With Juneteenth just around the corner, we’ve got the freedom of our ancestors on the brain! And while Emancipation Day in the Virgin Islands isn’t for a few more weeks, there’s never a bad time to take inspiration from the freedom fighters who were willing to do whatever it took to change everything. The story of General Buddhoe, one of the recognized leaders of the St. Croix slave rebellion that led to emancipation in July 1848, is shrouded in a healthy dose of Caribbean legend. Let’s be real here, very few people at the time were keeping detailed accounts of what was taking place among the slaves, and the slaves themselves were busy getting ready to shake things up. All the same, the bits and pieces come together to show us one thing – success doesn’t just happen by accident. You have to take it by force! Whatever the success you’re looking for in life, whether it be to see yourself on the world stage or change the financial situation for your family, here’s a quick lesson on making it happen from General Buddhoe.
1. Assess the Situation with Fresh Eyes
No, seriously. Wipe the yampee out your eyes and take a look around you. We’ll wait. Technically, Denmark abolished the transatlantic slave trade in 1803, so while there were no longer slaves being imported into the Danish West Indies (the USVI before the US), slavery in the islands continued. Peter von Scholten, the DWI’s Governor-General at the time, seemed to be an advocate for the abolition of slavery (Perhaps because of his part black mistress? Anyway, story for another day…). Still, his big plan of action was to decide that slavery would be officially abolished in the Danish West Indies over a time span of twelve years. But here’s the thing. By this time, the slaves likely outnumbered the white people by 5 to 1. We’re not sure if General Buddhoe was the first one to wake up, wipe the yamp out his eye, and say, “Now hold on one damn minute.” But we know this, somebody looked around, saw past the inequality, injustice, and economic disparities, and realized the slaves had upper ground. That’s what you need to do with your situation. Step back and look with fresh eyes – beyond your physical location and circumstances, beyond what your family hasn’t been able to achieve, and beyond what your community expects. What can you do now to get where you want to be, big or small? Figure it out, and do it!
2. Find Your People
So there they were, the General and his friends, fully aware that their freedom was theirs for the taking. There may have been other ways to get it for themselves. Maybe they could have made a deal with the Governor-General himself, exchanging info on an insurrection for freedom and status for a select few. But General Buddhoe knew who his people were. General Buddhoe may have been a freed slave or, more likely, a slave with more freedom than others, considering he was a professional sugar boiler. He’d traverse from plantation to plantation, fixing sugar mills and increasing plantation efficiency. It could have been easy for him to feel like he was better than his people, but he understood who he really was and who the people were that would fight with him and for him. The temptation to go it alone can be great – especially in times of comparing your failures to others’ successes, and not wanting people to see you struggle. But, humans that we are, connections with other humans keep us afloat. So find your people. Find the people who will work alongside you, cheer you on, and remind you that your goals are possible. Find your people, and move toward success together!
3. Don’t Take “No” for a Final Answer
Accounts of exactly how the events unfolded on that first Emancipation Day in 1848 are, again, part history, part legend. But we know one thing, the slaves meant business. When the conch shells started blowing across the island, indicating the start of the rebellion, it was on and poppin’. The slaves were in the streets with fire and whatever else they had access to, ready to demand freedom, or die fighting for it. By the time Peter Von Scholten got to Frederiksted, it’s likely he had no real option but to free the slaves, right then and there. It certainly took a while for the black people of the islands to get real equality, and, in some ways, we’re still on that journey. Yet, who knows how long it would have taken to get to that point without them refusing to take no for an answer back then. Don’t get me wrong – it might not be a good idea for you to, say, show up to the place where you want to be employed with a stick of fire and demand they hire you on the spot. Rather, this is about attitude and perspective, about preparing yourself to work hard and not letting inevitable “No’s” sideline you. It’s about a commitment to keep going until you get what you’ve been working for – a huge, life-changing YES!
The path to success isn’t an easy one. It can be even harder for aspiring young people in the Virgin Islands – the ones doing things for the first time. But, in the same way the hitting of the ocean waves against solid rock can change their shape, your own persistence and commitment to taking your success by force can only move you closer and closer to the goal. Success is yours for the taking. And if you ever need a little extra encouragement, you can remember General Buddhoe and that the whole Kickn It team is behind you. Now go get it!
