The legacy of Colonialism is one that is often overlooked, but is still shaping modern nations today. In fact, many nations still maintain colonial rule, despite this rule being a legacy of slavery, oppression, and revolution. The Haitian revolution is the example that comes to mind, and its success is a inspiration but also a violent teacher of the horrors of colonialism. Today, however, hope can be found in the recent events which finally freed Barbados from British rule.
"Barbados cut its last remaining bonds to the British monarchy after nearly 400 years. In a ceremony on Monday evening, Prince Charles acknowledged the "appalling atrocity of slavery" as the nation removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and inaugurated its first-ever President... the Queen's own former representative, Governor-General Sandra Mason -- a well-respected 73-year-old former jurist -- was sworn in as President by the Chief Justice. It was exactly 55 years to the day since Barbados declared independence from Britain."
This revolution was not violent or unpredictable, but instead a long string of diplomacy and protest which eventually led to the acknowledgement and acceptance of Barbados's national identity and the positives of it becoming a republic. Even Prince Charles, heir to the throne of England, acknowledged the Empires transgressions, saying in a speech to the people of Barbados;
"From the darkest days of our past, and the appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history, the people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude. Emancipation, self-government and Independence were your way-points. Freedom, justice and self-determination have been your guides,"
This positive relationship formed between Barbados and the United Kingdom hopefully brings hope to other nations still under the legacy of colonial rule. There are currently 61 colonies left in the world, each with varying degrees of desire to escape from under their mother countries. Each of these should have the option to decide their own fate, and have every right to secede if the local population did not sign a constitution and democratically vote for acceptance into a larger nation. The way Barbados was handled by the British government, however, seems like a step in the right direction.
As a person that was unaware that the UK still had control over colonies. You would think today that there will be no control over people. That's not a common thing we see anymore because of the everlasting effect of slavery. Glad this was a piece that was discussed, really caught my attention
It’s crazy to think that the UK still controls former colonies. They are now referred to as British Overseas Territories. Even though we think of colonialism as something that occurred hundreds of years ago, its legacy still exists today. I’m sure it’s a tough thing for the UK to let go of, because colonialism was the height of their power. But I think it’s a good sign of progress that efforts to peacefully decolonize are beginning to take place.
I thought this was a very interesting post and I was very interested to learn more about this. I completely agree with you that colonialism is often overlooked in the modern day and doesn’t feel as relevant as it probably does for people in countries like Barbados that have been tied to countries like Great Britain for so long. It is also good to see that the leaders of these countries are acknowledging the horrible things such as slavery that have come out of colonialism.
This was an incredibly interesting read. I feel as though colonialism is often phrased as a thing of the past and discussed within the context of history. I followed the news about Barbados’ recent freedom from British rule. Strangely, I knew that Barbados was not free from colonialism prior to this week, however, in America, colonialism is often brushed aside or not given the proper analytical criticism that it deserves. Because of this, my naivety in understanding the plight of Barbados is something that I do regret and it has taught me to open my eyes to the colonial presence and pervasiveness that still lingers across the world. Thank you for this piece.
I recently heard about this in the news and I am glad you decided to discuss this issue that is not well known. It is immensely refreshing to see leaders of Great Britain to take a public stance on their own harmful transgressions that the people of Barbados had to suffer for several centuries. As a whole this model of colonialism should be a thing of the past but yet it still remains. Countries like Barbados should be given the freedoms to rule themselves with a protectorate looking over their should and guiding their government.