Skip to main content

Reply to "Burnham fought inequality, poverty and illiteracy."

Gilbakka posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:
When were they chased out and by whom?   My other's family lived at Enmore since the 1870s and it was always predominantly Indian.  

Predominantly Indian is not the same as wholly Indian. A minority of blacks lived in Enmore and were chased out by the Indians during the 1960s racial disturbances. My mamee was from Enmore Pasture and in 1962 I heard her telling my mamoo about her black neighbours. My mamee was a relative of your mother and Dr Balwant Singh.

Likewise, Leonora had a few black residents who were also chased out because Leonora was/is a well-known PPP stronghold. In August 1969 Burnham officially opened the newly built Leonora Government School. In his speech Burnham recalled his last visit to Leonora during the 1964 election campaign. He said someone pelted him with a bottle that cut his knee. I watched as he lifted up his pants sleeve to show the scar. I was a teacher there. Now, if dem Leonora people could give Burnham a life scar, what would they not do to an ordinary blackman?

I have seen many pics from the colonial era of Enmore and all I saw was Caucasian looking people.  I was told that the blacks pooled their money with other villagers and bought the village of Victoria and move away shortly after 1838.  Dr. Balwant Singh has a sister-in-law (wife sister) who had a "big, bright shop" on the train line at Enmore.  Do you know her?

Bibi Haniffa
×
×
×
×
×
×