EDITOR’S NOTE: “Dr. Edward Scobie is someone young Dominicans need to know of due to his excellence in scholarship and rendition of the African role in European and world history.” These are the words of Dominican-born, US-based attorney, Gabriel Christian. According to Christian, “Scobie may well be the first Dominican professor at Princeton and Rutgers Universities in history” and is well respected in academic circles in the US. The following article written about Dr. Scobie in the Kentake Page, a blog promoting Black history, literature an d art from across the African Diaspora.
Dr. Scobie was born in Roseau, Dominica, a former British colony in 1918. He was educated at the Dominica Grammar School. An outstanding athlete, he represented the National teams in cricket and football. During World War II, he left Dominica for England to join the Royal Air Force and stayed on after demobilization until the mid- sixties.
During that time, he worked as a journalist in London where he assumed the name Scobie. He became a correspondent for the Chicago Defender and for Ebony and Jet magazines. He contributed to many London newspapers, magazines and the wire services, and became a frequent broadcaster and scriptwriter for radio and television including British Broadcasting Services (BBC) Caribbean programs. From 1961 to 1963 he edited Flamingo, a monthly magazine published in London for African people in Britain, Africa and the Caribbean. Read more.
Below is a video of Dr. Scobie lecturing on Slavery and Resistance in New York City.
It is refreshing to know that a Dominican was a lecturer at Princeton University, where I am presently working.I must spread the good news with my co-workers
Tell me Face the Facts. Do you have an original thought for yourself, or you only wait when others write to then have something to respond. Please let me see an original thought coming from you.
Shouldn’t we refer to Scobie as the late Edward Scobie considering that he is dead for I believe more than five years now. And shouldn’t the youths be told that Ed Scobie was simply a pen name under which he wrote, and was not actually born Edward Scobbie.
I remember him very well when he returned to Dominica in 1959 or there about, I was yet a kid, but I jam in Carnival in he streets of Roseau with him, I believe at the time he commented on BBC in London, mainly commenting on issues relating to Africa, and the Caribbean
First to begin he was born a Dalrymple, he later took up the last name of Scobie in England for what ever reason.
On his return to Dominica he became the Editor of The Dominica Herald which sold the most news paper on the
week end than any of the other news paper on island, I know because I sold news paper in those times. He did good
not only for the people of Europe since he served in the Air Force but for Dominica too by being the Editor of the Herald news paper. Under him people was educated by his good work and many of us got our first employment selling papers. He helped us all not only the college students but the little boys in Roseau by allowing us to come make some money; even Old Police, had a chance by him.
He was a good man . Ed Scobie ( Dalrymple.)
“First to begin he was born a Dalrymple, he later took up the last name of Scobie in England for what ever reason.” (It was the name he wrote under, he told me). FET.
Okay great?
Hahaahahahahahahahhahahahahahah!
I knew if I was not correct, I was almost correct! So now I am certain I knew the man. With all his talents, and educational skills, the man was down to earth, he associated himself with the down trodden, he was not the kind who would not engage a young boy or girl in a conversation, by which time the conversation was over one walked away learning something from him.
As usually in that period I met him in Carnival, and we spoke, there are people in Dominica who thought he was fake when he told them he commentates in BBC, he said to me well they don’t know me anyway.
That is the way our people behaves, I suffered that same fate right here on DNO. If you are not like them we are not real!
I know my input may be classified as late, however I think that it is necessary in the interests of accuracy and clarification . The gentleman who is my uncle was born Edward Vivian Scobie-Dalrymple. Scobie-Dalrymple is the family surname it is on birth certificates and other legal and not so legal documents.Should anyone require a history as to both the name and the family origins I may be willing to oblige. Uncle Vivian as he was affectionately known in the family indicated( when I inquired of him as to the reasons for his adopting Edward Scobie) was that he adopted “the handle” Edward Scobie which later was shortened to Ed Scobie when he went on air at the BBC, as it was less of a tongue twister and therefore more attractive to his audience.
I hope he mentions that King James was a Black Man and not a White Man. The same King James who translated the Bible was Black and was the the King of England, Scotland and Ireland.
The Moors in Spain were Black also the Jews in Spain were Black, tell us about our Jewish Heritage as well because the whole world thinks that we were savages in Africa or Egyptian. Deut 28-68 recalls our captivity into slavery.
Prove to me in particular, that King James of Great Britain, France, and Ireland was a black man!
I will pay you to find any literature, or any historical document that can identify King James of Britain as a black completed person!
Now if you wish to get scientific about it and say that without Black people there would be no other skin color of people on earth that I would agree; since the complexion of each individual depends on the contents of melanin, which DNA evidence traced back to Eve the oldest exoskeleton found on earth.
Note: Melanin is a dark sulfur-containing pigment normally found in human hair, skin, ciliary body, choroid of the eye, pigment layer of the retina, and certain nerve cells. It occurs abnormally in certain tumors, known as melanomas, and is sometimes excreted in the urine such tumors are present, and you can term that “melanuria.”
Be informed that every human alive is the same color, the difference is the contents of melanin in individual…
Be informed that every human alive is the same color, the difference is the contents of melanin in individual skin. The greater the contents (amount) of melanin in the skin it is the darker the person will be; the lesser amount is the lighter the individual complexion will be; that is why we should see people, and not complexion, or color of skin!
On any given day of the week you or I could have endowed with the lesser amount of melanin in our skin, and mind you God ordained it that way, no human alive regardless of the skin color is better than the other, all human flesh is the same,any black who believe they are superior to any other person is a fool, and any so called white who believe they are superior to a black person or any other is also a fool!
My brother, no one knows who the oldest person on earth is. This is something that none of us will ever know. No one really knows how old the earth is either. It is called “the mysteries of life,” according to Dr. Walter Williams. Tell me anyone who can put a time frame of what has always been and I will say, I don’t believe it. I really don’t believe in that Adam and Eve story because there were people in existence before that story was written.
I agree with you that King James was was not an African and certain things that you mentioned about melanin but there is also more to melanin. A couple of books that can be read are “Melanin, What Makes Black People Black” by Llaila Afrika and “The Science of Melanin,” by T. Owens Moore
PEACE
He has a very strange accent. It can’t be pinned down as being from a particular place.
The slave trade was started by the Africans in Africa. They enslaved their own people and then sold them to others.
Please stop being ignorant of the truth. You really need to do some research before you you speak negatively. The information about the history of our ancestors has been laid down. You just need to get out of your comfort zone to know what really happened as far as African history. Stop taking everything at face value and do some work for yourself.
UNAPOLOGETIC
No South City, YOU are the one that needs to find out the true history of the African peoples. Just about every race on this earth has enslaved its own race before going on to enslave others and the African race is no different. You can see it right on Dominica, or don’t you live there? To hear the story of the African people, one would think that black people are the only race in history that has ever been used as slaves and that has never been true. Most history books don’t tell the whole truth, especially in the schools because they are censored, in case you didn’t know. . Do you really think that the Europeans were chasing Africans to round up as slaves? The master slave traders were African. Maybe you should visit China where slavery is ongoing and very evident or even DA where the guys refuse to work. WAKE UP,
anyone with a birth certificate is BORN as a slave on this planet and that includes just about every one of us. Prison planet, look it up Mr. Researcher.
And do you know what would happen if some of our fore-parents did not sell each other into slavery? I can tell you that there has not been any other race like the Africans, who were enslaved. Did you know that instead of being enslaved many of our captured fore-parents committed suicide by jumping overboard? You really need to do some research. When you come again, you need to state more facts.
You also need to read The Making of a Slave by Willie Lynch. We have been brain-washed to treat each other with contempt, hate, animosity and so on. Our fore-parents could not even keep their African names and their spirituality. That’s why we have so many different Europeans’ names and so many different religions.
UNAPOLOGETIC
Great man indeed! Was never shy to say he was from Dominica and did not hesitate to throw some patois words when some doubted him. We as a nation must never forget to honor our own when they are still alive and among us. Gabo, Andre, Athie, Thompson, Lennox, Matt, Tim Durand, PJ, OJ, Brian Allyne, Ted Daily, Dyce, Hunter, Sebo, Wadix, Bro,Germain, Rupert Sohrindo (Socoro) and countless more who have carried the name of Dca far and wide. Yes some have erred but nonetheless these minor errors should never condemn them to the sidelines.
Always Assertive!
I was waiting to c skerro name we
It is just common sense to have our students learn African history at all educational levels on the island. Knowing our ancestors’ history is paramount and is a necessity for our own good as African people. There is so much to learn and we will never learn everything there is to know because our history is so vast and second to none. It really is an injustice to us, and especially our children, not knowing who our ancestors were and what part they played in civilisation. African civilisation was the very first and can’t be compared to any other.
Why should we be taught other people’s history and not own own? Are our ministers really ready to bring some changes to the curriculum?
Yes, Dr. Scobbie really played an integral part in teaching our history. He was truly a great historian. We need more like him to rise up and continue the legacy. He was such a brilliant man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOTEP (PEACE)
Read 1st Corinthians 3: 19 & 21.
iz dat de same man dat harassed the laba party in the sixties and early 70s with his newspaper articles. he terrorized their life if I recall well
I enjoyed reading this article.
This contains information I hope many young black people in Dominica – and Dominicans of the diaspora – will grasp. Dr. Scobie is one of your own. He not only gained a higher education, pulling down a doctorate, but he applied himself and used that education to become outstanding. I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say he became the best he could become in his field. Words like inspiration, role model, and mentor would not be out of place but they are not sufficient to describe a man who stands as tall as Dr. Scobie in Dominican history.
The number of Dominicans who earn degrees seem to be increasing each year. I do not have access to the stats. Is it my imagination? I could be wrong. But the success stories in DNO should encourage Dominican born young people to reach for the stars.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
I heard about him. My older relatives know him. He excelled in this African knowledge. His written works pertaining to this information will be handed down from generation to generation. The Education Department should ensure it is taught in the schools.
there is a man whom we need to educate our children on his name is Jesus the greatest
Amen!
The name of Jesus is above every name. “… God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (Philippians 2:9)
There is none to compare to HIM.
“Jesus said … I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
(John 14:6)
Without Him, outside Him, and apart from Him, there is no Savior, and no salvation.
“At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.” (Philippians 2:10)
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.
This is just an ignorant comment. I am sure that there is evidence that our fore-parents left historical facts of their existence. According to your recommendation for our children, where are the historical facts except for a book that was written and translated by those who captured, enslaved, raped lynched, and sold our fore-parents? This book is filled with myth and allegory and was copied from the original works of our African history. This book continues to support slavery and makes us believe that there is a street paved in gold up in the sky and that there is a place called hell that is beneath the earth. I really don’t understand that so-called intelligent people continue to believe such lies. We need proof of what that book supports, not myths and allegories.
We are left to make our decisions, whether good , or bad, and not just depending a slave-masters’ book. How can someone be saved by faith and faith is just a belief, just as any thought that comes to one’s mind?
I consider myself lucky and privileged to have met Dr Scobbie. It was doctor Scobbie who revolutionized my thought process as a young blackman in America. The man was a waterfall of inspiration and a well of information. It was Scobbie who inspired me to search and learn the true legacy of our black ancestors.
I spent many many late afternoon hours sitting and chatting with doctor Scobbie at his office at the CCNY. The truth is he was a very funny guy who was not afraid to drop some creole even when
We were in the presence of others.
Nor often do we get to meet a fighter pilot who was blown out of the sky while on a flight mission. Very few guys from the islands in those days got the opportunity to become fighter pilots in the Royal airforce.
I hope that one day soon Scobbie ‘s books will be uses S part of our history program at high schools in the Caribbean
Brilliant and classy man ! Excellent write and commenatator too. Noteworthy for the ‘Dominica Herald in 60’s and 70’s.
I was privileged to have taken an African Caribbean studies class with Dr. Scobie at City College in NY. I even attended his funeral service in Harlem. What a beautiful send off it was. I still remembered the solo of Amazing Grace that was sang at the funeral; the African American southern style version.
Indeed a scholar born and bred of Dominican soil. What a man!
Thanks to Scobbie and Jeffries I was able to dispose of all this false and negative European influences ; the lies and deception. Proud to have matched in demonstrain with Professor Jeffrey and was part of the student riot at CCNY in 1994.
Juko, there are so many authors of own African history and for African people to defy their own history and accept European history is so pathetic and ignorant. Not only Dr.Scobbie and Dr. Leonard Jeffries but other great historians like Dr. Ben Yochanan, Dr. John Henrik Clarke, (Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, Dr. Walter Rodney,Guyana), Dr. Eric Williams (T&T), Dr. Walter Williams and many more. If we were not a gullible people, we would be more educated as far as our own history. Sometimes we are scared to defy the lies and stand for the truth. We need to stop propagating the lies. We need to awaken out of our slumber and do our own research. I know that religion has also played a great role in the way we think and we are not brave enough to stand against the powers that be. We have been so brain-washed by religion that we don’t even have the fortitude to forge ahead and take the bull by its horns. We need to stand against the lies and deceit of religion. If we don’t, then we will perish.
When the Dominica Academy of Arts and Sciences was created it was for the purpose of honoring our own. The DAAS, now bludgeoned by the government and its mouthpieces, honored Dominicans of stature as Dr Scobie. Dr Fontaine committed an error of judgment and resigned from the DAAS because it insisted on integrity and accountability. However, the majesty of the work of an organization can never be measured by the life of one man or woman but by its overall contribution. Until we craft a society which respects competence among its own, we shall continue the downward spiral where Dominicans flee their own homelands. Why exalt fakes when we have the real thing. Wise up people. Honor your own.
Yes my brother!!! It really pains how We, Dominicans still like to disown our own!!!!!
Yep honestly, I didnt know about him until I took a couple black studies class while @ CCNY.
Positive vibes. It was interesting to note that he left Dominica because of the narrow confines of our local politics. Here we are 40 years later with the same thing. The more times change the more we stay the same. Remind me of a Dr. Who worked for the IMF that recently got rejected by his own people. A man who helped fix other countries financial problems. A man who spent years of study to achieve his accolades. A real doctorate. This narrowness saw red carpet and palm waiving at Canfield airport for a Punjabi honorary doctorate. Two days and tax payers money. It is a great story for our youth but interesting to note the same culture that ran such a brilliant man still exist today.
What you fail to realize, a country and society comprise of people. If some of them solely concentrate on negativity and throwing words, what do you expect of the society? Forty years later or more and some have not changed. This also pertains to the younger generation who, one day will be adults.
At the same time, do not blame everyone in a country. Some are busy minding their personal business and may not care one bit. Some are busy being negative and doing nothing to enhance Dominica. Unless their obligation is embedded in them, they will never change.
There are still those who may not be able to read and write. Overall, you cannot place the game on a few or even a set of nationals.
Good vibes, we need more like that. but see not even one other comment! black people don’t care about themselves tall…..!!!!
On another note the link for the web site is broken!
Admin: Thanks.The link has been fixed. The article has just been posted so we expect that there will be many more comments.
If you noticed you are the only one who commented, this does not mean no others commented. You should know they must first be moderated. It is a long weekend, four days. Due to this some comments have not yet been moderated.
Pertaining to this information, his books must be first read and the video viewed to acquire interest in it.
On the other hand, you are aware that Dominicans are not of one ancestry, namely only blacks. Whatever our pigmentation, we are of a mixed race. Some of you forget the other side of their ancestry as also Scobie’s. No one bothers to mention them or conduct a research on them. They only dwell on the African side. This is not fair to the other side of our ancestry, whether some of them were slave masters.
I am certain some of them did not take it upon themselves to travel far to be slave masters. They were informed and must have been encouraged by others of their race. In all fairness, this too should be researched.