There was much pomp and pageantry attending the efforts of Government’s Department of Community and Cultural Affairs (CCA) as it joined the national Cup Match spirit celebrating the August 1, 1834 Emancipation of Slavery in Bermuda.Theme of the celebration of the CCA’s Emancipation Committee centred around “The Trail of Our People: Social Dynamics of Self-Reliance”.It honoured community heroes of Pembroke Parish, the vast majority of whom this writer knew personally, like publisher and journalist AB Place, the Garveyite who founder the Bermuda Recorder newspaper; businessman WL Tucker, the first black member of the powerful Executive Council;Hilton G Hill; educator Dame Marjorie Bean; sportsman Alma (Champ) Hunt; actor Earl Cameron; businessman and former Hamilton Mayor Cecil Dismont, educator and author Dr Kenneth Robinson and the entire slate.Their accomplishments would never be profoundly appreciated unless there’s a comprehension of the ‘quick sands,’ ‘muddy waters’ and other obstacles those heroes had to overcome.They were obstructions deliberately set by misguided former slave owners, the oligarchs bent on controlling all facets of Bermuda’s 20th century economic, political and ecclesiastical affairs.While the latter, the oligarchs, on the one hand were paid cold cash by the Home Office in London for the loss of the free services of each slave man, woman and child they ‘owned;’ the latter were freed with nothing but the clothes on their backs, no infrastructure; only their indomitable spirits.There was no rancour at the flag-draped upper courtyard of the new Berkeley Institute Sunday as those 20-plus Pembroke Heroes and or their proud descendants were given red-carpet salutes, in song, dance and poetry.Premier Craig Cannonier, accompanied by his wife and other Cabinet members were in attendance.Also in attendance was Opposition Leader Marc Bean, his wife and colleagues.Ably keynoting the entire programme with good humour and wit were ‘MCs’ Gary Phillips and Nishanthi Bailey.The “Trail” was personified by barefooted North American Indians and masked representatives of different African tribes.It was most impressive. Their processional was followed by remarks by R Wayne Scott, Minister of the CAC Department.First on the red carpet were representatives of such groups as the founders of the Berkeley Institute; the pre-emancipation Young Men’s Friendly Institution of the 1830s; the founders in 1919 of Bermuda’s first labour union, the Bermuda Union of Teachers; the Bermuda Workers Association, which gave birth to the Bermuda Industrial Union.Also represented were the leaders of the Bermuda Theatre Protest including Georgine Hill and her sister-in-law Carol Hill, represented on the carpet by daughter Dr June Hill; and founders of the Progressive Labour Party.Presentation of the group biographies and individual heroes was punctuated by fantastic dance routines choreographed by Eric Bean Jr, powerful solo rendition by Larritta Adderley of “Can’t Give Up Now” and Lloyd Holder singing of Negro Hymn of Praise, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, accompanied by organist Owen Simons.We thought the Emancipation Committee, headed by Heather Whalen produced a well-conceived and beautifully executed programme.