Dr Prendergast calls for strategic initiative to highlight Sam Sharpe’s contribution
Published:Friday | January 10, 2025 | 12:06 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Dr Patrick Prendergast, director of the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), has emphasised the need for a strategic initiative to ensure that all Jamaicans are aware of and appreciate the events that led to the freedom the nation now enjoys.
Speaking in the context of the 1831–1832 Christmas Rebellion, led by National Hero Sam Sharpe, Dr Prendergast noted the pivotal role this uprising played in the abolition of slavery.
“The church has been actively working to ensure we understand the significant role that Samuel Sharpe played,” said Dr Prendergast.
“The church has been playing a significant role in educating the public about his contributions as a Baptist deacon.”
The 1831–32 event, also known as the Baptist War and the Christmas Rebellion, was an eleven-day uprising that mobilised over 60,000 of Jamaica’s 300,000 slaves, making it the largest slave rebellion in the British Caribbean.
December 27 was declared Sam Sharpe Day by a proclamation from Governor General Sir Patrick Allen four years ago. This date is significant as it marks the start of the uprising, with Sam Sharpe at the forefront.
In an interview with The Gleaner, Dr Prendergast expressed concern over the lack of public engagement with the opportunities created by the church for dialogue on this topic.
He noted a noticeable lack of public support for the lectures and internal dialogues organised during emancipation activities in August and events marking the Christmas Rebellion in December.
“There is a noticeable lack of public support for these activities. I honestly don’t see a public groundswell of support around these activities,” said Dr Prendergast, who has delivered several Sam Sharpe lectures hosted by the Baptist Church.
“Many discussions and activities happening outside Jamaica have their roots in the church but are not being done here.”
Dr Prendergast suggested that a strategic effort is necessary to ensure these conversations continue beyond the events themselves.
“A lot of what is happening in other spaces outside Jamaica would also have some foundation within the church, but I don’t know that we are actually on top of it in the way that we would want to see the broader society being engaged,” he added.
Regarding the strategic initiative, Dr Prendergast proposed that the church lead this effort in partnership with the media.
“I think there must be some kind of sit-down between the church and public spaces to discuss how we can move beyond the actual celebration and coverage of the event itself,” he said.
“The strategic collaboration between the church and media is to find ways to lift this beyond a university lecture space, a church hall, or a community hall.”