Barbados Independence Blog - Day 22 The Right Excellent Dr. Charles Duncan ONeal (1879-1936) The way for social transformation of Barbados in the early 20th Century was prepared largely by Charles Duncan ONeal, and this he did contrary to accepted norms, for he held high social and professional status. Historian Sir Alexander Hoyos has shown that Adams purpose after 1934 was to revive the political movement among the masses which ONeal had started. It could be said that ONeal laid the foundation of social reform on which Sir Grantley Adams built so after 1938. Charles Duncan O’Neal, a medical doctor was a member of the elite class and held a high social position in the Barbadian community. Despite the social norms of the time, he chose to dedicate his life to assisting the poor and actively rejected the racism of the 1920’s and 1930’s. Unheard of ‘behavior’ for the time in which he lived! He was the first black activist in this century to agitate for free education and free dental care for children, improved housing and abolition of the infamous Located Labourers System and the Masters and Servants Act. He founded the radical Democratic League in 1924. Charles Duncan O’Neal was a rare individual, unconcerned about the potential damage to his reputation, he quickly became known as the first gentleman from the upper class (who not only had a university degree and independent business) to throw caution to the wind and refuse to conform to the expectations of those in his socio-economic bracket. He led by example, igniting the arousal of social and political consciousness throughout all strata’s of society thus laying the groundwork for significant social reform. As a student of Edinburgh University in Scotland, Charles Duncan O’Neal studied medicine, gaining distinctions and the honorable Blue Ribbon in surgery. While at university he became friends with a member of the Independent Labour Party, Keir Hardie and his interest in politics began to grow. ONeal took the decision to run for a local government office and won a seat on the Sunderland County Council. At that time he was practising in the North England City of Newcastle. However, he had an over-riding desire to return home and spread the socialist doctrine to fellow citizens. He came back to Barbados in 1910 and found the conditions so depressing that he went to Trinidad and Dominica to live and work. But the desire to serve Barbados compelled him to come home after 14 years and light a match under the authorities, forcing them to pay attention to the social ills of that day. ONeal founded the Democratic League in October 1924 and it won its first significant victory two months later when C.A. Chrissie Brathwaite was elected as a representative for St. Michael in the House of Assembly. he Leagues programme was based on the principles of socialism and it attracted membership among the people of colour and black middle classes. In 1932, ONeal finally won a seat in the House of Assembly as a Member for Bridgetown, defeating the prominent merchant H.B.G. Austin by one vote. In Parliament, he continued his fight to improve the plight of the workers, was instrumental in securing an increased grant for the Barbados Scholarship winners, and campaigned for abolishing the despicable and degrading practice of child labour. As might be expected, ONeal was feared and even hated by his adversaries. However, when this outstandingly courageous Barbadian died on November 19, 1936, he left almost the entire community, including his foes, to acknowledge that he had played an exceptional role in arousing the political consciousness of the masses in the period leading up to the Disturbances of 1937. Principal of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, Sir Keith Hunte, summed up ONeals life in the observation that he advocated a political creed based on the simple, plain, direct principles laid down by Christ which emphasised the honouring of social obligations among members of the human society, while recognising that everyone was equal. Recalled as the first politician in Barbados to rally for improved working conditions for women, Charles Duncan O’Neal also supported the role of women in leadership positions in the Democratic League and Working Men’s Association! His lists of achievements include but are not limited to the following: Establishment of the Democratic League in October, 1924 which was based on the principles of socialism thus attracting membership from the colored and middle classes. Creation of a proto-union entitled the Working Men’s Association Investment in The Herald Newspaper which was renowned as the medium through which reform, enfranchisement and social change were voiced daily. He fought for free education and dental care for children, improved housing and abolition of the: Located Laborers’ System The Master and Servants Act In 1932 he won a seat in the House of Assembly as a Member for Bridgetown Campaigned for the abolishment of Child Labour. His work is particularly significant because it was the first time in the islands history that a man of ONeals class, who had a university education and was an independent professional, put his reputation on the line by aligning himself with the down-trodden. Charles Duncan Oneal is also the uncle of the Right Honourable Sir Errol Walton Barrow who led Barbados to Independence on 30 November 1966 As a tribute to this extraordinary gentleman, the ten dollar note features the portrait of Charles Duncan O’Neal and the bridge in Bridgetown is named in his honor.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 00:17:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015