Film On Bloody Revolt Launches Salute To Jamaican Heroes, October 23, 2012, NY

The Consulate General oflamaica in New York, inaugurates a film series to celebrate the country’s 50th anniversary of Independence and commemorate the spirit of sacrifice and leadership of the nation’s heroes.

The series begins on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, with Time of Fury -The 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion at the Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene, 971 East 227th Street, Bronx NY 10466, at 6:30pm.

The film, from the archives of the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, places into context the lives, struggles, and personal sacrifices of patriots Paul Bogie, George William Gordon and their contemporaries. It also chronicles, arguably, the bloodiest repression of dissent by the British colonial authorities in Jamaica during the post-emancipation era. In less than a month of the island wide riots, the New York Times reported on November 11, 1865, “Itis calculated that about 1,800 of the insurrectìonìsts have been killed in the different engagements that took place with the troops and volunteers, and up to the above-named date, 125 had suffered the extreme penalty of the law.”

The series, held under the patronage of Consul General ofjamaica in New York, Mr. Herman G. LaMont, is curated by the Jamaica 50th Anniversary of Independence Committee – New York. The films are provided courtesy of the American Foundation for the University ofthe West Indies (AFUWI). They celebrate the indelible mark made by the country’s National Heroes in fashioning the natìon’s history, strength of character and unique identity by challenging the injustices of colonialism, racism, and poverty.

The films in the series are:

Time of Fury – The 1865 I/Iorant Bav Rebel/ion
Tuesday October 23, 2012. 6:30pm
Bronx Bethany Church ofthe Nazarene
971 East 227th Street, Bronx NY 10466
718-515-4633

Vision of Freedom: Sam Sharpe

The Unconquered – Nanny, Cudio and Quao of the Maroons
Tuesday October 30, 2012. 6:30pm

St John’s United Methodist Church
2105 Stuart Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580
516-285-6003

Marcus Garvey: Look for me in the Whirlwind
Brooklyn Borough Hall
Friday, November 2, 2012. 6:30pm
209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11209

For reservation and additional information contact L. Christopher Castriota, Community Relations Officer, Consulate General ofJamaica, Telephone: 212 935 9000 ext. #123

The Order of National Hero, was established in 1969, as the highest award to be conferred on any citizen who has “rendered the most distinguished service to the country” and has been conferred on one woman and six men: Nanny of the Nlaroons, outstanding military leader during the First Maroon War; Sam Sharpe, for leadership in the resistance against slavery during the rebellion of 1831; Paul Bogle and George William Gordon, for their roles against social injustices in post-emancipation, colonial Jamaica during the rebellion of 1865; l/larcus Garvey for his commitment to social and political betterment on the country’s racial majority;

Alexander Bustamante and Norman Washington Manley, as architects of political independence.