Paul Bogle
Paul Bogle (1822 – 24 October 1865) was a Jamaican Baptist deacon and is a National Hero of Jamaica. He was a leader of the 1865 Morant Bay Protesters, who agitated for justice and fair treatment for all the people in Jamaica. After leading the Morant Bay rebellion, Bogle was captured and hanged on 24 October 1865 in the Morant Bay Court House by the British authorities.
Bogle had become a friend of landowner and politician and fellow Baptist George William Gordon, who was instrumental in Bogle being appointed deacon of Stony Gut Baptist Church in 1864. In August 1865, Gordon attacked the British governor, Edward John Eyre, for sanctioning "everything done by the higher class to the oppression of the negroes". Bogle concentrated his activity on improving the conditions of the poor. As awareness of social injustices and people's grievances grew, Bogle led a group of small farmers 45 miles to Spanish Town where they hoped to discuss their grievances with Governor Eyre, but they were denied an audience. This left the people of Stony Gut with a lack of confidence and trust in the Government, and Bogle’s supporters grew in number.
Podcasts:
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by Abdel Wright
Paul Bogle
by: Abdel WrightSit with me awhile
Let me tell you about a part of our country
At the place Stony Gut back in 1865
Lived a man Paul Bogle who was everything
a good man should be
But they hanged him by the courthouse
An example for Jamaica to see
They hanged him by the courthouse
An example for Jamaica to see.
A man who followed Jesus
And whose actions were in line with his teachings
Who every Sunday morning
The gospel would endeavour to preach
Who understood the suffering of the people
He plainly could feel
But they hanged him by the courthouse
An example for Jamaica to see
They hanged him by the courthouse
An example for Jamaica to see.
With the men from Stony Gut
Paul Bogle did come down that day
|Through the bushes by the hills
Until they reached the town of Morant Bay
The reasons for his warnings and his actions
they could not believe
So they hanged him by the courthouse
An example for Jamaica to see
They hanged him by the courthouse
An example for Jamaica to see.
That was like yesterday, Still happening today
History use to tell us That Paul Bogle was really a traitor
Who murdered and rebelled
Against the peaceful government of the day
Now we can see clearly
And we finally know the reasons indeed
Why they hanged him by the courthouse
An example for Jamaica to see
They hanged him by the courthouse
An example for Jamaica to see.
That was like yesterday, Still happening today
Unu remember Michael Gayle, Braeton 7,
Nuff youth from Tivoli, August Town, Rema and Jungle.
Do you remember? Oh yeah
Like yesterday things are happening just the same today