Verifying Paul Bogle's photo

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Paul Bogle or Thomas Jennings?

Recently a story ran with the headline, 'The photo is Bogle's' (September 16), in which Joan Vacianna, president of the Jamaica Historical Society, outlined, "We wrote to the editor of JET and he replied, admitting that the photograph was that of Bogle and not of Jennings."

It is good news that the editor of JET magazine,  is qualified to verify that the photograph is in fact that of the Jamaican National Hero The Rt Excellent Paul Bogle.

The book, The Cross and the Machete, distributed in 2010, had included a photograph of Bogle but the author had been unaware of the controversy sorrounding the photo.

The photograph of Bogle should be patented to avoid unauthorized use of his image and disallow mistaken claims that it is of someone else. This vital part of Jamaican history should be protected.

The image of Bogle has already been devalued. Once on the local $2 note, it now graces the 10 cent coin which might be used to toss a coin, but if dropped, is rarely retrieved. The statue of Bogle has been defaced and removed from its once-prominent position in front of the historic Morant Bay courthouse, which was razed. Memorabilia of Bogle have slowly eroded and the issue of his likeness is an opportunity to restore historicity to Bogle's image.

The narrative of Bogle's photo in the National Library of Jamaica's file says, "W.G. Ogilvie, a member of the Jamaica Historical Society, has discovered a photograph which, although it has not been absolutely authenticated, appears genuine."  It should be possible to absolutely authenticate this photograph.
 
A narrative of this exciting photograph of Bogle should be commissioned because it bears great historical worth. The narrative should include the twist that Sir Roy Augier, a leading Caribbean historian, had been aware of the existence of the photograph at the Institute of Jamaica before it was known to be that of Bogle. The story should also include an explanation on why Edna Manley, sculptor of the Bogle statue, did not use this photograph in 1965 for creating the statue. In addition, the views of Dr. David Boxer, a leading art historian, should be consulted.

The narrative should outline that there is no difference between this photograph and the description of Bogle in the Colonial Standard of October 18, 1865, which described Bogle as, "a very black man, with shining skin, bearing heavy marks of smallpox on his face, and more especially on his nose; teeth good, large mouth with red, thick lips; about five feet eight inches in height, broad across the shoulders, carries himself indolently, and has no whiskers". This description was used to capture Bogle for the reward of £2,000.

Finally, the narrative of Bogle's photograph should include that after nearly 3,000 residents in St Thomas were killed, the homes in Stony Gut were destroyed and the chapel burnt to the ground, that this picture of Bogle had emerged.

This is a compelling story.

It is also remarkable that tintype photography, invented mere years before his death had come to Jamaica and that Bogle had spent the necessary hours to have his photograph taken in Kingston or St Thomas.

The Jamaica Historical Society were vigilant and should be commended for convincing the editor of JET magazine to verify that this photograph was indeed that of Bogle and not Jennings.