In a profound moment at Seville Heritage Park in St Ann, the Emancipation Jubilee attendees listened intently as descendants of those involved in chattel slavery on the island issued heartfelt apologies.
The annual event, held from July 31 into August 1 (Emancipation Day), is traditionally a time for reflection, cultural celebration, and a look towards a brighter future. However, this year’s Jubilee featured a poignant addition: a series of video apologies from families of former plantation owners and others who played roles in chattel slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
Among the in-person apologies, sisters Kate Thomas and Aidee Walker traveled from New Zealand to address the people of Jamaica. They are descendants of the Clan Malcolm of Argyll, a family that owned an estate in St Ann.
“We acknowledge the deep suffering and injustice inflicted on your ancestors by our forebears and we recognize the lasting impact of those atrocities in Jamaica. Chattel slavery was, and is, a crime against humanity,” the sisters stated.
They expressed gratitude to researchers and historians who unearthed the extent of Clan Malcolm’s involvement in Jamaica, particularly at the Argyll estate. They also highlighted the 1824 Argyll Rebellion, where 12 men were executed for fighting for their freedom.
“We acknowledge the wealth created by our ancestors through chattel enslavement and the injustice of financial compensation paid by the British government to the enslavers. The enduring and damaging legacy of this injustice continues to the present day,” they added.
The sisters pledged to advocate for the New Zealand government to recognize the region’s connection to Caribbean injustices and to support CARICOM’s 10-point plan for reparatory justice.
The Guardian issues apology
Additionally, Joseph Harker, Senior Editor of Diversity and Development at The Guardian, sent a video apology. He addressed the newspaper’s link to the transatlantic slave trade through its founder, John Edward Taylor, and backer Sir George Phillips, who co-owned a sugar plantation in Hanover.
“The Guardian has looked back into its history and discovered that its founder, John Edward Taylor and his backers had links to transatlantic slavery. One of those backers, Sir George Phillips, co-owned a sugar plantation in the parish of Hanover,” Harker said.
He emphasized The Guardian’s commitment to raising awareness and implementing a 10-year program of restorative justice in consultation with affected communities.
Chattel slavery, the practice of enslaving and owning human beings as property, forced generations to labor without wages and stripped them of their freedom and dignity.
The Emancipation Jubilee was organized by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, under the theme ‘Feel di Spirit’. This year’s celebrations for Emancipation and Independence Day are united under the theme ‘Jamaica 62: One Love…To the World’.
