How the British really feel about people of color - Caribbean crisis

By: Adrian Holman The British are not strangers to marginalizing people of color. For today, we look at UK's aggression in the Caribbean with reminiscence of its sordid history in that region. Certainly during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, a couple of centuries ago, an estimated 10 million slaves (it could be 12 million) were imported to the Caribbean islands (the new world) under the most violating of conditions. Trade in the Caribbean was primarily African slaves. England, along with a couple of other Northern European countries, enslaved Africans through raids or kidnappings in Africa specifically to bring them to the new world.

The Northern European history in that region has a bad track record. Prior to the slavery trade, explorers and conquerors caused the deaths of the original native islanders in the Caribbean due to disease and violence. The Northern Europeans also captured the islands' natives (who have all died off now) and bonded them to slavery. The native islanders' culture was immediately gone in favor of British ideals. The British held no regard for islanders' culture or that of the African slaves brought thereafter.

After America's Revolutionary War with the British, several American loyalists moved their cotton operations to Turks and Caicos and brought their slaves in tow. But that was only a small percentage of the African slave history in the Caribbean. But, how did the Americans get the land to grow cotton? This was indeed Crown land for which the English claimed as their own and "gave it" to American British loyalists in Turks and Caicos.

All of this maneuvering by the British was done as their right, just for being white men from England.

This brings me to recent history of the last 5 months. It makes me eerily somber to think that history is repeating. Indeed the UK conquered Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean in August 2009. The UK believing it knew best how to govern the islands, fired almost all island leaders or forced them to resign. Who knows better how to preserve the island culture, history and resources other than the people who live there and have a vested interest in its future? There's only one answer, the people of Turks and Caicos should govern, manage and protect it.

The UK is basically capturing the people of Turks and Caicos and bringing them to slavery again. The UK is failing to pay the people their salary, those who are civil servants. UK claims that it cannot afford to meet the payroll of the Belongers (islanders). The UK is also taking the civil rights of the people by telling them that they are not fit to sit on a jury. The UK is taxing everyone and taking away benefits. And ... here is what really bugs me, it is staking claim to the "Crown land" that never really belonged to them in the first place.

It makes me think that the people of the Caribbean and particularly Turks and Caicos are being violated all over again. I am concerned for the future of that region because history is repeating itself.

The attitudes of the people in the UK in general concern me as well. I am reminded of an incident that occurred four months ago in the UK. There was a FA Cup football match between West Ham United and Millwall at Millwall. Do you remember what happened during this game? If you don't, then allow me to refresh your memory. During the game, Millwall fans hurled racist chants at West Ham's best player, Carlton ColeCarlton Cole. They were calling him a monkey the entire match. Here is the link to the article from that day as further evidence: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/aug/26/west-ham-millwall-racist-abuse.

Is that what people in the UK think of people of color, we are all African monkeys? This could not be farther from the truth. We are civilized and respectable people who do not wish to be stereotyped or marginalized based on the color of our skin. Why is that so difficult for the British to understand? We are competent and able, the same as the fair haired Northern Europeans. Just because someone's hair is blonde or eyes blue, does not make them more qualified or justified to take over and know better our own needs.