How does it feel to be a surviving ancestor of one of Jamaica’s National heroes, Paul Bogle?
It’s a great feeling! However it can also be depressing! When you come up in life and see your family suffering and count the number of Bogles who cannot pay to send their children to school; when you realise the level of sacrifices your family have made; understanding the juxtaposition of being celebrated on one level – bestowed the highest honour, a nation can award a human being – called a National Hero. Yet! On the other level, emptiness. Everything was stripped and taken away from Paul and of his family.
What’s your earliest recollection of your great, great grandfather?
No one spoke or discussed Paul Bogle in the family. However, one day, at primary school I learnt about this great man. I remembered, standing up and saying ‘I want to be the next Paul Bogle’. From that very first day, I’ve studied him and made a declaration to myself to continue his work and went in search of my great, great grandfather. I asked every question under the sun !
When your teacher spoke about Paul Bogle, did you know she was describing your great, great grandfather
No! But I knew my teacher was describing a great Bogle and I wanted to identify with that person immediately despite not knowing the facts.
What happened when you went home excited and told your parents?
My parents brushed me off. They did not want to go into any great
in-depth conversation or reasoning due to the pain. Discussions were always shunned.
You have to remember the Bogle family were held responsible for leading a “bloody war against the Queen”. That is not an easy stigma to live with. 13 other parishes in Jamaica turned their backs on St Thomas as a consequence. Can you imagine how the Bogle family felt? A lot of Bogles ran away and changed their names. I am the first Bogle to come forward and embrace the family name. It has not been done the generation before me.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #2, 2015 Issue.
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How does it feel to be a surviving ancestor of one of Jamaica’s National heroes, Paul Bogle?
It’s a great feeling! However it can also be depressing! When you come up in life and see your family suffering and count the number of Bogles who cannot pay to send their children to school; when you realise the level of sacrifices your family have made; understanding the juxtaposition of being celebrated on one level – bestowed the highest honour, a nation can award a human being – called a National Hero. Yet! On the other level, emptiness. Everything was stripped and taken away from Paul and of his family.
What’s your earliest recollection of your great, great grandfather?
No one spoke or discussed Paul Bogle in the family. However, one day, at primary school I learnt about this great man. I remembered, standing up and saying ‘I want to be the next Paul Bogle’. From that very first day, I’ve studied him and made a declaration to myself to continue his work and went in search of my great, great grandfather. I asked every question under the sun !
When your teacher spoke about Paul Bogle, did you know she was describing your great, great grandfather
No! But I knew my teacher was describing a great Bogle and I wanted to identify with that person immediately despite not knowing the facts.
What happened when you went home excited and told your parents?
My parents brushed me off. They did not want to go into any great
in-depth conversation or reasoning due to the pain. Discussions were always shunned.
You have to remember the Bogle family were held responsible for leading a “bloody war against the Queen”. That is not an easy stigma to live with. 13 other parishes in Jamaica turned their backs on St Thomas as a consequence. Can you imagine how the Bogle family felt? A lot of Bogles ran away and changed their names. I am the first Bogle to come forward and embrace the family name. It has not been done the generation before me.
To continue reading, purchase Vol.8 #2, 2015 Issue.
Share this post: