Walter Rodney and tolerating (gays) and other people - Groundings 13 June 2016

 

The man had on a tie and was walking past. He turned and took a book. 

"Did you know Rodney" and he said yes, he was a youth and they used to go to his meetings. He did not know that Rodney was so big outside of Guyana until later and he felt Guyana lost an important soul

"So what can you do to remember Rodney" I asked him (rule was that you take a book and you answer a question.. )

"I think tolerance. We can't get far if we hate each other. That thing in Orlando. In my office, I keep telling them, that it was wrong.. that Isis would find a reason to kill them too and not only those people . "  I said , oh you mean your office people felt okay with the killing of gays. And he said yes,that it seened progressive thinking died with Rodney.

It seemed that his office people sympathised with ISIS in killing the gays.. chants in music brought to life.  A minibus driver earlier in the day who was playing kick in she back door said that music don't mean nothing but he changed it. 

I heard kick in she back door later in the day from a cart man. I dont know if they didn't get any national songs to play today..  maybe the  national songs are too political for them too.

A woman said.. yes of course she remembered Rodney. "The times were hard. Children had white mout. Lines deh all ovah. Dem days is not comign back.' Her brothers were members of the WPA - they still live in Guyana but not active now.

She said she tells younger folks to look beyond race and vote on issues and to pay attention. And she said 'No more damned lines'..

Another woman said she had gone to one meeting . Her brother was WPA. but joined PPP now.

Two women  said they never really heard about Rodney. One woman said her mother might have talked about her.

Deji from  Nigeria was surprised that people in Guyana did not know how Rodney was. His father had "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa' in the library at home. 

Two women from Buxton said they knew Rodney. The recognised his worth but there were unsure of how to remember him. 

Another woman said yeah, Rodney was a good man 'You must be was a lil boy when he dead'. She went to meetings - she grew up in Kitty.

Another man said, Rodney dead.. , and his teachings don't matter because dead men teachings don't matter. I said, how you mean man? Nothing you can learn from him (I was not going into Jesus and others)

He said yeah, it was good things, Rodney wanted Guyana to get up. He  said Eusi Kwayana was his god father.

Another man said.. yeah Rodney would have made a good President. But.. and he moved his fingers against his neck. He did not want books.

The children I spoke to did not know who Walter Rodney was.

The young woman who picked up the last book said she did not know who Rodney was. Lina showed her the books she held in her hand and we explained who Rodney was , well in 2 minutes.

The woman asked to take out our picture.. to put on Facebook. She said she would go and find out more about him.

(This was held on Water Street outside the Republic Bank )