Book Report: Lucille Mathurin Mair by Verene Shepherd
The book titled “Lucille Mathurin Mair” by Verene Shepherd is a biographical text written about
... [Show More] the life
of the protagonist Lucille Mathurin Mair. Lucille Mathurin Mair was born in Kingston, Jamaica on June 21st
,
1924 to her parents Edith Cadogan and Eric Waldrond. Mair did not grow up with her biological father, but
instead she held a close relationship with her stepfather, a dentist by the name of Egbert Evans. She had pursued
a degree in History at the London University and graduated with Honours. She also obtained a Ph. D in History
at the University of the West Indies. Mair was described to be an outstanding and influential woman a part of the
University of the West Indies family. Mair also played tremendous roles as a mentor, international civil servant,
scholar, author, diplomat and a women’s rights activist. In 1987 Mair had received the OAS Women of
Distinction Award and the national honours of Commander of the Order of Distinction and the Order of Jamaica.
Mair unfortunately fell ill due to Alzheimer’s disease and died on January 28, 2009 at the age of 85. Verene
Shepherd, the author, is a Jamaican born Social Historian and writer who is a member of the United Nation
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. She is also the host of a radio show called Talking
History. This book explores deeply and shed light on Lucille Mathurin Mair’s personal life, those who
influenced her, her life growing up, her many professions, and the ways she contributed both to the Caribbean
and internationally. Major themes that were highlighted throughout the book were those of racism, revisionist
history, resistance, migration and colonialism which were all tied back into Caribbean History.
Firstly, one of the major themes highlighted in Lucille Mathurin Mair by Verene Shepherd was racism.
According to Jones, “racial difference was invoked to justify the forced transportation and enslavement of an
estimated thirteen million African people via the Transatlantic slave trade.” Throughout slavery enslaved
Africans were treated inhumanly as Europeans felt a sense of superiority due to the complexion of their skin.
They saw the enslaved as nothing but properties simply used for labour and to gain wealth. Racism has been an
ongoing issue that is present in the Caribbean and other parts of the world as many still hold the ideology that a
darker skin complexion makes you i [Show Less]