Reverend Devon Dick's article 'Mis-educating CXC students' (February 19) once again highlights the unwarranted attacks on the nation's educators. The article was a critique of a Youthlink lesson outlining the factors that led to emancipation in the British Caribbean. Dick was apparently perturbed by the information presented on the James Somerset case and the lack of reference made to the Sam Sharpe Rebellion.

I have decided to address Dick's article since I found that he is misinformed in some aspects and that he provides inaccurate information on the role played by slaves in abolishing slavery.

Dick suggests on the issue of the James Somerset case that the ruling issued by Lord Mansfield reinforced slavery in England. In addition, Dick states the ruling simply meant that enslaved persons could not be forcibly removed from England. I should point out that the Mansfield judgement freed James Somerset.

Legal ratio

Whatever the technical legal ratio decidendi of the case, it was widely understood by the public at large to mean that on English soil at least, no man was a slave. The ruling in essence meant that enslavement should no longer be practised in Britain itself. It was evident in the Mansfield judgement that he deliberately avoided answering the question of the legality of slavery in full, primarily because of the profound political and economic consequences of such a ruling.

The second part of Dick's article purports the notion that enslaved persons were primarily responsible for the abolition of slavery. As Dick states, 'Sharpe and the other enslaved persons who resisted slavery should be given most of the credit.' Is this the mainstream thought in the historiography?

Even though the enslaved played a role in emancipation (primarily the Sam Sharpe revolt), it would be erroneous and in fact misleading to suggest that slave rebellions and slave protests were the underlining cause for slavery's abolition. What was so compelling about the Sam Sharpe revolt that it became the mitigating factor?

The topic of emancipation should not be restricted to only one factor but instead examine several factors. We cannot isolate just one issue or assess one in a vacuum. Besides, controversy on the topic of emancipation normally surrounds the issue of whether it was economic factors or humanitarian factors which caused the abolition of slavery.

Strong probability

Simply put, was it the reduced profitability of the British West Indian sugar industry or the work done by the abolitionists that ended slavery?

Early 20th century British historians such as Reginald Coupland and W.L. Burns primarily describe the role that anti-slavery groups such as the 'Clapham Sect' and the Quakers had on abolition. However, Eric Williams's notable and detailed work Capitalism and Slavery outlining the "decline thesis" revolutionised Caribbean thought on this topic as it removed the emphasis on the humanitarian facts.

I raise this point because the historical dialogue becomes obscured if one is not objective. Objectivity in history is important and if we follow the Rankean model, the historian should be a detached and impartial observer of the past 'as it was,' not the past 'as we perceive.' In the same sense that Burns and Coupland were clouded by an imperialist perspective and argued emotions rather than facts, the same holds true for Rev Dick.

History is the 'study of the past' or a 're-enactment of the past.' It is not a 'creation of the past' as Rev Dick is trying to attempt. The Youthlink series had several articles assessing major slave revolts in the British Caribbean and the factors that lead to emancipation. If Rev Dick were reading these weekly articles then he would have been provided with information on the importance of the Sam Sharpe revolt. His comments were centred on one article that he apparently read in isolation.

Rev Dick's rash and unfounded accusations are indicative of so many individuals we see today in our country who have a grand ulterior motive and who use misinformation to propel their agenda.

Debbion Hyman is a teacher of history at St Hugh's High School. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com