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Abstract
This thesis examined the manner in which West Indies cricket became a catalyzing force forWest Indians in moving towards political independence from Britain during the period 1950-1962. West Indians took a game that was used as a means of social control during the colonialera, and refashioned that game into a political weapon to exact sporting and especially politicalrevenge on their colonial masters. Analyses (CDA, narrative analysis, examination of calypsosand cartoons) of the historic cricket tour to England in 1950, the decolonization movement, andthe appointment of Frank Worrell as the first black captain of the team, among other significantindicators and events, revealed recurring narratives that linked the success of West Indies cricketto a readiness for political independence from Britain. These narratives reflected a feeling that“the time was now” for West Indians to forge a political identity for themselves separate fromthe subservient pupil of the British master. Politicians utilized rhetorical strategies that appealedto feelings of racial unity to fuel their push for political independence. Taken together, theoverriding narrative revealed by this analysis applied to selected newspaper articles and politicalspeeches, could be encapsulated in the epithet, “massa day done”. The discourse emanating fromthe success of West Indies cricket set West Indians on a course toward political autonomy fromBritain.
This thesis examined the manner in which West Indies cricket became a catalyzing force forWest Indians in moving towards political independence from Britain during the period 1950-1962. West Indians took a game that was used as a means of social control during the colonialera, and refashioned that game into a political weapon to exact sporting and especially politicalrevenge on their colonial masters. Analyses (CDA, narrative analysis, examination of calypsosand cartoons) of the historic cricket tour to England in 1950, the decolonization movement, andthe appointment of Frank Worrell as the first black captain of the team, among other significantindicators and events, revealed recurring narratives that linked the success of West Indies cricketto a readiness for political independence from Britain. These narratives reflected a feeling that“the time was now” for West Indians to forge a political identity for themselves separate fromthe subservient pupil of the British master. Politicians utilized rhetorical strategies that appealedto feelings of racial unity to fuel their push for political independence. Taken together, theoverriding narrative revealed by this analysis applied to selected newspaper articles and politicalspeeches, could be encapsulated in the epithet, “massa day done”. The discourse emanating fromthe success of West Indies cricket set West Indians on a course toward political autonomy fromBritain.
