Africans must know their history says President Richards

President George Maxwell Richards says people of African descent must know and understand their history and recognise that their ancestors have made significant contributions to world history in many aspects of human endeavour. He said they must be mindful that they are no less than any other race and should be inspired by the records of written or oral history and not yield their entitlements as human beings in any aspect.

This formed part of the President’s Emancipation Day message to the nation. Richards said, “While ritual is associated with the proceedings of the day, the observation of this important national holiday should be anything but ritualistic.” He said the International Year for People of African Descent can be regarded as having done some good if it succeeded in changing the mindset of those who practise discrimination on the basis of their perception of the superiority or inferiority of one race vis-a-vis another.

He said, “That is one side of the coin and old habits die hard. On the other hand, people of African descent must know and understand their history and recognise that their ancestors have made significant contributions to world history.” The President added, “In Trinidad and Tobago, as I have suggested before, we are not immune to the negative side of race relations, but, if we are willing, we are well able to take the high road and, with dignity and aplomb, walk in the security of free people.