12 October 2020
Dear Editor:
Your recent editorial on and around “World Afro Day,” celebrated on the island nation of Anguilla is well taken and understood. In addition, your comments to encourage Anguilla’s students to be exposed to an inclusionary curriculum, vis-a-vis traditional Anguillian and Caribbean history is commendable, appreciated and supported.
As a semi-retired interdisciplinary educator (secondary and higher), my perspective on and around the celebration of “World Afro Day,” on the island nation of Anguilla, is slightly different from your editorial. Although, in no way is it from a critical point of view.
Based on my lens, the inclusion of introducing historical as well as cultural topics to Anguilla’s children and youth, can be a focal point of the expansion of extra curricular activities, that are relevant to the framework of the teaching and learning experience. It can, in more ways than one, elevate their self-esteem and build their confidence in order for them to feel good about themselves.
Anguilla is part of the global community, and most of us know, ever since our African ancestors were stolen, kidnapped and sold as a free labour force throughout the Americas, the politics of the variations of black hair textures and diverse styles, being accepted or not accepted, is a hotbed issue especially within the workplace.
As I sit here writing this article, I can find many articles on the Internet, whereby based on a number of shaming incidents such as (being sent home from schools or denied partcipation in events), it has become common place for black youngsters to be subjected to ridicule, because of their choice of a natural hairstyle, be it locs, an Afro or braids.
I will refer to an article on the Internet whereby last year, a teenage black youngster in New Jersey, had his locs cut off by an adult in public view, before he was allowed to participate in a wrestling match. One can only imagine the humiliation this youth must have experienced, being made to feel that his locs were not acceptable.
Kudos to your editorial team for sharing a number of suggested selected topics that are centered on and around Anguillian history. You are absolutely correct in stating that Anguilla’s and Caribbean history should take its rightful place as a mandated part of the curriculum – that is geared to the teaching and learning experience for Anguilla’s children and youth.
May I add five (5) more topics, (although they are many, many more). These five are an integral part of Anguilla’s socio-economic history.
Personally, I have great disaporan pride in being connected to my familial kinship and socio-cultural heritage that includes the island neighbouring nations of (Anguilla, St. Martin/St. Maarten). I firmly believe that tracing the history of the familial kinship, socio-cultural, geo-political and economic bonds shared among these neighbour island nations, should be explored, researched and taught in Anguilla’s schools.
As the tourism sector on the island nation of Anguilla, is getting ready to reopen, our youngsters should be taught that a son of the soil (the late David S. Lloyd), built, owned and managed the very first tourist accommodation on Anguilla (Lloyd’s Bed and Breakfast in Crocus Hill and seaside villas in Crocus Bay), that is still going strong to this very day. Another son of the soil, the late Jeremiah Gumbs, built the first seaside resorts in Rendevous Bay. As a result, nowadays, Anguilla has bragging rights for its “upscale tourism industry.” In other words, on whose shoulders do all others that came after stand?
How many of Anguilla’s children are taught that it was the same son of the soil (David S. Lloyd) who, being the first duly elected legislator in the former Central Government in Basseterre, was the visionary who initiated and implemented the proposal to introduce secondary education in Anguilla, secured the funds, and supervised the building of the secondary school (formerly The Valley Secondary School (V.S.S), renamed the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive High School) in honour of one of our stellar educators.
The secondary school opened its doors during 1953, and gave students the opportunity to attend secondary school on Anguilla. As many of you may also remember, prior to the opening of the secondary school only a few select students were able to travel abroad to acquire a secondary education. Anguilla’s children and youth should know that a son of the soil made it possible for them to acquire a quality secondary education on the island nation of Anguilla.
July 18, 2004, the late Vivien Vanterpool (one of Anguilla’s revered educators) stated, during the celebration of fifty (50) years of secondary education in Anguilla, that “the Valley Secondary School became a reality in 1953, through the instrumentality of the late David S. Lloyd, the then Representative for Anguilla in the former Central Government in Basseterre.” “I earnestly feel that the late David Sylvanus Lloyd was not given the recognition he so richly deserved in initiating secondary education in Anguilla.”
Anguilla’s children and youth should be taught that Anguilla is on record as having the most native born pilots, over fifty (50) (commercial, military or other) within the region. It is due to the vision and pioneering efforts of our very own son of the soil, the late Capt. Clayton J. Lloyd, Anguilla first aviation pioneer a licensed commercial pilot, who was given the honour of having our airport renamed Clayton J. Lloyd Internationl Airport.
Anguillians are traditional sea-farers and the sea-faring history of Anguilla (a way of life and being the only to make a livelihood back in the day, traditional boats on stamps, the traditional seafaring captains of yesteryear, and the untold story of the early beginnings of yachting in Anguilla) should be taught in Anguilla’s schools. Dear Lord’ let it be taught factually with inclusion, because we must teach our youngsters to be inclusive and give credit where it is due, without regard to our own personal biases.
As a new day dawns, foreign investors are planning expansive yacht marinas to be built on the island nation of Anguilla. Anguilla’s children should be taught back in the day, it was a son of the soil, one of the tradtional seafaring captains of yesteryear, my dad the late Capt. Lionel T. Lloyd (when he lived and worked in St. Thomas, USVI, before he migrated to the U.S as a professional civilian employee of the U.S Naval Service), was the first Anguillian to bring chartered private yachts on excursions into Blowing Point, Anguilla. So, is the untold history of the early beginnings of yachting in Anguilla standing on his shoulders?
In closing, if it takes infusing historical topics on and around Anguilla’s and Caribbean history, or teaching cultural pride celebrating World Afro Day, to reinforce Anguilla’s children and youth learning to love themselves, I am certain that most of us would be right on board.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my opinion in your publication.
Yinka
