The Plight of The So Called Early Immigrant

Image via Wikipedia

The recognition of equality and the fundamental human rights of the African/Caribbean minority communities to partake in their just demands, both in reality and in principle the needs denied to them by the means of covert and institutionalised racism.

Historically the facts speak for themselves, the people of the Caribbean did not arrive on these shores as refugees fleeing from poverty, wars, or other calamities which affect human beings from time to time.  The position is clear and must never be forgotten, that at no time in the history of the Caribbean has anyone ever witnessed the spectacle or pot bellied and emaciated children, suffering from malnutrition and other diseases brought on by hunger and poverty.  Neither can one deny the fact that the majority of  Afro-Caribbean people in England, came from the island of Jamaica which had the status of a Crown Colony, thereby making them an integral part of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

Prior to 1966 the people of Jamaica held passports which gave them the same rights as that of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  A citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies.

The Afro-Caribbean people are not trying to evade the issue, neither are we trying to forget our past, we have never looked at ourselves as immigrants, as it is impossible for one to emigrate to his/her own country, history will tell you.  We did not need a passport to land on these shores, the birth certificate ascertaining your place and date of birth was enough.

The people of the Caribbean came to England during the War because they saw it as their patriotic duty to lay down their lives for their country.  They were not conscripted, but saw it honourable to volunteer their services in whatever way possible and indeed many thousands never returned home, their remains were left scattered on the battle fields of North Africa, Europe and other parts of the world, others sunk to the bottom of the sea in the merchant ships sunk by Germans.  These seamen of the Merchant Navy gave their lives with dignity and pride as they struggled to maintain the life blood of England by carrying the food and other commodities.  While they who stayed at home in the Caribbean toiled and sweated in the heat of the islands to produce food to keep the soldiers on the battle field going.