Atlanta Daily World

"Spotlight On Empire"

By RUDOLPH DUNBAR

LONDON—(ANP)—The disturbances in Jamaica are attracting a considerable amount of interest in the British press. The left-wing papers, and even some of the right-wing press, are denouncing the British government for its hypocritical attitude toward its black subjects which has been going on for over a hundred years.

Here is an editorial from Reynolds News of Sunday, May 29:

"SPOTLIGHT ON EMPIRE"

Slavery in the West Indies ended, officially, one hundred years ago. Today, mass strikes and military terrorism expose emancipation as a myth, reveal these grim truths: thousands of British citizens are exploited with the same ruthless cunning and barbarity as were their forebears who came under the lash of the slave-traders; and they are exploited in the same interest—the interest of private property.

Trinidad and Jamaica have always returned rich dividends to investors in cocoa, oil, gold, sugar, and bananas. Investors' 'rights' have been protected by the British flag, the British navy and the British army. Investors' responsibilities to native labor have been discharged with a niggardliness and a disregard for human decency which nothing can excuse.

…To keep labor disunited and wages low, racial problems have been created and racial differences have been fomented.

Kingston, centre of a profitable tourist traffic, is as evil a sink of vice as is to be found anywhere in the world. Houses which any enlightened local authority in this country would condemn as unfit for pigs abound everywhere; it took 30 years and special legislation to clear Kingston of the filthy shacks built as temporary shelters after the Great Fire. Health services are primitive. Education is neglected. Trade union organization is discouraged. Communities of which we boast as 'strong links of Empire' are diseased and poverty-ridden jungles.

Sheer exploitation reached its peak when at the command of British capitalists, the state promoted the £50,000,000 ($250,000,000) subsidized sugar beet scandal which precipitated economic ruin in the Crown colonies.

The Colonial office has long been aware of this disgrace. Untruthful history books and hypocritical propaganda have stilled the nation's conscience. Only after a century of misery and by resort to violence has the black man been enabled to expose the nature of the burden imperialism imposes upon him.

"This is one of the many stains on the empire which must be wiped out completely and at once, whatever the price to private interests."

THE CHRISTIAN BAND CLUB

met at the home of Mrs. Bessie Falls, at the last meeting. After the business session a delicious repast was served. The next meeting will be at the home of Mrs. Coates, 518 Rockwell St., June 28th.

Lillie Green, president

Flora B. Pickett, reporter