The Not-So-Silent Generation: Caribbean Voices of Liberation

 In the global north, the Silent Generation is the label given to individuals born between 1928 and 1945. Many were born during World War II; a notable characteristic is that they tend to hold on to traditional values and prefer stability. Reflecting on the Caribbean people who were born in that period, they were not silent. The 1920s and 30s were a generation that was born approximately 100 years after the emancipation of enslaved Africans in the British West Indies. They came of age in the 60s, led these British colonies to independence, and created distinct art forms and community institutions.

Caribbean culture and its impact on social order were the topics of a lecture by Professor Anthony Bogues for the Rex Nettleford Distinguished Lecture Series. I viewed the lecture, which was streamed on YouTube, and a dance form a dance company that Nettleford started. It was heartwarming to see the 89-year-old PJ Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, giving the introduction. Nettleford would have been 92 if he was alive. My mother, who would have been 92 last year, was a trailblazer in her own right in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. As I combined the two ages, I began reflecting on the impact of that generation. Today, we are the beneficiaries of the struggle and dreams of that generation; we are no longer under the shackles of British imperialism. We have political independence, and Caribbean people live and strive globally in physical space and virtual digital spaces. Many continue the black liberation struggle, sometimes with urgency.

Prof. Anthony Bogues (on far left)

Bogues' lecture content was inspiring as Bogues traced the intellectual tradition connected with other persons like George Lamming and CLR James, and the number of Haitian and Martinique scholars. He remarked that one of those scholars argued that Caribbean people are not revolutionary but rebellious. He related it to Nettleford's idea that Caribbean people are engaged in the battle to define space and, in doing so, come up with some grassroots innovations such as reggae, small businesses, and calypso. Colonialism is a social force in the Caribbean, but so is anti-colonialism. There has always been a rebellious labor relations movement in the Caribbean that shaped the Caribbean as it is today. Bogues argued that culture is a black liberation social force in constant battle with neoliberalism and the Washington Consensus.

The lecture, in its sense, centered on the black male Anglo-Caribbean scholar's liberation consciousness. It provided a critical perspective, but it is crucial to maintain an ongoing dialogue with female intellectuals, non-intellectuals, artists, civil servants, and others. A lecture series like the Rex Nettleford Memorial lectures is essential for understanding our past and moving forward.

Professor Bogues focused on the Caribbean subaltern groups when he emphasized the importance of culture, which he defined as a living and evolving entity, rather than a brand that has produced significant value, thereby demonstrating the vibrancy of Caribbean civilization. Social action at the grassroots level has always been pivotal in achieving various degrees of liberation, and it will continue to be so. It is essential as we approach 200 years of the emancipation of slavery that, rather than being distracted by the anti-black noise of the current time, it is imperative that we take the baton from the not-so-silent Caribbean generation and endeavor to deepen our commitment to the struggle.