On August 2, 2026, Dr. Candia Mitchell Hall, a tenured lecturer in Caribbean Culture, Heritage and Memory Studies at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, delivered a landmark address at a joint mass for La Mode, Beaulieau and Vendomme at the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians. The speech, delivered as part of Grenada’s annual Emancipation Day commemorations, centered on the theme “Emancipation: Our Collective Business of Freedom”, reframing the historic milestone as an ongoing, intergenerational responsibility rather than a completed event from the 19th century.
Opening with warm greetings and a note of honor for the occasion, Dr. Hall grounds her argument in a core definition of emancipation: far from being a static historical state of freedom, it is an active practice that demands intentional responsibility from every generation. For Caribbean peoples, and particularly Grenadians—82% of whom trace their lineage to enslaved West Africans brought to the island—Emancipation Day marks more than the formal abolition of chattel slavery. It is a permanent reminder of the centuries of resistance that preceded formal abolition, and the ongoing work required to secure true collective freedom.
Long before the 1838 formal abolition of slavery, Dr. Hall recounts, enslaved Grenadians waged constant resistance against their oppressors. Tactics ranged from work slowdowns and deliberate property damage against plantations to escapes, and enduring cultural expressions of resistance such as the Jab-Jab tradition, originally called Cannes Brules, which continues to commemorate the fight for freedom today. When formal abolition finally arrived on August 1, 1838, newly freed Grenadians filled the streets with song, drumming, and dance, while gathering in churches to give thanks for their liberation. But their early hopes for better working conditions, free access to education, land ownership, voting rights, and improved public services quickly revealed a hard truth: formal emancipation was only the starting point, not the finish line. True freedom would require continuous collective organizing and struggle.
The first lesson learned by early Afro-Grenadian communities was the power of collective economic action. To escape the exploitative wage systems of former plantation owners, communities pooled resources through traditional rotating savings systems known across the Caribbean by names such as su-su, Len Hand, Gayap and Partner. These collective funds allowed Black families to purchase land and build independent “free villages”, laying the foundation for a sovereign peasant economy that let farmers sell their own produce and keep their own profits, breaking the cycle of plantation exploitation. Dr. Hall also highlights the critical, underrecognized role of the Grenadian church in advancing social emancipation, noting that faith institutions have long supported education, literacy, and leadership development for Black communities, while upholding values of compassion, justice, and love that have advanced peace and poverty reduction across Grenadian society.
Down through generations, descendants of enslaved people have carried forward this collective work of freedom, building on the foundations laid by their ancestors. Dr. Hall profiles three iconic Grenadian leaders who each advanced the emancipation project in their era: T.A. Marryshow, the son of working-class Black parents who founded *The West Indian* newspaper to educate Grenadians on their rights, fought for improved working conditions as a trade unionist, secured universal adult suffrage as a politician, and championed regional integration through the West Indies Federation, the University of the West Indies, and the Caribbean Union of Teachers. Next came Eric Gairy, the Father of Grenadian Independence, who founded the nation’s largest trade union, the Grenada Manual and Mental Workers Union, and led a historic 1951 general strike against exploitative daily wages of just 25 cents that left workers unable to cover basic needs. Under Gairy’s leadership, workers won higher wages, paid sick and annual leave, and land access for landless families. Most recently, Maurice Bishop and the Grenada Revolution advanced the emancipation project through expanded education and literacy programs, increased international scholarships for Grenadian students, widespread job creation, expanded access to affordable housing, renewed national pride, investment in domestic agriculture, and improved public health care—achievements that remain widely celebrated even amid complex debates over other aspects of the revolutionary period.
Building on scholarship from Dr. Wendy Grenade, Dr. Hall emphasizes that emancipation is not a static historical event completed in 1838. In every era, new forms of injustice and bondage emerge that demand collective action: from the global fight against systemic racism that fueled the Black Power Movement and Black Lives Matter, to the women’s rights movement, child protection advocacy, and global human rights organizing. Echoing Marcus Garvey’s iconic call to “emancipate ourselves from mental slavery” — immortalized by Bob Marley in *Redemption Song* — Dr. Hall argues that true emancipation requires liberating communities from persistent structural injustice and internalized mental bondage, not just commemorating past victories.
Turning to the specific responsibilities of the current generation, Dr. Hall outlines a clear call to action tailored to 21st-century Grenada. In an era of global digital connection, she urges Grenadians to use social media as a tool for unity, education, and uplift rather than harassment, character assassination, and division. As national elections approach, she calls on voters to support their preferred candidates while respecting the right of others to back opposing parties. She also stresses that environmental stewardship is a core civic duty: Grenadians must dispose of waste responsibly, keep public spaces clean, and preserve the island’s unique natural and cultural landscapes for future generations.
Dr. Hall further calls for intentional investment in intergenerational connection and cultural preservation. Elders, she notes, are living archives of community memory, and spaces must be created to transfer their wisdom to young people before it is lost to time. She calls for a revival of traditional Grenadian etiquette of mutual greeting and respect, which builds strong community bonds, as well as intentional preservation of unique Grenadian language, folklore, and cultural practices that are at risk of fading. Icons of Grenadian cultural identity — from the Jab-Jab and ShortKnee traditions to Vieux Corps and Moko Jumbies — are not just festive performances: they are living reminders of the trauma of slavery, the unfulfilled promises of emancipation, and the resilience of a people who turned demonized symbols of oppression into acts of collective celebration. Dr. Hall also urges parents and communities to encourage children to engage in traditional outdoor games that build teamwork and connection, rather than spending all their free time on digital devices, helping them cultivate a strong sense of inherent worth and community belonging.
Closing with a message of collective hope, Dr. Hall reminds audiences that true emancipation is within reach, but it requires active participation from every member of society. It is the shared responsibility of all Grenadians to fight poverty, advance justice, and lift up vulnerable neighbors. Quoting the lyrics of a classic song calling for collective kindness, she argues that when each person shines their light of compassion and action, we create an emancipation that our freedom-fighting ancestors would be proud of. The work of emancipation is never finished, and every generation has a role to play in securing true freedom for themselves and their communities. In closing, she urges all Grenadians to embrace their part in this ongoing project, to live out the values of emancipation every single day, and to build a more just, united, and free nation for generations to come.
This address reflects the personal views of Dr. Candia Mitchell Hall and does not represent the official stance of NOW Grenada, which publishes this address as part of its public service commemoration of Emancipation Day.
