Almost fifty years ago, in 1975, at a historic symposium on Indians in the Caribbean, VS Naipaul remarked, “We forget; we have no idea of our past; it is part of the trouble. We came from a culture that has not been much given to self-examination or to historical enquiry.”
This is an accurate depiction of the bankruptcy of our historical consciousness.
The lack of appreciation for the Humanities, especially the field of History, is partly due to a past and continued emphasis on subjects such as Science, Business, Engineering, Medicine and Law.
It is a fact that most universities throughout the Caribbean have relatively low attendance levels in History classes.
Some secondary schools, due to low numbers in Form 6, have removed the subject from their curriculum. Such actions translate into the devaluation of Caribbean History.
The historian is a dying breed. Sometimes there is an appreciation of history, but it is exaggerated and politicised. Maybe the Caribbean must refine its historical mentality if we intend to harness the bygone eras and legacies of the Caribbean.
Local historians have made history come alive, thanks to their tenacity and tireless efforts. It is a pity that locals and Caribbean citizens do not often appreciate the contribution of our historians.
There continues to be a distorted perception that history is boring. The role of historians, who critically assess events, personalities and movements, is to be gatekeepers of knowledge and provide objectivity.
Only then can we provide material that could be utilised and appreciated by the public. People need to understand that history has good and evil elements, and we need to learn both sides in our quest to reach the truth.
People are reading less history and non-fiction.
Thus, historians of the 21st century have a mandate to empower this generation. They must be more involved in social media to monitor whether the historical tidbits and snippets are accurate and factual.
There are unsung heroes and heroines whose works need to be more accessible to young people, especially in primary and secondary schools. And we need to encourage school administrators to send students to museums, historical sites, libraries and archives. Such environments ensure that young and old minds appreciate the need to curate, catalogue and preserve history.
Now is a good time for Caribbean governments to consider establishing a fund to help historians publish and disseminate their research.
Often, local historians use money from their own pockets to publish their work, which demonstrates their desire to get history out into the public domain.
More people should be assisted in documenting the history of older generations. It seems unfair that resources are allocated for sports and culture while neglecting those gatekeepers of history who want to capture exciting historical gems.
Historians stand on equal footing with the scientist, CEO, politician, engineer or lawyer. Some historians have painstakingly contributed to the various genres of history and made them more exciting and accessible to the public.
Some scholars who lived through momentous events such as Independence and dark times such as the attempted coup of 1990 have analysed those who shaped, formulated and sought to destroy our country’s political, social and economic landscapes.
One such academic is Brinsley Samaroo. His writings and intellectual discourse certainly sent a strong message about the value and relevance of history and the historian. Samaroo made immense contributions that resonated with both scholars and laypersons.
We have poorly advocated for the preservation of our history. Unfortunately, some use fiction, gossip and drama and weave them into history. For instance, there are some persons whose only insight into the monarchy is the result of watching the scripted Netflix series ‘The Crown’.
If the Caribbean is to become truly progressive, then an appreciation of our history is crucial. Indeed, history, be it yesterday or five thousand years ago, will enable us to plan and equip ourselves for the present and future. Our study of history will certainly help us to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
In T&T, we tend to view our history from Indian and African perspectives. This is good but still myopic. We need to be objective and not restrict our efforts to only what was considered “important”.
Hopefully, in the future, our historical memory will not be superficial and will entail more of the history of other ethnic, racial and religious minorities.
Only then can we truly have a genuine understanding of ourselves and others and provide the framework for peace.
