Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

Art collector Wallace Campbell (left) and auctioneer William Tavares-Finson talk about works by artist Issac Mendez Belisario, which were acquired by Campbell. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

The ability to break away from the shackles of our enslaved past is one of the most admirable features of the cultural and social topography of Jamaica.

The opposite is true of our hemispheric neighbours and some African Americans. They forever play the role of the victim as as an excuse for their own failures.

Mercifully, American presidential hopeful Barack Obama has disabused himself of the notion of hoping to play the role of victim. In the process, he has attracted a wider core of support than any previous black aspirant.

Unfortunately, Senator Obama's candidacy is dogged not by his competence or eloquence, but what they see as the Achilles heel of their time - his race.

Sadly, racism is the last refuge of the ignorant, and his sanctuary, ever breeding, in ignorant minds. And so, yes, Senator Obama does have a very hard row to hoe.

There is currently a historical art and cultural exposition on at the National Gallery of Jamaica that showcases the work and life of artist Issac Mendez Belisario.

Simply titled Belisario, the exhibition is mounted against the background of art and Emancipation in Jamaica. It catalogues aspects of the evolution of the culture of slavery.

Belisario was a man of wealth and privilege. He was born into a wealthy Jewish family in Kingston in 1794. However, he, too, was to know persecution as the inquisition saw him going into exile in London; and his father to Tortola where he, too, began championing the abolitionist cause.

Belisario proved more than a historical footnote in the evolutionary process that helped to usher in emancipation.

This was made evident by his exhibitions at the Royal Academy and Old Water Colour Society, which narrated the existence of the enslaved, through his sketches and illustrations.

Miraculously, the works of the early master is still largely intact and in Jamaica - having been acquired by noted art collector and patron, Wallace Campbell.

Well, the Issac Mendez Belisario historical exhibition opened to great and historical fanfare last Sunday, at the National Gallery, Oceana Mall.

The majority of the works on display were taken from Wallace Campbell's private collection, with at least one piece from the collection of notable collector, Tom Tavares-Finson.

Luvs, the exhibition is more than a timely intervention. It should be a required class project of art and history students.

Here is what has always been missing from the contemporary discussions and teaching of slavery: visual imagery.

Must-see exhibition

From left, Gleaner's Lifestyle Editor Barbara Ellington, Nanda Dukharan of PRO Communications, CVM's Kerlyn Brown and Debra Edwards hanging out at Querini Pub and Restaurant in Rost, Norway. Some members of the Jamaican media are at present in Norway. - Contributed

The exhibition is a must-see, not only for focusing on the journey that blacks had to endure on the journey to self-actualisation, but it also discreetly highlights the fact that blacks did not walk alone in their quest for freedom and equality.

In this respect, Jamaica has masterfully straddled the competing forces to produce a reasonably balanced society - one free from the intolerance and hegemonistic strifes that have produced decay in some societies with similar beginnings as ours.

Kudos to the gallery and its directors for this very timely exhibition.

Among the notables out at the opening were Their Excellencies Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall; Hon Glynne Manley and her daughters, the lovely Janine Bunting and Elizabeth Ewart; chairman of the National Gallery Wayne Chen; national curator Dr Jonathan Greenland and wife Dr Rebecca Tortello and their children; Senator Tom Tavares-Finson and his daughters, Leah and Capri, and son Roman; Mexican Ambassador HE Lenora Rueda; Evelyn Matalon, Wallace Campbell and his sibling, the lovely Jennifer Lim; her son-in-law Ian Bruce and daughter Judy Bruce; Alex Hamilton; Erica Downer; Winston Mahfood; Ruby Martin; Cliff and Joan Stone; the esteemed Pat Ramsay; Lloyd Reckord; Lois Sherwood; Joy Mahfood; Mr and Mrs Stephen Facey and their son; the lovely Leslie Lim; Vivian Crawford; Nicola Croswell-Mair; Howard Hamilton and daughter Kaci Hamilton; Dr Freddie Hickling; Dr Aggrey and Jacqueline Irons; Noel DaCosta; the oh-so-charming Yvonne Brewster; Lennie Little-White and his companion Sheryl Hyman.

Also seen were Peter and Susan Couch; Patrick Wong and companion Peta Gay MacMillan and their son Dylan Wong; Susan Ward; the charming Sandra MacDonald Spence; Brian Heap; Dr Elizabeth Ward; Herbie Miller; Camile Hines; Barbara Blake-Hannah; Andrew Phillips; Petrona Morrison and Professor Barry Chevannes, who gave the opening dissertation.