1937 Disturbances
Clement Payne and the 1937 riots. This is a tipping point event for Barbados and for many islands in the Caribbean. It led to the creation of the Labour Party which led the road to Independence in 1966. This country, not unlike England I suppose, has a much stronger union culture than does the United States, and labor leaders continue to play a strong role in the society's governance. One of the things we heard most often in casual conversations with locals was that all seats in their recent national elections had been won by the Labour Party--a complete sweep. This had never happened before, and there was some reticence in their enthusiasm. "There should always be an opposition party," said one community activist, otherwise there are no checks on power.
This link takes you to a decent short news feature on the events of 1937. It doesn't tell enough of the legacy of 1937, but there's enough to get you started.
This video, "Barbados: From Agrarian Society to Service Economy," was produced by the Central Bank of Barbados, and while informative is misleading and must spur further source research. It adheres to a narrow economic framework and avoids the role of colonialism and racism in the economic conditions within which Black Bajuns were forced to make their lives. Features interviews with historians, anthropologists, economists, and citizens.
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| Excellent summary history by G. Addinton Forde. |
This video, "Barbados: From Agrarian Society to Service Economy," was produced by the Central Bank of Barbados, and while informative is misleading and must spur further source research. It adheres to a narrow economic framework and avoids the role of colonialism and racism in the economic conditions within which Black Bajuns were forced to make their lives. Features interviews with historians, anthropologists, economists, and citizens.
