A GUY'S VIEW

Anoth“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can only rest for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not ended.” Nelson Mandela.

Just when one begins to think of the good, or bad, aspects of life, there is almost always some levelling occurrence to bring one back down to earth, or an elevating event that reminds one that there is still hope.

News broke on Thursday morning that American Congressman, Elijah Cummings, had passed. There was no previous reports of him being ill, so this news was surprising and even a shock to some. At age 68, Cummings gave more than half of his life to the effort to gain some modicum of freedom and equality for Americans of African descent. He died without having enjoyed his life’s work, for there was still a long way to go when he passed.

Elijah Cummings was relevant to Barbados because he was one of the persons on the frontlines of the civil rights movement in the United States, and the concessions made to black folks in that country resulted in some amelioration in the treatment of black people in the Caribbean. It would, therefore, be short-sighted to assume that because Cummings’ theatre of operation was America, he was of no relevance to Barbados.

Cummings marched with Martin Luther King and suffered at the hands of the white establishment for his efforts. He was also the target of the general racism which characterised his community. During that time, there was no safe haven for a black man in his country. His blood was shed for his people and, over time, he helped to make their lives better.

I am not a supporter of any non-violent approach to efforts to have one’s rights respected. My view is that anyone who is willing to strike me must be willing to be struck by me. To this extent, I am not a fan of Cummings’ or King’s willingness to march people into a situation where they were stoned, spat on, beaten and otherwise abused by those who hated them, without the willingness to defend themselves. I could not understand it when I was a youngster hearing about it, and, while I have a different appreciation now, I still disagree with being a whipping boy for anybody.

Having said that, the reality is that, in the 1960s environment in which Cummings operated, there was probably no better option. At that time, it was not merely the rednecks who acted with racist hatred towards them. The state operators were enforcers of the racist inequality against which King and Cummings fought. Apologists have presented arguments of justification for why those activities had to be non-violent, some of which one could understand, but understanding those arguments does not move me to support it.

There is no doubt that there is a good possibility that a lot more black people might have died if Cummings and his group had been persuaded to fight for their rights rather than to beg for them. But living under bigoted oppression is no life, unless one is engaged in the fight to end it. Death is a better option than obeisance.

When Nelson Mandela was still fully engaged in the struggle for the freedom of his people, from the dock of the court where he stood charged with crimes against the oppressive state, on April 20, 1964, he delivered a long, and now, memorable speech, which he ended thus:

“During my lifetime I have dedicated my life to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons will live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal for which I hope to live for and to see realised. But, My Lord, if it needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Elijah Cummings was a man who seemed willing to lay down his life in exchange for the relief of his people from their oppressive circumstances. When it appeared that physical harm was no longer an immediate threat hanging over his head, he stepped into politics in order to continue his struggle. It never ceased to amuse me to hear his fellow congressmen who, up to the date of his death, were still fighting to oppress his people and deny them even the right to vote, speak of him in glowing terms.

The life of Cummings is a story of instruction for all persons of colour around the world who would join the fight for the liberation or development of their people. This is not just a lesson for those who live as minorities, for the same plight often confronts black people in the countries where they are the majority population.

In the 1960s, the plight of black people in Barbados was no better than the experience of black people in America. One important difference was that Barbadians accepted their inferior status and did not fight for equality, so the forces of the state were not unleashed on them, as was the case in 1937.

And then there was Errol Barrow. His reforms changed the lives of black Barbadians, bringing opportunity and hope, which averted the need for bloodshed to clear a path to progress and a better life. Were we talking of another group, it would be regarded as ironic that those who seek to tear him and his legacy down, are the chief beneficiaries of his work, but that is the wont of our people. Given our 2019 experience, however, there may yet be need for another Barrow.

The journey of Elijah Cummings is the advertisement that sells the American dream to the rest of the world. That might have been said of Barrack Obama as well, but a historical survey would suggest that Cummings’ life more so fits that bill.

America is a highly imperfect society, but at its philosophical base lies a formula for opportunity for the determined and talented, regardless of origins. The truth of this experience is not as clearly replicated anywhere else. One hopes that after this Trump hiatus, it will return to this path.

Cummins played his part, but he could not change his country in his lifetime. He left work to be done. Likewise, there is still work to be done in Barbados. It is left to be seen who will carry on Cummings’ legacy. And who will pick up the fight for Barbadians.