|
Speakers Daaga and Teelucksingh issue new challenge to youth
While the majority of the country discussed the anniversary of the 1990 attempted coup; the National Scholars' Alumni Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NSAATT) hosted a lecture on an equally controversial topic.
Makandal Daaga - Leader, National Joint Action Committee and Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh, UWI Lecturer were at the NALIS AV room in July exploring the topic: Forty Years Later - The Impact of the Black Power Movement.
The lecture attracted scholars, MPA employees and members of the public. In 1970, Daaga led thousands of people to demonstrate continuously from February to April about the foreign ownership of businesses and limited employment opportunities for locals.
At the lecture, Daaga spoke about the events of the 1970 Revolution within the context of the Canboulay Riots, 1903 Water Riots and 1920's Trade Union Movement. Daaga stressed the importance of knowing one's history; "Our young people must have heroes and events to emulate - when this is denied we have chaos."
Dr Jerome Teelucksingh began by reminding the audience that Black Power was 'a call for black peoples to control their own destiny and be aware of their capacity.' He encouraged attendees to consider the progress of the Movement in 2010.
"The 1970s had certain symbols: the afro, dashiki and clenched fist. What does this current generation have? What is the identity of our young people?"
The session ended with a Question and Answer Session; attendees were able to question the speakers directly.
The Lecture is the first of a series hosted by the National Scholars' Alumni Association of Trinidad and Tobago. The group was formed in 2009 by Returning Scholars in the MPA to address issues of national development and design plans of action.
July 2010 |
