The Fight for the Emancipation Day Holiday in Jamaica

Written By The Yaad

Content Warning: This episode contains mention of slavery

On August 1st, 1838, Jamaica, alongside the rest of the countries in British West Indies, achieved emancipation and thus all enslaves Black people on the island, gained their freedom. Since then, it has been ongoing debate on the necessity of commemorating the end of one of the most brutal acts of mankind.

Additional Knowledge

BOOKS

  • Between Black and White: Race, Politics, and the Free Coloreds in Jamaica, 1792-1865 by Gad Heuman

  • Caribbean Cultural Identity: An Essay in Cultural Dynamics by Rex M. Nettleford

  • Freedom's Children: The 1938 Labor Rebellion and the Birth of Modern Jamaica by Colin A. Palmer

  • Mirror, Mirror: Identity, Race and Protest in Jamaica by Rex M. Nettleford

  • Modern Blackness: Nationalism, Globalization, and the Politics of Culture in Jamaica by Deborah A. Thomas

  • My Political Journey: Jamaica's Sixth Prime Minister by P.J. Patterson

  • Neither Led Nor Driven: Contesting British Cultural Imperialism in Jamaica, 1865-1920 by Brian L. Moore and Michele A. Johnson

  • Public Secrets: Race and Colour in Colonial and Independent Jamaica by Henrice Altink

  • Rebecca's Children: A Study of Rural Society, Crime and Protest by David J. V. Jones

  • Ties that Bind: The Black Family in Post-Slavery Jamaica, 1834-1882 by Jenny M. Jemmott

  • The Killing Time: The Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica by Gad Heuman

  • They Do As They Please: The Jamaica Struggle for Cultural Freedom After Morant Bay by Brian L. Moore and Michele A. Johnson

ACADEMIC PAPERS

  • Commemorations in Jamaica: A Brief History of Conflicts by Veronica M. Gregg

  • Notes on Peasant Development in the West Indies Since 1838 by Woodville K. Marshall

  • Racial Hierarchy and the Elevation of Brownness in Creole Nationalism by Maziki Thame

  • Remembering Slavery: The Rise, Decline and Revival of Emancipation Day in the English‐speaking Caribbean by B.W. Higman

FICTIONAL BOOKS

  • The White Witch of Rose Hall by H. G. de Lisser

ARTICLES

  • Loop News: O'Brien Chang Apologises for Christopher Columbus Tweet

  • PSOJ: The PSOJ Clarifies Position on Emancipation and Independence Day Holidays

  • The Art Newspaper: David Adjaye Plans Slavery Museum in Barbados As New Republic Severs Ties with Britain

  • The Guardian: Historian Hails Trinidad Plan to Remove Columbus Ships from Coat of Arms

  • The Jamaica Gleaner: The Fight for the Emancipation Day Holiday in Jamaica

  • The Jamaica Gleaner: FULL TEXT - PJ Slams David Cameron ... Are We Not Worthy? He Asks

  • The Jamaica Observer: Chief Justice Scolds PSOJ Over Emancipendence Proposal

PODCAST

The Yaad
Next

The Bombing of Cubana Airlines Flight 455