Celebrating Black History Month

February 2024

Black History Month is coming to a close soon, but that doesn’t mean we should stop standing in solidarity with Afro-Caribbeans who have inspired change. Whether through art, writing, or politics, we’re highlighting some Afro-Caribbeans who have encouraged us to think differently about what it means to be a progressive, unified diaspora. As Indo-Caribbeans, it is our responsibility to stop perpetuating and start challenging the anti-Black rhetoric we have grown up around.

This Black History Month and beyond, we lift up the contributions to our shared culture by Afro-Caribbeans. We look towards building a Caribbean community that is rooted in liberation, unity, and celebration of all that makes us different yet alike.

Dr. Walter Rodney: Guyanese Historian

Dr. Walter Rodney was a Guyanese historian and political activist whose work centered on mobilizing historically marginalized ethnic groups to rise up against colonial forces in the Caribbean. Ushering in a new wave of political consciousness, his activism encouraged the creativity and resourcefulness of working class communities to build a multiracial democracy without European intervention.

Because Dr. Rodney’s movement gained rapid traction with Caribbeans around the world and posed a significant threat, he was assassinated by agents of the state under the knowledge of Guyana’s then-President, Linden Forbes Samson Burnham. Dr. Rodney’s vision of liberation and solidarity lives on in the Caribbean and beyond.

Shirley Chisholm: Guyanese and Bajan Politician

Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress in 1964. She was also the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. Born to Bajan and Guyanese parents, Chisholm was an avid supporter of women’s rights, educational access, and the Civil Rights movement. Though she faced much discrimination, both in terms of her gender and race, Chisholm proved to be a strong role model to other women of color beginning their political careers.

Calypso Rose: Trinidadian Calypsonian

Revered as the “Mother of Calypso,” Calypso Rose is a Trinidadian calypso singer who popularized calypso music with songs that were not only light-hearted but focused on issues like sexism and racism, as well. Winning the 1963 Calypso King Contest in St. Thomas with her first recording, Cooperation, she became the first woman to be awarded the prestigious title. She is also the first female to win Trinidad’s Road March competition.

Since then, the 83-year old artist has gone on to serve as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has collaborated with international artists like Manu Chao and Machel Montano. In 2017, her soca song “Leave Me Alone” became a feminist anthem of sorts for female T&T Carnival-goers who simply did not want to be harassed based on their clothing or dancing.

In 2019, Calypso Rose became the oldest artist and the first Calypso performer to play at Coachella. Calypso Rose came out as lesbian when she was 72, has been married to her partner for over 20 years, and remains vocal about LGBTQ+ rights.

Ebony Patterson: Jamaican Artist

Ebony Patterson is a Jamaican visual artist that explores themes like class, race, gender, youth, and violence all through the lens of post-colonial space and visibility. She utilizes media like photography, video, sculpture, and drawing to shed light on those who are not represented or “visible” and reimagines identity and what new societies could look like. Recently focusing on gardens as a theme, her work is held at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, the Perez Art Museum Miami, and the National Gallery of Jamaica to name a few.

One of her most iconic pieces of work is her series called, “Gangstas for Life” which explores and challenges masculinity in Dancehall culture and draws parallels between this fragile masculinity and stereotypical Jamaican norms around homosexuality.

Linton Kwesi Johnson: Jamaican Poet & Writer

Linton Kwesi Johnson is a Jamaican poet based in London who popularized spoken-word reggae poetry. His spoken word performances called attention to racial injustice, police brutality, and the impacts of imperialistic policies in England. Mi Revalueshanary Fren, a selection of Johnson’s poetry, was published as part of the Penguin Modern Classics 2002 edition. This solidified him as the first Black poet to be published in the series. In July 2020, he was awarded PEN International’s PEN Pinter Prize for his dedication to political expression in his poetry.