Dear Editor,

I refer to Mr R Williams’s letter in KN of July 24 (‘This is a “must read”’). My last name is spelt Skeete, with an ‘e’ being the last letter.

I prefer to use the words ‘critically analytic’ than ‘condemnatory,’ which Mr Williams prefers. My plea was for the Black collective, academics included, to focus more attention towards greater dependency on ourselves rather than clamouring for fixes supposedly available under shared government, etc. Mind you, I am not saying that we shouldn’t pursue these ends.

But, don’t our intellectuals see that by putting these issues on the front burner, their followers perceive that these issues are on all burners to the exclusion of everything else? Can’t we better our lot by doing several things simultaneously?

Let us be honest enough to accept that, unlike the other ethnic collectives, Africans do not generally help each other to be economically strong. That is not a condemnatory statement; it infers the cure to the ailment – let us help each other. Co-op societies were accelerated under the Burnham regime because Burnham saw the need for this type of ‘collectivism,’ particularly in economic ventures. What have the Black intellectuals and pseudo-leaders done to perpetuate Burnham’s vision on collectivism?

They have kept Blacks in darkness and confusion. For instance, we have more Black teachers in the education system, but Black drop-outs from school. Why?

Through my occasional letters, I have been begging unemployed Blacks and even employed Blacks, to plant something. What does Mr Williams find wrong with that? Does (can) Mr Williams plant anything? Or does he earn enough to buy what he wants.

The failing of the Black collective is that we have moved too far away from our roots and the true basis of self sufficiency – the soil. The world is now learning that, but not the likes of  Mr Williams.

As regards the Nkofi booklet, I haven’t read it. But which book did our forefathers read that made them strong and able to buy villages? They must be turning in their graves to know that those who ‘read’ have sold or lost those villages.

Mr Williams, in very simple terms: my black brothers and sisters, it is up to us to make the bed on which we want to sleep.

If we plant, we shall reap, we shall eat. Food, my dear people, will be gold in the world sooner rather than later. Let us therefore plant Food!

As our Black leaders continue to play politics, we continue to be hungry. Maybe that is what our leaders want. After all, a hungry man is an angry man.

The truth cannot be condemned, Mr Williams. Rejected, yes, condemned, no.

Yours faithfully,
Godfrey Skeete