While all presentations at the ‘Caribbean English and Culture for Interpreters’ course in Barbados were gripping and fascinating, two in particular affected me during the 2023 session. One dealt with Reparations for the descendants of enslaved African populations, while the other focused on Mental Health in the Caribbean, and specifically, in Barbados. How could one not be moved as Professor Pedro Welch, an eminent historian, recounted in a surprisingly calm voice the acts of blatant racism perpetrated against him during his youth in England? Or when faced with the testimony of writer, poet and artist Dr. Margaret Gill, who describes her pain and profound distress when struck by a bipolar crisis? It's hardly surprising, then, that I was profoundly touched by the film Empire of Light, which sensitively and accurately highlights the distress of the two main characters confronted with these same demons. A must-see film.
Author: Jihane Sfeir
English Translation by Joy Lewis (https://www.aaatranslationservicesbb.com/en/