Tuesday, 26th July 2016 (North Side, Anguilla) — As we fast approach Emancipation Day, this afternoon I sit on the gallery of my peace filled Caribbean residence contemplating a profound question. Are we still caught up in the days of slavery? I keep wondering whether we have truly released the shackles of enslavement that were passed down to us through generations of our ancestors who were captured and treated brutally by other humans.
Almost two years ago, in September 2014, I wrote a similar themed opinion editorial, which was published in The Anguillian newspaper, entitled Emancipating Ourselves from Mental Slavery: Raising Conscious Awareness on Creating Healthy Minds by Changing Our Thought Patterns. I referenced the word sounds of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song that had been repeatedly running through my thoughts for several weeks: “Emancipate ourselves from mental slavery.”
From my personal observations of people, it seems that we’ve let go of the physical chains that bound us. Yet the majority of us are still entrapped in this Babylon System. It has a strong hold on our living fruitful and productive lives. Many of us have not regained our own mental/emotional freedom. I wonder why this is so. Is there a higher reason for only a small portion of Earth’s humanity attempting to raise conscious awareness by exposing the darkness of what needs to be revealed for all ‘a we to heal and shine the light of truth and love?
Some of the areas I’ve clearly observed that need to be exposed, and changed, if we desire to move forward include the following: poor employer/employee relations and working conditions; domestic abuse and violence against women, children and men; corrupt political systems; unjust law enforcement practices; domineering patriarchal societies; drug, alcohol and substance abuse; unhealthy eating habits; racism and prejudices; and the list goes on. The two subjects currently pressing on my mind that I will focus attention on in this op-ed are employer/employee relations and personal relationships. Lately, I’ve been listening to Brethren and Sistren in our Anguilla community speak about the challenges they’re facing in these particular areas of their lives.
The slavery and indentured servitude systems have adversely affected employer/employee relations in today’s world. If we wish to positively change these types of relationships – to make them better for everyone – then both employers and employees need to be actively involved in creating resolutions to improve what we were subjected to in the past and which continues to prevail. Employers must let go of focussing on the bottom line (money) and treat employees as an integral part of their businesses and organisations.
Fair and liveable wages, with reasonable hours of work, need to be implemented. Employees need time and energy to proactively handle other aspects of their full lives such as family responsibilities, church or spiritual and community volunteer commitments, along with continuing education studies, rest and relaxation. Equal amounts of time need to be given to these areas in order to create healthy, whole and balanced lifestyles and reduce stress factors.
Employers who seek prospective employees should be openly willing to negotiate terms of employment based on the real qualifications of the chosen applicants. When the jobs posted advertise a salary range, the pay offered should reflect the actual skills, talents and expertise of the candidates. To offer only the minimum amount to a successful applicant who has more than the advertised requirements makes it appear as if an employer is unwilling to negotiate terms. To withdrawn an offer of employment after an applicant has accepted the job seems to show the employer lacks ethics and integrity.
All staff who are working full time hours ought to be on contracts, paid on a specific date of each month and should not subjected to the whims of executive management, supervisors and human resources personnel. We must be mindful that everyone, whether an employee or employer, has bills to pay. Paying some employees on time and others late is not an acceptable business practice. Emergency measures need to be put in place for the rare occasion when pay cheques are delayed due to the company’s cash flow. Advance notice to employees informing them of such unfavourable situations is helpful and keeps everyone informed of what is going on within the business.
Allowances for travel, housing and so forth ought to be included in salaries and not offered separately, so that all employees may have a sense of feeling they are paid more equally. When there are pay increases, they should be the same set percentage across the board for all staff and not that those in the upper echelons receive a larger amount and those at the lowest pay grades receive less. Service charges need to be distributed evenly with the appropriate staff and not withheld.
Employees also have a responsibility to be committed to their jobs and to give best performances regardless of wages or salaries received. If we treat the business or organisation as if it is part of our beloved family or a best friend, then we will want to see everyone be successful. Jealousy towards any staff member, or wilfully sabotaging the advancement and success of colleagues, needs to cease.
The attitude that everyone is a team player and an integral cog in the organisational wheel needs to be embraced by all of us who are working for the business or organisation. If we do our best and give our top talents, then it makes every person shine and not solely one individual. That has always been my philosophy wherever I work and volunteer.
Slavery has also impacted our personal relationships in the 21st century. Now, I want to touch briefly on the subject of how enslaved mentalities have damaging effects on our personal relationships. Many of us are still enslaved in these relations. I’m speaking of how we act and react with family, friends, co-workers and others, and specifically reference those involving men and women interacting with one another. I have had my fair share of these kinds of experiences, some good and others not, all of which have taught me life lessons about myself and human nature. During the past few months, I’ve observed relationships in which there are elements of excessive abuses, like drinking too much alcohol, physical violence and emotional bullying.
I believe the brutal practices of slavery have caused us to become dysfunctional in relationships with ourselves and with others. I’ve witnessed people who are controlling, demanding, alcoholics or drug addicts, mean spirited and unkind. Jah didn’t create us to behave in this way, but many of us act out because of what we have experienced in our lives. Perhaps it’s also due to whatever was passed down in the DNA of our ancestors’ genes.
Some wise advice to any man, woman or child if you think you are in an abusive relationship: “Stand up for your rights”, as Bob Marley sang. Don’t think that you can change or rescue anyone but yourself. Speak up. Tell someone. Seek counselling from a person whom you trust and who is able to help you find effective solutions to the situation. Get out of the relationship before it’s too late and someone gets seriously hurt.
So as we get ready to celebrate Emancipation Day, I pray that we all remember it is not just about the fete. We must recollect the history and her-stories of Our People who were enslaved not so long ago. Recounting the atrocities, strength and courage of our ancestors who endured these harsh conditions, and re-gained their own freedom, teaches the youths from whence they came and inspires them to move forward.
May the teachings of the Most High guide us in our conduct everyday! And may Jah shower us with an abundance of blessings as we continue to work on healing our wound-bound souls, and obtaining the divinely ordained freedom that God meant for each of us to have.
Kay M. Ferguson, who writes under the nom de plume Empress Extraordinaire, is a free-spirited writer who composes word sounds to inspire and uplift humanity. She serves on the Public Relations and Communications Team for the Anguilla Literary Foundation, organiser of the annual Anguilla Lit Fest. Find the Empress and “i-nect” with her on social media at https://www.facebook.com/kaymferguson or link with her via email at empressextraordinaire@outlook.com.
