The majority of participants in a DNO poll have indicated that African Liberation Day should not be declared a public holiday.
Recently Dominica News Online published an article highlighting the events for African Liberation Day May, which is being observed on May 25.
Organizers of the event have suggested making African Liberation Day a public holiday.
DNO sought the opinions of readers on the matter in a poll.
The poll asked whether African Liberation Day be declared a public holiday.
A total of 760 readers participated in the poll. 417 voters (55 percent) were against the idea of making the day a holiday, 309 readers (41 percent) voted yes while 34 readers (4 percent) were not sure.
DNO’s poll is a not a scientific one.
we have enough holidays, donot need more Dominicans are too lazy all the want to do is party, party, party.
Very indepth and emperical information from most of you but I do believe that while we may have a long way to go as a people, the physical liberation from colonialism is an important first step which should be accentuated in terms of obsevation. Thereafter, we may heve to make some radicl changes in the areas of law, school curriculum, revealing the truth, social concepts, perceptions of our own race, etc, etc…
I think the discussion on whether African Liberation Day should be observed has been stretched outside the local context; we are the ones to determine its impact and import.
First, African Liberation Day could either be an Observance or Celebration; the latter, I believe has exhausted all relevance. The former should represent a short period of reflection of the path that has led us to present circumstances and the possibilities of rising from the bottom rung of the ladder of social progress.
Slavery at its very essence was(is) an economic enterprise universally sanctioned and exploited by Governments; it evolved from an economic institution, to a scientific experiment, into a psychological tool that conquered the will of its victims. So, from Slavery, to Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism to Dependence (a vicious circle).
Over here, the vestiges of Slavery abound. Self hatred manifests itself in blatant expressions of inferiority. How many young girls’ ears and scalps have been singed by the heat of hot combs? How many ugly wigs are bought at ridiculous prices in order to mimic Caucasian features?.Think of it. One’s looks is judged according to the definition of our conquerors; and so we bleach our faces and wear his hair.
Let us reflect that enormous deposits of gold have been found in HAITI and the opportunity to alleviate the crushing poverty of this great culture will still be determined by the Masters who are salivating at another opportunity for a new slavery.
Very indepth and emperical information from you warrington but I do believe that while we may have a long way to go as a people, the physial liberation from colonialism is an important first step which should be accentuated in terms of obsevation.
It is a bit strange that we have a vote followed by discussion, which I believe should be the opposite. We need to be educated/re-educated about our linkage to African continent and its people, via films, documentaries, books, lectures, sample DNA testing to help us through this thought provoking process. Organised under the banner AFRICAN WEEK.
It is also an opportunity to review all the official holidays to determine their relevance and decide whether they are still required. Subsequent to that let have another vote on the question.
In Trinidad the Indians celebrate their coming to the island from India via slavery, so it is worth considering the process and activities involved for their day-off.
I am amazed at some of the disrespectful comments made by some of our ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ with regards to their African heritage.
It seems some of them are truly punch drunk on a colonial hangover – whether they like it or not, whether they accept it or not – by virtue of the fact that they are the descendants of a people brought to the shores of Dominica against their free will then you are an African – no ifs, buts or maybe’s. Some of our people need to do some serious reading and studying and they need to stop accepting everything the European tells them as the Gospel truth.
Europeans are like locusts, they destroy and devour everything in their path and they are still doing this – How many different races on this planet have felt the full effect of the white man’s incursion into their lives, culture,faith, customs,traditions, language and land/territory by way of their rampant and voracious colonialism? Well I am black, Dominican and very proud of my African ancestry and heritage.
As a footnote I wonder if some of the people who dismiss their African heritage so readily are aware for instance, that the Creole/Kweyol language spoken in Dominica by many contains words that are clearly African in origin? Have doubts still? Then look at Lennox Honeychurch’s pages on his website – you might learn something!
Peace and love to all of my fellow Dominicans.
Our next Big Holiday is going to be called, “CHINESE RECOLONIZATION DAY”
How truly liberated are the africans?
How truly liberated are the africans?
Did we not as colonies enjoyed a holiday on the 25th of May?,the King’s Birthday.
more holiday less production don’t make parra look smart.
As Afro- Diaspora Muslim stated, black people have been taught self-hate through slavery and therefore are still mentally enslaved. We cannot forget our roots because like the honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey said, “a people without the true knowledge of their history is like a tree without roots.” We know that a tree without roots is dead. We are dead people when we don’t know our history. We have been taught the slave master’s language and religion and can’t seem to let go. We celebrate all his holidays and don’t even have our African holiday. We don’t even want to be called Africans as a race of people. We prefer to say I am brown skinned or light skinned. We need to see ourselves first as a race of people. We are Africans because our forefathers came from Africa and not Europe, Asia or America. It is time that we free ourselves from mental slavery by not worshipping the white man’s god (Jesus). There is no historical record of this icon and we have been looking up to him as our saviour. The slave master has really gotten our minds. Bob Marley said that we need to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds. Our history as a race of people can be found in the pyramids in Egypt, carved in stones. We must truly develop our minds so that our thinking can change. We have to learn to appreciate who we are as a people. Be our natural selves instead of trying to be like every other race. We are beautiful people with a great history that every other race copied from and gave back to us. We also have to realize that our melanin, the black pigment in our skin makes us different from evry other race. The blacker we are, the better for us. We must learn to love ourselves.
Peace and Love!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
African Liberation Day is a day of reflection, not a day of fete. A day to reflect on our situation, position and our role in the global involvement of our (African peoples) communities. A day to dash away Empire’s doctrine and augment ours. Even if the Babylonian government does not recognize this day, it should always live in the minds, souls and spirits of us all. Babylonian doctrine will never recognize this crucial and key event of our beloved Africaness, so don’t count on them to make it happen for us. We NEED to observe it within ourselves and hand down the knowledge and meaning of this day to our offspring. Blessed day to all!
“DNO’s poll is a not a scientific one.” We know, it’s just an opinion based poll.
YAll in dis country thinkin so stupid towards defendin our identity as a race a nation and a ppl..instead you would rather have holidayd on pagan dates which has noting to do with the upliftment of the Black race but everyting to do with destroyin it..Dominicans open ur eyes..
I endorse your contribution 200%.
Even though the government add another day,so that we can relax on the beach.What relevance it is for the suffering people of Africa?. Many of these sufferings are caused by their own African brothers
What’s your point?!?A lot of suffering that’s going on in Dominica today are direct results of Dominicans themselves like any other country in the world who suffer. Does that negate Dominicans from acknowledging their African roots?
Some Dominicans think backwards I realize that along time ago.If it was some type of European holiday that was being considered I can assure you these same people who oppose African Liberation would agreed. Most people don’t understand in Dominica society the vast majority of the population have a color-ism complex where light skin reign supreme but to all my non self loathers stay black and proud because when these Dominican go foreign they usually see how much they’re loved by the people some of them worship.(SARCASM)..
DA4LYFE
but allyu well like dem european white man holidays(christmas, easter, etc) dont understand why black people hate themselves so much. hmmm bob was right:mental slavery!!!
@ Awa wi: You are so right my friend. They are so consumed in these white man holidays such as Christmas that they play songs such as “Dashing through the snow;” a song that clearly reveals the cultural context and setting. Oh Lord, when will our Dominican people know the truth about their identity and steer their own destiny. Help us Lord.
Allu are right. I agree 100%. But one thing, Christmas itself is not a “white man holiday”. That song is, and that part is derived from white people. But Christmas is not.
One question I have to ask. “Is Africa truly liberated?”
Good question, and what are we doing about it? We of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora have not even come to understand who we are furthermore to begin to steer our future.
Ok! Doh give us name now. Afro-Caribbean?????? I doh like Afro-American or Afro nada and I black. This is why we still segregated. We are seriously mentally enslaving ourselves. IF we stop separating our selves, making all these stupid groups, we will not be viewed as seperate. Afro my ass!! I not goin’ to Africa for shit. Most of dem suffering. What I going dhere for?? If you think Dominica suffering, go Africa. Look around Dominica. Notice how dhey migrating to DA.
I will stop dhere b/c dhis is not really worth respondig to. Just doh label me no Afro-nothing. Is black I black. PERIOD!!
Stupess!!
While having polls is a great way to grasp public view and opinion ,a poll on DIPOLOMATIC agreemrnts disclosure will always get the YES,Through natural curiosty we always want to know what the government is doing.If you carry out a poll on the disclosure of Cabinet meetings you will get a YES.International protocol allows for INTERNATIONAL Relations to be conducted in secret and their agreements is always TOP SECRET.During the height of the cold war and its polorization
the USSR AND THE USA kept their agreements with each otherTOP SECRET.When Cuba and the USA agreeded on the deoortation of Cuban nationals to the U S A the agreement remained TOP SECRET.
It would not be in DOMINICA best interest to break away from such practice .WE risk international ISOLATION.
Why should we celebrate African Liberation Day ? Which African countres are we celebrating it with.In which African countries is this holiday observed or celebrated .Which Atrican countries or tribes are we expressing solidarity with.Do we have any type of relations with any one of them,do they even know us ????
I think that too much of our history is the “white” version of what transpired over the first 400 odd years after the discovery of our tiny islands. Many of us aren’t able to appreciate the effects of this, but I am of the firm belief that this has affected the development of our island societies in a significantly negative way – the constant portrayal of our people as slaves (and the subsequent reinforcement of that notion generation after generation) has marred our psyches and removed much of the pride that liberated Africans are known for.
While I don’t believe that a holiday is the best route, we desperately need African education (alongside the European versions) from an early stage in our kids’ lives.
Just think about it; in school (at least in my time) we didn’t read about the triumphs of blacks or Africans. We know nothing of our most recent ancestors who were removed from the Mother Land only 400 years ago. Many of them would have been entrepreneurs, leaders, farmers, historians, academics, etc – role models to be proud of. If we look at the developed nations (USA, UK, etc.) they idolize their heroes and their accomplishments so that children have some standard to aspire to.
We need to do better.
And no, I’m not a Rasta and I don’t wear Dashikis.
This is the problem with black people in the west:
If someone comes to your home beat your wife and take your children away to a foreign land to work as slaves. Then turns around and say “You are 3/5 human, you don’t have a religion, you need salvation(image of a white man with blue eyes). so here is the christain bible read it,it will bring comfort and salvation” would a sensible person take it after knowing what they have done to you and your family. I think any sensible person would reject that doctrine.
But here you go: we in the west has embrace christianty forgot our african heritage. (symtoms of mental slavary).
So I say drop one of those christain holidays(pagan holidays for those who know their history) and show some respect for your mother land.
How much does the Rasta Community contribute towards the economy monthly and annually?
What is the price or value on African ancestry consciousness?
Do we have a day set aside for heroes/heroines including Kalinagoes in Dominica?
The debate has just started, trust me!!!
Dear Pat,
There you go!African liberation day is NOT at all related to the Rasta community; it has to do with our stand as it relates to blackness as people of Afrikan sescent. In the region, the Rasra community has been in the forefront, but this is indeed a matter for all of us. On the other hans, I do not support that this day be made a public holiday. Reason? We have sufficient non working days here and we need to spend MORE tome working than feting.
There is a wonderful book penned by professor Horace Campbell entitled “Rasta and Resistance”; I think it would provide you with an excellent view of the Rastas.
DO HAVE YOURSELF A MOST PLEASANT DAY!
your so right i think dominica dont need no more we need to get out there and work to get d/a moving to me we that use lest hours for business business place open at 8am the people start working at 9am then thay stop working at 1pm when thay gets back at 2pm no more work for them its home time lol we need to work more in d/a no sunday in that we have 5 to 6 days lets do the work and stop playing all dominicans good at saying is so it is thats there there big word thay love tomuch rum and fun
I do not know of any African country where African Liberation Day is a holiday. Why have one in DA?
We are Dominicans. We have November 3rd as a holiday. And that’s good enough for me!
you are such a small minded person
We should not even have ,should not even observe ,we should not even celebrate such a day which have no relevance to us.
Dominicans need to educate themselves. May the Lord open their minds. http://www.africanholocaust.net
It would be more meaningful if black/african studies are compulsorily adopted as part of the curriculum in our Dominican school system – from primary to state college. This will help assist in exorcising the descendants of chattel slavery from the spirits of mental slavery that now embody them
why is it that some black people have no pride in their race ?
All other races no matter where theyre identify with their mother land except the blacks thats quite ashamed considering the great contributions which they have made towards world development. Am arab but possess some of the melanin wich all blacks have in larger quantities so am semite !
Thank you Puntapak, the reason they have no pride in themselves is that they were taught to hate themselves. It was done through years of mental deconstruction of the African mind and that is the slave legacy unfortunately.
Too many holidays already.
BUT WHAT WE DOING WITH MORE HOLIDAYS!?!? A JOKE NAH!! DAMMIT FOR MORE SEWO!?!? NOOO GO AND WORK! BY YOUR SWEAT YOU SHALL EAT!!!
They need to leave African holidays in AFRICA.
well i work very hard we and the pay is not the best. all the same i am dedicated to my job so a lil extra holiday cannot seem that bad
And who paying for your holiday?? You doh want to work but you want to get paid. How you expect your employer to pay you if you doh make money for him/her??
The US only has 10 public holidays a year. In Dominica we have:
1. New Years day
2. Merchant’s holiday – Jan 2
3. Carinival Monday
4. Carinival Tuesday
5. Good Friday
6. Easter Monay
7. May day (Labour Day)
8. White Monday
9. August Monday (Emancipation Day)
10.Independence Day
11.Community Service Day
12.Christmas Day
13.Boxing Day
14. And whatever shit ass day we can dream up in between.
Now we wonder why we are not productive.
I wasn’t going to say it quite like that, but you made the point for me. Enough with the holidays. How about some work days when work is actually done, so it doesn’t take 2 weeks to get a title to property because the responsible parties are nowhere to be found. No, we have enough holidays, thank you.
2 Weeks? Lucky u. I am waiting for 5 months now.
Imagine this. I came home to get married. They told me that I just had to be on the Island 3 days before my wedding, and all other requirements we met. When we went to get the final part of the marriage license, after running around b/c no one knew their job, we were told that the person to stamp/seal the license is on leave. What the peas and carrot??? What does that have to do with me?? There is one person for a job and no one covers when someone goes on leave. Well I didn’t take that shit sitting down. I was getting married in two days and need that paper. I raised hell and they found someone to sign it. The people working in the ministry LAZY!! They don’t take their jobs seriously at all. No body knows what the other person is doing. To get answers in that place is like pulling teeth.