Sat. Apr. 15, 2023
I write a column for this newspaper, I use my first name only, for the anonymity, because I don’t think I’m that good! I also believe that if you put words on paper, they have to be subjects that you believe every single word of, or your readers will lose interest. No propagandizing, just your truths. I’m almost positive that the Publisher will be embarrassed by what I have to say, but I believe you should let people know, when they have left their footprints on the soul of a nation, know how much they have influenced others, while they’re still alive, not after they are no longer with us.
The first time I was aware of Evan X Hyde was when Ralph Feinstein and I were invited to his coming home party from university at his uncle, Jim Hyde’s house. I think that it was Jim’s wife, Geri Reid, later Michael Peyrefitte’s mother, who invited us. This was in 1968, I believe. Was a great party, lots of beautiful people and great food. Evan was very quiet, and my first impression of him was that he was arrogant, a loner, and highly intelligent. Looking at him then, I would never have imagined that he would become the agitator he blossomed into; after all, he was one of the elites. I don’t think we spoke to each other, but it didn’t take long before I started to hear his name, about his politics, his romantic liaisons, his politics, the company he kept, his politics!
It wasn’t long after this that UBAD was formed, and Amandala started to compete with the Reporter, The Beacon and the Belize Times! This was a period when time was almost at a standstill, and yet, that band of ragamuffins quickly became the talk of the town, to the surprise and alarm of the powers that were, and a pleasant and much needed shot in the arm to the roots generation. Black pride and aspirations were at the forefront of their messaging, and the upheave began! My attentions was centered elsewhere, chasing women, growing up, and trying to move on up. The cast of characters in the movement couldn’t have been better scripted for a movie! Justice, Galento, Richardson, Shabbazz, Fairweather, Rufus, and many others who were voiceless before, and who matured into being the conscience of the unwashed masses!
I’m not going into the history of UBAD, I’m not qualified to do so, but many of us, some surprising names, dug their message! But the sacrifice would’ve been too great. So we sided with the establishment that called them communists, Black Panthers, revolutionaries, and those were the nice names. Why join a movement that was going nowhere and lose out on a great future? So the hell with them, from my point of view!
They made a difference, and Amandala quickly became the leading paper in the colony, because they spoke truth to power! They opened our eyes, took off the blindfolds, from our jaded, myopic minds! Their roots culture changed fashion, the way youths dressed, huge Afros and dashikis, and natural hair for women. Such a transformation in the Jewel.
I give the X man full credit for changing the landscape of a bland society into one filled with colors and anger and revolt and change, mostly change for the better. We learned more about our history from him than all the years we spent in primary and secondary school! Creole, Mayan and Garifuna history weren’t a part of the curriculum, at least not in depth. British and European history was what was mostly taught.
I left Belize in the early 70s, amid all the sturm and drang, so I missed out on some of the most interesting and exciting periods of this transition. But reading this man’s editorials and publisher columns changed my perspective on what he had been trying to accomplish. His love of country is undeniable. He struggled and clawed his way up to reach the pinnacle of journalism, in all its forms. Teaching and preaching and agitating!
Most of all, and what has impressed me most, are his writings, his truths, his elegy to the past, and a Belize that is no more! For this, and for his recent friendship, I’m eternally grateful! And yes, I still believe he’s a loner; no matter how many might be around him, he always seems lost in his thoughts. Keep on preaching, and leave that light on, on Spanish Caye, on fishing, sailing, on sports, on history, on life! Respect and Peace.
Glen.