PROF HAMID GHANY
hamid.ghany@sta.uwi.edu
Sixty years ago, CLR James, the renowned Trinidad-born historian, philosopher, novelist, cultural critic, political activist and cricket journalist published his famous book entitled “Beyond A Boundary”. The original manuscript is held at the CLR James Cricket Research Centre at the Cave Hill Campus of The UWI in Barbados.
Last Friday, The UWI paid tribute to James on the sixtieth anniversary of the publication of his book with two events at the Cave Hill Campus, namely a “Beyond A Boundary” Symposium and a CLR James Distinguished Lecture. The lecture was delivered by Vice-Chancellor Prof Sir Hilary Beckles.
In his dedication at the start of the book, James said the following: “To Learie Constantine and WG Grace for both of whom this book hopes to right grave wrongs, and, in so doing, extend our too limited conceptions of history and of the fine arts. To these two names, I add that of Frank Worrell, who has made ideas and aspirations into reality.”
The magnanimity and perception of James shine through in this dedication as he pivots both Learie Constantine and WG Grace together and then adds the legendary Frank Worrell to these contrasting personalities and their respective backgrounds.
Indeed, it was James, as the editor, who lobbied strenuously through the pages of “The Nation” (the official newspaper of the People’s National Movement) in 1960 for Frank Worrell to be made captain of the West Indies cricket team for the tour of Australia. He started his editorial campaign to lobby for Worrell in the Friday February 5, 1960 edition. His lobbying was successful as Worrell replaced Gerry Alexander for the 1960-1961 tour of Australia. He became the first black West Indian man to captain a touring West Indies team and his ascension to the position was due, in large part, to the overt advocacy of James.
A part of his written advocacy in the Nation newspaper on February 5, 1960, read as follows:
“Who have been West Indian Test captains? Karl Nunes, Jack Grant, Rolfe Grant, John Goddard, Jeff Stollmeyer, Denis Atkinson, Alexander and a few others…Now tell The Nation, tell the people, tell the world. Is there one of them who, when he became captain, had the qualifications Worrell has? It is the duty of the Selection Committee and the Board of Control to explain why they asked Worrell twice when he was not available, and now when he is available turn him down for a man so obviously his inferior and unfitted for the post?”
James was scathing in his advocacy. However, in examining his writings on making the case for Worrell to become captain, one can see the beginnings of a fire that was burning to link a socio-political examination of West Indian society to secure the captaincy of the West Indies team for Frank Worrell on merit, not on affirmative action terms, and to realise that this would frame his 1963 book “Beyond A Boundary”.
In the preface, he said: “…This book is neither cricket reminiscences nor autobiography. It poses the question ‘What do they know of cricket who only cricket knows?’ To answer involves ideas as well as facts….”
Perhaps, a poignant part of the book is addressed by his conversation with Learie Constantine in which he posits:
“Between the wars, he never ceased to argue with me that after Austin in 1923, the West Indies team being what it was, the captain should be a black man. I opposed him with the idea that the captain should be the best man.” (Beyond A Boundary, Yellow Jersey Press, 2005, p 77).
James’ desire for meritocracy to be rewarded and his opposition to affirmative action is a credit to his demanding appreciation of performing well in the face of adverse circumstances, rather than complaining.
However, he provides significant insight into the basis of his book and of Constantine’s attack on the way that West Indian cricket was managed as follows:
“The old Shannon Club of those days is a foundation pillar of this book. A man’s unstated assumptions, those he is often not aware of, are usually the mainspring of his thought. All of Constantine’s fierce and sustained attacks against the way West Indian cricket is managed stem from his Shannon experience.” (p 77).
In those few sentences, one can grasp James’ insight into society beyond a boundary of cricket.
Professor Hamid Ghany is Professor of Constitutional Affairs and Parliamentary Studies of The University of the West Indies (UWI). He was also appointed an Honorary Professor of The UWI upon his retirement in October 2021. He continues his research and publications and also does some teaching at The UWI.
