Emmanuel Mzumbo Lazare facts for kids
Emmanuel Lazare (born 1864, died 1929) was a very important lawyer and activist from Trinidad and Tobago. He was also known as Mzumbo Lazare. He chose this African name to show how proud he was of his heritage.
He strongly supported black people and those who were struggling. Lazare fought for their rights. He joined the Pan-African Association, which was started in 1901 in England by another Trinidadian, Henry Sylvester Williams. Emmanuel Lazare helped bring about big changes for democracy in the early 1900s.
About Emmanuel Lazare
Emmanuel Lazare was born in Trinidad. His family had moved there from Guadeloupe. He went to school in Port of Spain at the Boys' Model School and St Thomas Roman Catholic School. He also studied at either Queen's Royal College or CIC.
Lazare started his law career by working for a solicitor named Andre Maingot. He became the first person from Trinidad to pass a special law exam in England without leaving the country. He qualified as a solicitor in 1895. Later, he became a barrister, which is another type of lawyer.
He also joined the Volunteer Corps of Trinidad, a part-time military group. He was the only black officer in the Corps. In 1897, he represented the Corps in London for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. When he met the Queen, she asked if he spoke English. Lazare famously replied, “Yes, Ma’am, in the West Indies we all speak English.” The Queen honored him, and he delivered a royal message back to Trinidad. This event was reported in newspapers everywhere.
Lazare worked closely with Henry Sylvester Williams. He became the vice-president of the Trinidad branch of the Pan-African Association. This group was formed to fight against unfair treatment, racism, and control by other countries. Lazare was very successful as a lawyer. He wanted to do more for his country. He got involved in local politics. He played a big part in the fight against the Crown Colony government. This was a system where Britain had a lot of control over Trinidad. He was even put on trial because of his actions during the 1903 Water Riots, but a jury found him not guilty.
In 1914, Lazare was elected to the Port of Spain City Council. In 1920, he was appointed to the Legislative Council. When he passed away in 1929, he was seen as a hero and a role model.
Emmanuel Lazare's Impact
In 1947, a politician and civil rights activist named Dr. Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon changed his name to "Mazumbo." He did this to protest how black people were treated in Bermuda. He said his new name came from "a famous West African chieftain, who had once been received by Queen Victoria." This shows how much Lazare's chosen name had become a symbol.
Fighting for Emancipation Day
In 1887, Lazare asked the government to make August 1, 1888, a public holiday. He wanted it to be called Emancipation Day. This day would celebrate the end of slavery. When his first request was not approved, he organized a large meeting on June 18, 1888, in Port of Spain.
With other important African leaders, he wrote a petition. It said that if people celebrate their Queen's special days, they should also celebrate the end of slavery. Thousands of people signed the petition. It was sent to the Governor, Sir William Robinson. This attempt also failed at first. But after a lot of public demand, August 1 was finally made a public holiday. Later, it was replaced by "Discovery Day." However, in 1984, Emancipation Day was again declared a public holiday, celebrated on August 1.
