Committed to a just society

Kelston’s academic background in sociology was triggered by a desire to better understand forms of domination, policies of exclusion and levels of material deprivation in post-independent Guyana. “I wanted to look for solutions and to be a voice of reason in the fight for a just society,” he explained.

Kelston earned his honour’s degree in sociology from the University of Guyana and a master’s in sociology from the University of the West Indies, specialising in developmental studies. By completing professional training in education and behavioural sciences and becoming a registered member of the Ontario College of Teachers in Canada, he shared his knowledge and passion with others. He initially taught undergraduate sociology courses at the West Indian Theological College in Trinidad and Tobago before he moved to the University of Guyana, where he taught and supervised undergraduate courses and projects in the Department of Sociology for three years.

While the fight against injustice and material deprivation in Guyana is not over, Kelston takes pride in having used his knowledge and training to help play a part in giving a voice to underrepresented families and communities.

Experiencing racial and class dynamics in a different country context

For his PhD project, Kelston is exploring the ways in which social class and race as it relates to black families of Caribbean heritage in Canada affect the experiences and educational outcomes of their children who are undergraduate students in Toronto. His research has highlighted the important role that the broader black community’s cultural resources and support systems play in sustaining and protecting these families from the impacts of racism.

One of his most profound findings has been the creation of peer support networks among black students from a similar socioeconomic background. These networks appear to reduce or remove the educational, emotional and social pressures introduced by their families’ socioeconomic standing and racial and ethnic identity. “This finding speaks to the asset-rich network of support that children of black low-income families have in their interpersonal networks, challenging the deficit-based narrative that often surrounds minoritised families.”

Kelston’s use of racial capitalism as the theoretical framework for his PhD research led him to South Africa. “Both Canada and South Africa are settler-colonial states that used racialised labour in different occupational positions,” he explained. He wanted to witness firsthand how social class and race intersect to affect the lived experiences of racialised communities and families in the Western Cape.

Through his network, Kelston got in touch with the Africa Centre’s director, Dr Munya Saruchera, who agreed to host him from March to May while he completes his research. With the Africa Centre’s new strategic vision focusing on broader and intersecting issues of health management and equity, opportunities to engage with other disciplines are welcomed.

“The decision to host Kelston is informed by several factors that include promoting South to South collaboration between Guyana and South Africa, notably given the seminal works of Walter Anthony Rodney ─ a Guyanese historian, Pan-Africanist and political activist whose scholarship and grassroots work linked African and Caribbean history to contemporary struggles against colonialism and inequality. In our small way, the Africa Centre is contributing to Stellenbosch University’s research and internationalisation agenda through Kelston’s association with Guyana and Canada’s Rork University. Kelston has managed to meet with several SU colleagues that include the dean of students and the DVC for research, innovation and internationalisation among others thus enriching his insights, scholarship and cultural experiences,” Munya said.

Since his arrival, Kelston has been observing the race and class dynamics in the Western Cape and gathering personal accounts from people living in various townships. His research has reinforced his view that marginalised communities and families in South Africa have been shaped – and continue to be shaped – by racial and class divisions.

In a general sense, Kelston’s view is that the barriers to inclusivity – racism, classism, sexism and jingoism – are largely universal. He also points out that there is a new emerging threat: the digital divide between rural and urban communities (e.g. Kingston versus Portland in Jamaica) and between developed and developing countries (e.g. Canada versus Guyana), with great disparities in access to modern information and communication technologies.

Youth empowerment and community development are key levers in the fight for justice

Throughout his professional life, Kelston has been a vocal advocate and social activist for positive youth empowerment and community development. Among others he served as a project manager empowering rural youth in Trinidad and Tobago with market skills to improve their negotiating power in the workplace. He believes youth empowerment and community development set the stage for individuals to collectively harness and deploy their creativity and ingenuity to respond to the lasting effects of historical racial divisions and social inequality. “In this way, the value gap that intentionally or unintentionally provides one racial group with unearned privileges, underserved social benefits and lucrative economic advantages over other racial groups can be recalibrated with the measure of humanism and the hand of fairness for all.”

When he is not dedicating his time and best efforts to research and community programmes, Kelston indulges his passion for the performing and creative arts and competitive team sports, including volleyball, table tennis and badminton. He also mentors racialised undergraduate students and volunteers at shelters for the elderly in Canada. Kelston plans to return to South Africa for his postdoctoral research fellowship.