Tag Archives: Selwyn R. Cudjoe

Africa, England, Features, General T&T, International, Race and Identity, Racism Watch

Ignorant Negroes/Tyrannical Masters: William Burnley and the Caribbean Slave Experience

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
Published: April 05, 2013 – trinicenter.com

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeIn the 1950s when I was growing up in Tacarigua, Trinidad, West Indies, there existed a large, faded mansion in the Orange Grove Savannah that had seen the last of its glories. It stood there as a colossus on this magnificent expanse of land which, at that time, was one of the largest savannah in the country second only to the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad. It reminded one of the glorious days of a time long past. I was a young boy then and could not have known that in this residence there once lived one of the most important men in the West Indies during the first half of the nineteenth century.
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Africa, Caribbean, General T&T, Passed on, Race and Identity, Racism Watch, Religion, USA

In Appreciation of Tony Martin

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
Submitted: February 06, 2013
Posted: February 13, 2013

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeTony Martin, an inspiration to his students and many of his colleagues, was a foundation member of the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College. He believed in the integrity of the discipline and the principle of departmental autonomy. A meticulous scholar, his work on Marcus Garvey, particularly Race First, changed the depiction of Garvey in Caribbean and American historiography. A staunch nationalist and Pan Africanist, he took pride in his race and the principle of self-reliance that were embodied in Africana scholars such as Garvey, Malcolm X, Walter Rodney and C.L.J. James.
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Caribbean, General T&T, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, USA

Celebrating Fifty Years of Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
Published: October 23, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeFirst of all I would like to thank Professor Linda Heywood for inviting me to participate in this wonderful program. I am particularly delighted to be on the same panel with Professor Orlando Patterson, Professor Emmauel Akyeampong, and to have the opportunity to view the screening of “Akwantu: The Journey” since strictly speaking the journey for independence in the Caribbean began when these gallant brothers, incidentally led by Captain Cudjoe, began to fight for our liberation from bondage. Ever since then, the citizens of the British Caribbean have struggled to control their internal and external affairs, culminating in national independence for most of these territories in the 1960s. In Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, we gained our national independence in August, 1962.
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Culture, General T&T, Opposition Party, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics, UNC

Aspiring Together

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
Septeber 04, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeIt was there for all to see. The PP had its own independence function at Woodford Square while the PNM conducted its own at Balisier House. Even die-hard PNMites were offended by such disunity. One of my nieces exclaimed: “Why dey dividing up the nation like that? It’s de worse Independence I ever see.”
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Africa, General T&T, India, Politics, Race and Identity, Racism Watch, Sports

Keshorn Walcott

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 22, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeI do not envy any of the honors or pecuniary rewards Keshorn Walcott received. He deserves them all. It is an extraordinary achievement to bring home a gold medal to a country of 1.3 million persons when countries as large as Nigeria and India with a combined population of approximately 1.6 billion persons did not win a gold medal. Keshorn should be showered with our congratulations and our prayers for a long life and continued success. The government should be congratulated for recognizing his contribution to our national pride.
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Business, General T&T, India, Politics, Racism Watch

Against All Odds

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 14, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeJust about when Kamal Persad Bissessar was celebrating the achievement of Trinidad and Tobago athletes who performed at the Olympics 2012 in Great Britain, I received an email from an African sister from Brothers Road. About ten years ago she had created a small company in that remote part of the country and was trying hard to make the best of herself. She wrote:
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General T&T, Sports

Lightning Bolt

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 09, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeHe was like a lightning bolt and his playfulness made him even more human, a star that descended from above to share a human moment with us. I would have given anything to be at the Olympic Stadium to share in this once-in-a-lifetime moment with this great star. But, like so many others, I had to enjoy the moment in front of a flat screen and that was alright by me.
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Africa, General T&T, Race and Identity, Racism Watch

Raced Memories

By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 01, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeFor anyone black and slightly conscious, Emancipation Day should be as exciting as Independence Day. One only has to look at the spontaneous response of Africans on the first Emancipation Day to realize how united we were at the gloriously liberating moment. Listen to Governor George Hill as he reported to the Secretary of State on August 7, 1834:
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General T&T, People's Partnership, PNM, Politics

A Way of Seeing

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
July 25, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeDr. Bhoe Tewarie is an academic; so am I. Dr. Tewarie is a Hindu; I am an Orisa, sometimes Anglican. Dr. Tewarie is Tapir/NAR/PP; I have always been a member of the PNM. Dr. Tewaire has been principal of UWI/ Arthur Lock Jack/ Minister of Planning and Economics; I am a professor, researcher and writer of books. Dr. Tewarie is busy planning our 50th anniversary celebrations; I am at the British National Archive researching the first fifty years of our nation’s history (1800-1850). As nationals, there cannot be a starker dichotomy of two lives.
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England, Finance, General T&T, International

Countries, Citizens, Identity

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
July 11, 2012

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeI have been in London for the past few days and will be here for several weeks. I am not here for the Olympics even though one can’t help getting caught up in the hype. I have taken a B&B within walking distance of the National Archives and will camp out here to get some work done on the biography of an important Trini.
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