Recently, I had the pleasure of reading and transcribing Diana Blackwood’s testimony from the Jamaican Royal Commission report. Reading these women’s words and absorbing their stories was incredibly informative and inspiring, and shined a light on the Morant Bay Rebellion, an often-ignored historical event.
What is the Morant Bay Rebellion?
On October 10th and 11th 1865, a man named Paul Bogle was arrested for inciting a riot at the Morant Bay courthouse three days earlier. Once the council that would be trying Bogle had assembled, an army of angry men appeared at the steps of the courthouse on Bogle’s behalf. From there, a massive altercation broke out that killed dozens of Jamaicans and burnt down thousands of houses. The British-born governor of Jamaica, Edward John Eyre, enacted a period of martial law following the riot, which would go on to be referred to as the Morant Bay Rebellion. His martial law was brutal and ultimately led to the deaths of over 400 Jamaicans and the flogging of 600.
What is the Jamaican Royal Commission report?
After the martial law was lifted, the British government sent a group of three men called the Jamaican Royal Commission to Kingston, Jamaica to determine whether Eyre had committed illegal brute force during the martial law period by interviewing hundreds of witnesses to the events, many of whom were enslaved. The Jamaican Royal Commission published its report in 1866 and concluded that Eyre’s actions were justified. He was removed from his post as governor, but otherwise received no punishment.
Diana’s Story
One of the testimonies I transcribed was that of Diana Blackwood, the head woman of the Hordley Estate. In her testimony, she states that 50 men stormed the Estate at midnight following the events at the courthouse. As the men entered the home and began destroying it, she hid the children and their mother in the tall sugar cane field on the property. Then, she took the rest of the Estate’s staff and hid them in a bush to keep them out of harm’s way. In total, Diana’s quick-thinking and fearlessness saved 25 innocent women and children from being murdered by rioters.
What is frustrating, though, is the rest of Diana’s testimony. Following this phenomenal story, the interviewers couldn’t be bothered to commend her for her bravery. Instead, they asked her about the intricacies of the weeding she did each day at the Hordley Estate. Reading it felt like a massive devaluation of Diana’s character and livelihood. It was as if the interviewers only saw her as a plantation worker and nothing else.
That’s why I believe doing this transcription work is so important. While Diana’s story may have been disregarded by those interviewing her, I refuse to do so. Her story, along with those of the other women interviewed in the report, deserve to be heard. When transcribing her testimony, it felt as though I was able to preserve her memory as I contributed to the amplification of her story, which was an insightful and rewarding process.