What Now?

Conspiracy theorists to the front of the line please!

Where do we go from here? 

WHAT NOW?

What point are you at right now? Are you completely unaware of what is happening in the world around us? Do you know and don't care or wonder what it has to do with you? Do you know and are just having emotional reactions to it wondering how these things could happen? Do you know and are vocal about it online? Have you BEEN knowing and have become exhausted trying to enlighten others for so long that now that they know about it, you're too tired to do anything? 

Do you want to do something?

What can we do?

In 2024, I became a teacher. At first, I taught mostly Social Studies, a little History and an even smaller bit of English. In 2025, I became a History teacher. At school, I don't think anyone hated History as much as me. The idea of being a History teacher only slightly intimidated me. Moreso, I felt like I had a chance to redeem History for a few students. History was a tough subject for me at school because, my goodness, the teachers bored me to death. They also taught things that did not align with my sensibilities. It was as though they taught in congruence with white supremacist ideology. They taught the History that they were brainwashed by. What do you mean Marcus Garvey was a silly man with no direction who was doing too much? That was my introduction to Marcus Garvey. So imagine my confusion as a University student learning about Black History and seeing him as one of the more prominent figures of his time. 

I have now been put in a position to enlighten Caribbean children about their Caribbean History. This has easily become one of the most important roles I will ever have in my life. My History classes extend far beyond simply reading and writing. We get ACTIVE. Well... at least my form 3s and 4s, and maybe one or two form 5s. What is happening around us today CANNOT be divorced from what we study in our CSEC textbook.

My understanding of History has broadened my mind so vastly, that it pains me to sit by idly and watch harmful people and institutions continue to get away with heinous crimes and barbaric acts. 

It is of the UTMOST importance, that those of us who are going through this time of historical significance, make records of what we are witnessing. This is why we have been given the talents that we have. This is a time where the often overlooked disciplines SHINE. 

History

Art

Philosophy

Social Sciences

Anthropology

Sociology

Do not ever feel as though you cannot have an impact. Jesus was one man. Are you not one person? Yes, he was the Son of God, are you not a child of God as well? 

As I watch so many uncomfortable truths bubble to the surface, I lie restless at nights, questioning what is within my power to make any kind of difference. It is not enough to be outraged. What can we do?! Well, this is the answer that came to me. 

I am a writer, so my job is to write.

Are you an artist? Etch the truth, keep it frozen in time.

Are you a fighter? The world needs you.

If we do not tell our stories, other people will tell it for us. Our voices will be lost. So many of our History textbooks hold quotes of old slave masters, white sociologists and philosophers. Our people's stories are being silenced. What version of this story will be told in 100 years? What will become of Cuba? Of Haiti? These little countries STOOD UP for what they believed, and look how the world repays them because we are afraid to shift the narrative. We are afraid to become like them. We are deathly afraid of sacrifice. 

The following quote has never been truer than in this era right here:

What are we doing? 

Prayer without works is dead. What are we DOING? 

Majority of the world has one common enemy. That enemy has allowed us to cause our differences to keep us from coming together. That enemy has perpetuated wars. That enemy has taken too many innocent lives. 

We are at such a pivotal point in humanity. What type of future do we want? And what are we willing to sacrifice to get there? We have been so numbed to the atrocities of the world, we only care about ourselves. So many are victims of the way we live our lives, that they can only focus on today. How do we continue to look forward to the latest iPhone and Android when your neighbour's daughter goes to school and has to use used pads when she is menstruating? Why are we able to sleep so comfortably while babies are dying because they cannot be fed. Babies are dying because they are being raped. 

Our History did not start as slaves or immigrants. This should not be our fate. We cannot allow what has happened for centuries, to continue. 

Develop a sense of kindness and care about your fellow man. It is the least we can do for now. We are part of something much bigger, and we need to start acting like it.