologists excavate the physical landscape for the ruins of slavery, we must delve into the mindscapes of the descendants of slaves and slave owners to uncover the virus rooted deep in the psyche of Blacks and Whites, shaping their psychology, culture and society. This mental inheritance is both unconscious and unacknowledged, and is the Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome that visionaries such as Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey and Franz Fanon, the revolutionary writer from Martinique, commented on.
The Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome lurks deep in the Dominican mindscape and infiltrates the very fabric of Dominican Society and culture. The belief amongst European slave owners and colonialists that Blacks were only capable of hard labour and merriment are clearly evident in the extent to which the Dominican society and culture are saturated with everything bacchanal whilst the more reflective activities are marginalised. The cultural policy- if it exists- is skewed towards the bacchanal industries-fetes, alcohol, and drugs. Art, theatre and literature are judged insignificant. The literary festival, for example, struggles for survival each year.
Agriculture and other natural resources are wholly underdeveloped. The tourism industry is ill-defined. Is it any surprise that the economy is moribund? Yet there is no shortage of resources for bacchanal and its affiliated industries, the only industries that are thriving in Dominica. Anyone who aspires to transcend and reach for something other than the mediocrity of these industries, will find that the Dominican society and culture are straitjackets to stifle their dreams and imprison their imagination and creativity, preventing them from blossoming. What then is left for those who do not wish to engage in these industries, who crave for something more, except to leave the island? No wonder there is a massive brain drain in Dominica.
But that’s not all. The physical environment which is crucial for mental, spiritual wellbeing and health is polluted and uninspiring. Rivers are contaminated and are drying out. The streets and forests are defiled daily, and our capital city is in desperate need of a face-lift.
Social, political and spiritual institutions thrive on the devaluation and disempowerment of the individual and are crumbling from moral and spiritual decay as a result ; the healthcare system is in crisis and psychological and social enmity are common. What is more, the socio-economic status of the island is based on dependency and begging, which together with bacchanal and its associated evils, are the new religion and morality.
Our women denigrate themselves and they in turn are debased by men who are desensitised and rendered powerless by the society. Our children and childhood are likewise devalued, noticeable in the fact that there are no child-centred activities and play. So called “family fun days” are simply excuses for bacchanal, alcohol and drug binges. This abnormal society is apparent in the homes, which are often abusive, single parent households.
The child who has caught this psychological virus is averse to education, which reinforces their distorted worldview and sense of self. In the end, there are only fetes, dependency, begging, and madness to look forward to on the streets of Roseau. What a life!
Yet Dominicans continue to accept the indefensible. This is a clear manifestation of the low expectations they have of themselves, the government and anyone else who profess to lead them. It is also symptomatic of the virus of the mind or the Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.
There will be merriment during the independence festivities, without the realisation that the chains have been removed from the body to the mind. Bob Marley’s mantra for emancipation from mental slavery is a call for mental and spiritual revolution.
Opinions expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Dominica News Online or its advertisers.
Readers will have a further opportunity to discuss some of the issues raised in Colton Paul’s article at Reverend Watty’s 12th of July Movement lecture to be given at UWI Shool of continuing Education, Emshall on Thursday Nov. 19th at 7.00 pm. The sunbect of his lecture will be “Emancipation and the continuation of slavery: A Caribbean Predicament”.
While education is very important, you seem to have your ideas mixed up where they’re not directly related. First you talk about the importance of literature, arts and theatre being ignored for partying. First off, it’s part of our island culture that most of us love a good bacchanal. If you had stated that people are more interesting in partying than getting an education then I would agree that there’s a problem. Your argument is mainly filled with a bunch of incoherent points that just make it seem like you’re rambling.
You’re talking as if you’ve never left the country and seen how sad things are elsewhere. Don’t get me started on these American kids.
Dominica’s education system is way better than a lot of places. I think the issue most people suffer from isn’t a lack of education but a lack of the need for something better and a need for progress. A lot of them need to get a wider view of the world and that will definitely change their outlook. Even the politicians.
Identifying all the proposed ill in the society is so easy,not one proposal or suggestion,as to how these problems could be tackled.the greatest challenge to developers,economist ,writers is to give form to ideas.
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
“If the negro is not careful he will drink in all the poison of modern civilisation and die from the effects of it.”
“Liberate the minds of men and ultimately you will liberate the bodies of men.”
Quotes by Marcus Garvey
We like most of the Caribbean have confused FLAG and National Song Independence with Creativity, Economic and Political and Independence.We do behave as slaves following without question the prescriptions of our masters.
Sir I agree . we are not independent after 37 years,montserrat is still acolony of Gt. Britain is more independent than us in a sense.
The so called independence which we have is an ILLUSION AND A FANTASY.
Well said!!! Very much on point!!!! Someone once said to me. “If you have a brain and you want to use it, Dominica is not the place to be”
What about you are you a brain drain. If you care to carry out a survey you would find that the entire caribbean and Africans despite all their wealth such as oil they all head for the western shores, not only Dominicans .
If you look at statistics people are dying to get to the UK,USA,Canada, and other European countries i bet even you.
Practically all black people are enslaved in mental slavery wnd youvare the chief one idiot
Go and shake your bag where you sell your coal .
im talking about the first aythor of this nonesence
Sorry, but this is just another rubish article filled with statements that have been conveniently repeated over the years. Comments like these would want readers to believe that regardless of the progress made we are still mentally enslaved. Once you don’t conform to certain attitudes proposed by an elite group you stand the chance of been labeled a mental slave. This is the attitude that will have us stuck in the past.
List the progress that have been made to counter the writer.
Where there is no vision the people perish. You said it well but the Bible said it first and God is missing in the lives of my Dominican people.
It’s a very good argument. I deal with young people all day and it’s appalling how they denigrate themselves,their culture and each other because of fun and the believe that it’s part if freedoms. But I find the Bob Marley analogy a bit difficult, since his use of drugs et al is well known.
Interesting article, in that it pulls no punches and is prevalent to most, if not all, of the islands of the Caribbean.
I agree that more emphasis should be placed on the importance of Arts, Literature etc. Schools can play a major role relating to this. Education is the ‘key’.
As soon as the young are able to absorb what they see and hear, visiting theatres could come to schools teaching them about Dominica’s history, culture and self-worth. Something for the people who wish to make a difference to explore. Hence I am in total agreement with the comments made by GMVL.
Slightly confused when terms like ‘Dominica’ and ‘Dominicans’ are used by people making comments, almost as a means of separation. What do these people see themselves as?
It is also a sad truth that the majority of people who need to read this article, do not have the means to do so.
Dominica has become a nation of beggars thanks to the example set by its leaders. There is no independent action, thought, nor effort any more. People just expect to sit on their increasingly fatter backsides, drinking, eating, feting, and waiting to be given things as if it were their right to have them. Work has become a dirty word which is appropriate really as this country continues to spiral down the toilet. Lazy island of the Caribbean.
A little too hash on DA. ALL peoples who descended from slaves suffer from the pathology of post traumatic slave syndrome. In spite of our higher education we are still afflicted although, granted, education does accelerate the speed at which we purge our minds of the “disease”. The love for festivities including dancing is part of the culture of all Caribbean people – indeed all African people. I agree that DA needs more investment in tourism. But we also need a change in our work ethic. Hospitality comes with a change in our attitude – how we treat strangers with exceptional courtesy so that they will want to return to DA and to also tell their friends nice things about DA. DA needs to better market its strengths. Some islands have a lot less than DA but they get more tourists.
DA also has a small tax base. Not many people paying income tax through payroll because the population is small. To do more the government will need more money but it cannot raise income tax ad nauseam.
Jaded, you said that ” In spite of our higher education we are still afflicted although, granted, education does accelerate the speed at which we purge our minds of the “disease”.
Are you for real? What higher education, may I ask? Do the the Institutions of higher education really delve into African history so that we as a people will really know the truth? I more believe that we, as individuals, have to do our own research to find out about who we were as a people. A great people, whose history is second to none and our fore- fathers, who became slaves in the Western world and despite their conditions, were resilient and became entrepreneurs, especially in America, where there was Black Wall Street.
PEACE
Our ancestors really fought for their freedom and many were slaughtered, burned to the stake( barbecued) while their enemies watched and made fun.
We need to know about that as a people. We are so eager to say, forget the past and move on but other races don’t forget…
Wow what a powerful article and so true. As I look at Dominica today we are still in slavery mode. Our master (s) the Government has us in chains but soon it will be broken every chain has a weak link and one will snap soon. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DOMINICA and all DOMINICANS.
I hope every Dominican takes the time to read this. Very powerful and unfortunately accurate.
no one could not have said it like you did… truth always offends
A very depressing piece of writing bro. I agree we are far from independent because we need so may handouts just to survive. I can not be as somber as you though but I am willing to learn. I never hear of post traumatic slave syndrome for instance. What is it, a disease? Can you describe it please? Also, I did not know we had concentration camps in the Caribbean. Were they only for slaves and where were they I would like to know. Give us some history please.
He just described the disease “FULL LENGTH”. Read it again my friend.
Glad to know I am not kookoo. Someone else out there shares my sentiments on the matter. We are bounded by too much slave pride.
Why do people fight for Dominica? Leave these people alone with their skerrit, and look at them from America and laugh!
Im sure there are many many people who live better than you in your heaven America and Im not talking about Lennox or Skerrit
Perhaps there is a need to begin to change the mindset and, in so doing, inject an ounce of aspiration and sense of connectedness with developments in other communities, in the region and around the world? Aspiration is what will break the cycle of social decay. Launch a public education drive with forums for community discussions on general issues to promote awareness; organise regular debates at schools, where young minds are shaped for growth, and in the wider community that will help people to engage, to think a bit deeper and have a broader outlook and appreciation of life. To recognize the problem is useful in itself, providing it helps lead to a solution. Find ways to engage people on issues at the grassroots level in a way that uplifts society and keep the conversation going. Happy Independence to all as you continue on your road to self-determination.
I agree with all that is said in this article. However, one crucial fact has been omitted or the author did not, for one reason or another, want to mention it. The fact of the matter is that Dominica will never achieve true independence as long as this regime stays in power. Of course it also begs another question: do Dominicans want true independence? The answer: approx. 55% probably don’t. They are quite happy with the status quo – money for nothing or as it was in Roman times, give them bread and games and the masses are happy!
Wow! What a commentary! Extremely insightful and painfully true. But truth is the starting point for change. Let’s hope that its light shines in the hearts of readers to help bring emancipation for our people and country..
Well said, we need to be told every day for the rest of our lives that we still think like slaves.