Wuh Da is We Culcha
Sonny Monkey and Shugga lived in an unpainted chattel house right on top of Chimborazo hill overlooking Frizers’ gully. Though the house was modest, it commanded one of the most beautiful views looking over the rolling hills towards the Atlantic Ocean. With no obstructions, this house caught the best breezes coming from the ocean but also the location attracted many of the local children and young lads who would sit around the house under the coconut trees to stay cool.
Sony Monkey was a tall rimsy man, with hollowed cheeks, and poor hygiene. He was a drunkard and hardly ate and you could smell Sonny from a mile away. He worked as a watchman at Castle Grant plantation at nights and always carried a folded up bull pistle for protection. Shugga was curious about the bull pistle, not quite sure what it was and wanted to know why he carried it all the time. Well dis is a bull cow thing we stretch it out and dry it to cure it to mek it hard. I does kha dis ting, dat effin any body touch me, I gine throw too lashes up dey channel, Sonny said larming. Well, I hope you don ever hit me wid dat, it look painful enough. I did see me fadda hit me mudda wid one of them, and she would scream bloody murder!
Shugga, on the other hand was the complete opposite of Sonny. Shugga was a nice looking dark-skinned woman, very well shaped. She dressed modestly but her beauty came through in her personality and smile. She loved to make mock sport with the local boys when they told her she looked good but she was always faithful to Sonny. Most people in the village wondered what she saw in him. But Sonny was not always a drunkard and had rescued Shugga from an abusive home and she was grateful. But Sonny’s drinking was getting worse and Shugga asked him to speak to Pastor Clark about it.
Pastor Clark was tall lanky woman, as tall as most of the men in the village. She was one of the leading pastors in the Parish and very well respected by all. Sonny had a strong respect for the church and for Pastor Clark and she would stop at the house occasionally to check on the family and encourage them to come to church, but Sonny never stepped a foot in the church. Pastor Clark was gentle with him and would always pray for the family before leaving to visit the next family.
On this particular day, Sonny arrived home early from work to find a pot on the stove, but no one in the house. He started yelling, Shugga, Shugga, way you is? Woman you bes’ get ya tail in heh before I come an’ find ya an tro’ two lashes up ya channel wid dis bull pistle. Shugga did not respond because she was in the ground harvesting provisions. Two of the younger children playing outside heard the commotion, were afraid and ran to the ground to get Shugga. Shugga placed the bucket of provision on her head and hurried back to the house.
Upon arriving at the house, Shugga could see that there was something different about Sonny today. Hey, wuh happen Sonny, you home early, she quizzed him. Sonny whacked the kitchen table angrily with the bull pistle as he explained, dey caught me sleepin’ pun the job and sayin’ I was drunk, so dey le’ me go. I wuk dey all dees years, and now, da is de best dey can do for me. Sonny was so angry he did not see the two young lads that had accompanied Shugga to the house.
Who dem wid you? You does be havin’ men behind me back? Sonny was further enraged. No Sonny, de was only helpin’ me in de groun’, you know I wud never do dat, do Sonny? Without warning, Sonny started pelting some licks up she channel as he had always promised. The two young men jumped in and restrained him and Shugga ran to the parsonage to seek refuge.
Pastor Clark tended to Shugga’s bruises and comforted Shugga. But she also became very angry and ashamed that women were still being abused by men and were still treated like property. Pastor Clark decided to walk to the house a few blocks away to confront Sonny. When she reached the house, Sonny was seated at the dining room table hunched over with an unopened bottle of Mount Gay rum. Come in Pastor Clark and sit down, he told her. He could see the anger and disappointment on her face.
Sonny, you brought Shugga from a real abusive home and promise you wud never hit she, wa happen? She demanded answers. Yes, I know wha’ I say, but da is we culcha. I come long seeing me faddah, beat me muddah, in no body never say nuttin. How come it bad now? He asked. How would you like it if Shugga was the one beating on you? Because you came out of an abusive home where women were not respected, don’ mean you have to keep on doin’ it. If dah is we culcha, den we need to change it, cause it is not right. She chastised him.
Pastor Clark, I sorry enough, I los’ me job today and tek it out pun she. I real sorry, Sonny said remorsefully. Well, I am glad you understand, said Pastor Clark, we need to set better examples fuh the young men. Promise me dat you won’t hit she again. Yes Pastor, I in gine do it again, Sonny said sheepishly. Pastor Clark, the children cooked some green banana cou-cou with some canned salmon sauce, ya want some? Yes, I would like that – pass the hotsauce.
Lessons learned: Violence should never be an option for solving a problem. But more importantly, we should not let customs and culture become an excuse for driving hateful or abusive behavior.
Bajan hotsuace story: Stan