The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1
August 1, 1834 was a Friday. That day, thousands of Jamaicans went to church, walked up hills or climbed trees to witness the dawning of freedom. The slaves had been told some time before that freedom was coming soon. It came, yet not fully, after violent riots, rebellion, slaughter, and burning of missionary churches and free villages.
On Emancipation Day, slave owners and slaves gathered on the steps of Kings House in Spanish Town, St Catherine, to hear the Declaration of Emancipation. A law had been passed the year before called “An Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies; for promoting the Industry of the manumitted Slaves; and for compensating the Persons hitherto entitled to the Services of such Slaves”. Part of it read-
“Be it enacted, that all and every one of the persons who on the first day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty four, shall be holden in slavery within such British colony as aforesaid, shall, upon and from and after the said first day of August, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, become and be to all intents and purposes free and discharged from all manner of slavery, and shall be absolutely and forever manumitted.”
But under the law abolishing slavery, only slaves below the age of six were freed. All slaves over the age of six were to be called “apprentices” and serve their former owners for a period after the abolition of slavery. Former slaves who were usually employed in agriculture, praedial slaves, were to be released from apprenticeships in six years in 1840. All other slaves were to be released in four years in 1838. Meanwhile, former slave-owners were to be paid the sum of £20 million for the loss of their property: the slaves. Emancipation had come, but not yet.
Previously, slaves could be made to work without pay from birth until death. They were forbidden from being married or gathering in groups without their master’s permission. Slaves could not sell in the markets without a letter or known mark from their masters granting them permission to do so and could not participate in court proceedings or get justice if they had been wronged. As punishment, they could be chained and beaten and tortured. Runaway slaves could have limbs severed or be killed. They had no right to life, liberty, or fundamental freedoms.
Under apprenticeship, it felt like nothing had changed. In fact, conditions worsened and in 1838, on the day of Queen Victoria’s coronation, the Jamaica Assembly voted to release the slaves.
On July 9, 1838, Governor Lionel Smith issued a Proclamation of Emancipation. Addressed to praedial apprentices, it was to become effective August 1 that year. Former slaves were advised that they would have to pay rent for the houses in which they lived and the lands they farmed. The Proclamation stated-
“Where you can agree and continue happy with your own masters, I strongly recommend you to remain on those properties on which you have been born, and where your parents are buried. But you must not mistake in supposing that your present houses, gardens, or provision grounds are your own property. They belong to the proprietors of the estates, and you will have to pay rent for them in money or labour, according as you and your employers may agree together.”
The Proclamation warned that people who decided not to work, but went wandering about the island would, be “taken up as vagrants and punished in the same manner as they are in England.“
The Declaration and Proclamation of Emancipation in 1834 and 1838, respectively, did not result in true freedom for former slaves. The transatlantic slave trade in Africans had institutionalized discrimination based on the colour of a person’s skin. That is its legacy. Liberty remained an aspiration to which the ex-slaves and their generations aspired. In varying degrees, it is still a struggle which continues to this day.
The following is the text of the Proclamation of Emancipation 1838:
In a few days more you will all become Free Labourers — the Legislature of the Island having relinquished the remaining two years of your apprenticeship.
The 1st of August next is the happy day when you will become free — under the same laws as other free men, whether white, black, or coloured. I, as your Governor, give you joy of this great blessing.
Remember that in freedom you will have to depend on your own exertions for your livelihood, and to maintain and bring up your families. You will work for such wages as you can agree upon with your employers. It is their interest to treat you fairly. It is your interest to be civil, respectful, and industrious.
Where you can agree and continue happy with your own masters, I strongly recommend you to remain on those properties on which you have been born, and where your parents are buried. But you must not mistake in supposing that your present houses, gardens, or provision grounds, are your own property. They belong to the proprietors of the estates, and you will have to pay rent for them in money or labour, according as you and your employers may agree together.
Idle people who will not take employment, but go wandering about the country, will be taken up as vagrants, and punished in the same manner, as they are in England.
The ministers of religion have been kind friends to you — listen to them — they will keep you out of troubles and difficulties.
Recollect what is expected of you by the people of England, who have paid such a large price for your liberty.
They not only expect that you will behave yourselves as The Queen’s good subjects, by obeying the laws, as I am happy to say you always have done as apprentices; but that the prosperity of the Island will be increased by your willing labour, greater beyond what it ever was in slavery. Be honest towards all men — be kind to your wives and children — spare your wives from heavy field work, as much as you can — make them attend to their duties at home, in bringing up your children, and in taking care of your stock — above all, make your children attend Divine Service and School.
If you follow this advice, you will, under God’s blessing, be happy and prosperous.
Given under my hands and seal at arms, at Saint Jago de la Vega, this Ninth day of July, in the Second Year of Her Majesty’s Reign. Annoque Dommi, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty-Eight. — Lionel Smith
By His Excellency’s Command, C H Darling, Sec.
HELENE COLEY NICHOLSON
Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship Jamaica
Doing Justice | Honouring Christ