Nabaclis Is Not Buxton is the worst expression I have seen and heard in years. Why does one group of black people always feel that the oppressor ought not to worry about them over some others? The sad fact is those who hate one group of black people hate every Blackman that will ever exist. This still haunts me. Why are our people still this ignorant? The image of female in front reminds me of one other people who resided at the corner of the First Street and Middle walk a stone's throw from our beloved Tamarind tree. I think Adonis is the surname of that family. It’s been a while. My memory is selective. MaaNgala Oni Shankalla, Friday, Mar 25, 2011 4:16 PM
The context does not matter to me. It is absurd that in last decade of 20th and the opening decades of 21st century our people are still hell-bent on the imaginary and/or man-made or geopolitical differences. It sickens me. I have relatives in most of the villages on the East Coast of Demerara. I am aware I some cases of a number of my ancestors are numbered amongst those who purchased the plantations in the era known as the Village Movement. I readily admit there was a period when I utterly disliked the term, I am Bostonian or I come from Buxton – however, in recent times even before I escaped the Burnham madness in Guyana I had begun to appreciate hearing those and similar words. In fact, I began that process while I was residing at the residence of one of my mothers. Muriel Sancho’s residence was next door to Philanders Gas Station at Friendship in the summer of 1971.
Although I also refer to myself as Nabaclisman that’s really only for the purposes of identification; I do not ever suppose one community is more relevant than another. Yes I do have preferences. I prefer my mother’s people above everyone else and I also prefer to be in Nabaclis than anyplace on earth. However, I am for Global black unity more than most things I can ever think of…therefore I hope you get the picture that in this late date in the face of a common enemy our people are crying about what could possibly divide us – it certainly weakens us as a people. If you look at the Berbice Slave Rebellion of 1763 you’d get the point that some things never change they seem to remain the same or too often they repeat themselves. MaaNgala Oni Shankalla, Saturday, March 26, 2011 11:08 PM
Please allow me to paraphrase Muriel Sancho (1914-19900 (PBUH). My mother used to say to me, “people do and say the darnedest things, they run their mouths without knowing the facts, they act upon the words of others, promise me, in fact promise yourself, you will always think for yourself before you speak and act”. Don’t copy what I write and put it in your book. You never know there are elements lurking around out there that make all sorts of ridiculous claims and attempt to sell such as facts. Such people need the scorch earth treatment.
I don’t know where those people get that idea that such an expression is articulate and/or profound. It shows all concerned that the vestiges of enslavement are still very much alive. This feature is regarded as mental slavery. Bob Marley, the Wailer asked us, his people to free ourselves from mental slavery. Many of us heard the lyrics. Were our people really listening to the Wailers?
The African Teacher Professor John Henrik Clarke was forced to remark that no Jamaican, no Trinidadian, no Haitian, no Dominican, no Puerto Rican left Africa. That no Jamaican, no Trinidadian, no Haitian, no Dominican, no Puerto Rican were enslaved in the Americas. Why the separation along man-made boundaries? Why the division every since?
Malcolm X would say why you left your mind in Africa.
Furthermore Peter Tosh in his anthem, African, remarked that anywhere you come from as long as you a Blackman you are an African.
I simply placed the image to solicit commentary. I wanted to be made aware of how far are you along the path to unity in the Diaspora. What is the measure of the consciousness of our people? This sampling shows there is much work yet to be done to eradicate ignorance from amongst us.
The truth remains the peopling of Buxton and Nabaclis are and/or were by the same people. The majority of the populace of the two communities between 1840 and 1966 were inter-related people. Frankly, there are hundreds of surnames that are common to both communities. It’s rather doubtful that there are folks whose representations have been associated with either Buxton or Nabaclis who don’t have close relatives in either community.
My awareness of family history has shown me that Sancho; Bentick, Campbell, Young, Gill, and Sumner, and a number of their associated families are resident in both communities.
It is quite possible that this sort of behavior was introduced in the era of the Dutch colonist in the colony of Demerara. In fact, I read an article on the Demerara Slave Revolt. The article stated that despite the eloquence of Telemachus and few other heroes, numerous slaves on Plantation Nabaclis simply refused to join in the effort of self-emancipation. That did not prevent the crackers (the colonists/ colonials) from chopping off their heads and displaying them on poles along the Middle Walk in Nabaclis as they did on the Middle Walk in Buxton. This was in the aftermath of the failed rebellion of August 1823.
It is obvious that the expression was birthed in ignorance. There is no logical explanation otherwise. It is absurd that in this day, this age there are still some amongst us who are hell-bent on destroying every fabric of unity which remains among us. I am not with that sort of rhetoric. It’s senseless. It’s useless. It is a tool in the hands of our common oppressors. There are many amongst us who believe that if you attack one person or one political party, then you are against the whole lot of Africans in the Guyanese experience. Whenever, a Blackman, like myself, states he is against the PNC, and their choices, I get a lot of flack about being a hater of Burnham, Granger, Green, Corbin, And Reid, and a few others and a traitor to my race, black people – and so forth. However, when people are calling for the entire Buxton to be wiped out as she put it. This was in the aftermath of the massacre at Lusignan. I still feel that was not a racial event but a drug related incident. That PNC Loyalists never say a dam word in defense of the people of Buxton and Nabaclis and/ or the other communities on the East Coast of Demerara. All the PNC care about are your votes on Election Day. The PNC care about your contributions to their livelihood, that’s it.
Over the years our people have argued over one trivial pursuit or another. Its utter rubbish. A perfect example is respecting the spice mango. The name Buxton Spice was consternation to numerous people in other communities. People resident in Ann’s Grove and Golden Grove and even Hopetown claimed the specie of mango was introduced in their respective communities. Females are known to have battled in the market place at Bourda and Stabroek and in the courts. Much to amusement of the British colonials who loved to abuse our people. Plain and simple the mango is a spice mango. Moreover it was never worth all or any of the fussing and fighting Black people displayed with respect to it. That sort of behavior was pure nonsense.
There are such phrases as the first village, premier village, and breadbasket of the East Coast and so on that caused our people great anxiety. Certainly, one or something has to be first. Others simply followed. But to allow whatever label people choose for their inspiration to affect or offend you gives the impress that you are not thinking clearly. Buxton is one of the biggest villages. Its population is much more than a few towns in Guyana. Thus it is likely there is more of every pursuit and/or accomplishments attributed to the people of Buxton than perhaps any other locations in Guyana except New Amsterdam, Georgetown and Linden. In fact, when Buxton is used it often relates to both Buxton and friendship. However, while or when used in the district the term Buxton identifies the village itself and not both communities. MaaNgala Oni Shankalla, Monday, March 28, 2011 11:22 AM
