Myths, Ghosts And Identity
“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me — with my kind of
skin and my kind of hair was never
considered to be beautiful."- Zozibini Tunzi
Miss Universe 2019 is history. However, the miseducation of Jamaicans continues amidst the controversy which has dogged this year’s contestant from Jamaica. Jamaica has had a rich history in international beauty pageants. Many socially conscious Jamaicans are upset with the choice of the national costume. To say most of us are furious perhaps would suffice. We are disappointed that our contestant, Iana Tickle Garcia did not place among the top 20 girls at the recently held Miss Universe. However, the nation’s disappointment is more rooted in what she wore as the national costume and not so much that Miss Jamaica did not advance to the top 20 girls. It matters not where you source the meaning, the word 'national' suggests a broader representation than that which exists at the parish level. Miss Garcia hails from the parish of St. James. The designers of the national costume made an outfit representing the Jamaican legend Annie Palmer, the infamous White Witch of Rose Hall located in St. James. Interestingly, one of Iana's sponsors is none other than Rose Hall Developments. In a recent radio interview, the designer of the costume tried to defend his decision by stating that plantation societies like Jamaica has had a rich architectural history. Plantation societies, like ours have been that place of death, torture, suffering, sexual and physical abuse for the enslaved Jamaicans I was shocked by a remark in one of the local newspapers attributed to the organizers of the Miss Jamaica Universe contest who said that their mission was to coax educational discourse. Clearly sirs, this is and was mission impossible. I was appalled in while listening to a radio interview with one of the designers. He tried to justify their decision in using the Annie Palmer inspired national costume by stating that in the past they used the image of Miss Lou as a national costume. The word iconic has lost its meaning. We obviously see why the teaching of history education should be compulsory in our schools especially at the secondary level. It was Marcus Mosiah Garvey who said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Regrettably, we can see that our people are without knowledge in many aspects of their history. The position of Professor Verene Shepherd, social historian of the University of the West Indies and an advocate for the teaching of history education to be made compulsory has been strengthen. Research allows us to speak from an informed position. Those of us who are privileged to have a public voice and a platform on which to speak must be guided a principle of truth and principles in providing historical sound information to our audience. There are so many aspects of the Jamaican society which is worthy of being celebrated. If only we had take the time to do a bit of research on our history. Many of us are too mighty and we need to humble ourselves and ask for help when we realize we are out of our league. It’s a pity that Miss Garcia was the one to have been caught up in this controversy. Perhaps as the contestant she had no say or very little say regarding the wearing of the national costume. A national costume is geared to represent nationally, however, this Annie Palmer inspired sequin gown did not represent us. In fact this national costume, let me correct myself, this costume is rather divisive as this represents a small per cent of the Jamaica. Lest we forget that Jamaica is predominantly 90 per cent black. This costume is an affront to the sacrifices and memory of our fore parents, many of whom were killed on plantations like Rose Hall Great. So what if the sponsors support the move to have this Annie Palmer costume? It’s unfortunate that so many of us are still trapped in a form of mental slavery which keeps us from seeing the bigger picture. There is no excuse for us to glorify slavery, witchcraft and or the accompany atrocities. Instead, we need to provide all our people with the truth regarding our past. We need to use this knowledge of our past to empower ourselves. There are so many uplifting things in St. James and the wider Jamaican society; the experience on the Rose Hall Great House was an unpleasant one for the enslaved Jamaicans. Perhaps moving forward we need a broader involvement from Jamaicans regarding the selecting of a national costume. The time to affirm ourselves regarding who we are is now. Congratulations to Miss South Africa the Miss Universe winner. In the words of Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi, tonight a door was opened and I could not be more grateful to have been the one to have walked through it. May every little girl who witnessed this moment forever believe in the power of her dreams and may they see their faces reflected in mine.
@WayneCamo
©
#ZozibiniTunzi, #MissUniverse #MissJamaicaUniverse
Miss Universe 2019 is history. However, the miseducation of Jamaicans continues amidst the controversy which has dogged this year’s contestant from Jamaica. Jamaica has had a rich history in international beauty pageants. Many socially conscious Jamaicans are upset with the choice of the national costume. To say most of us are furious perhaps would suffice. We are disappointed that our contestant, Iana Tickle Garcia did not place among the top 20 girls at the recently held Miss Universe. However, the nation’s disappointment is more rooted in what she wore as the national costume and not so much that Miss Jamaica did not advance to the top 20 girls. It matters not where you source the meaning, the word 'national' suggests a broader representation than that which exists at the parish level. Miss Garcia hails from the parish of St. James. The designers of the national costume made an outfit representing the Jamaican legend Annie Palmer, the infamous White Witch of Rose Hall located in St. James. Interestingly, one of Iana's sponsors is none other than Rose Hall Developments. In a recent radio interview, the designer of the costume tried to defend his decision by stating that plantation societies like Jamaica has had a rich architectural history. Plantation societies, like ours have been that place of death, torture, suffering, sexual and physical abuse for the enslaved Jamaicans I was shocked by a remark in one of the local newspapers attributed to the organizers of the Miss Jamaica Universe contest who said that their mission was to coax educational discourse. Clearly sirs, this is and was mission impossible. I was appalled in while listening to a radio interview with one of the designers. He tried to justify their decision in using the Annie Palmer inspired national costume by stating that in the past they used the image of Miss Lou as a national costume. The word iconic has lost its meaning. We obviously see why the teaching of history education should be compulsory in our schools especially at the secondary level. It was Marcus Mosiah Garvey who said, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. Regrettably, we can see that our people are without knowledge in many aspects of their history. The position of Professor Verene Shepherd, social historian of the University of the West Indies and an advocate for the teaching of history education to be made compulsory has been strengthen. Research allows us to speak from an informed position. Those of us who are privileged to have a public voice and a platform on which to speak must be guided a principle of truth and principles in providing historical sound information to our audience. There are so many aspects of the Jamaican society which is worthy of being celebrated. If only we had take the time to do a bit of research on our history. Many of us are too mighty and we need to humble ourselves and ask for help when we realize we are out of our league. It’s a pity that Miss Garcia was the one to have been caught up in this controversy. Perhaps as the contestant she had no say or very little say regarding the wearing of the national costume. A national costume is geared to represent nationally, however, this Annie Palmer inspired sequin gown did not represent us. In fact this national costume, let me correct myself, this costume is rather divisive as this represents a small per cent of the Jamaica. Lest we forget that Jamaica is predominantly 90 per cent black. This costume is an affront to the sacrifices and memory of our fore parents, many of whom were killed on plantations like Rose Hall Great. So what if the sponsors support the move to have this Annie Palmer costume? It’s unfortunate that so many of us are still trapped in a form of mental slavery which keeps us from seeing the bigger picture. There is no excuse for us to glorify slavery, witchcraft and or the accompany atrocities. Instead, we need to provide all our people with the truth regarding our past. We need to use this knowledge of our past to empower ourselves. There are so many uplifting things in St. James and the wider Jamaican society; the experience on the Rose Hall Great House was an unpleasant one for the enslaved Jamaicans. Perhaps moving forward we need a broader involvement from Jamaicans regarding the selecting of a national costume. The time to affirm ourselves regarding who we are is now. Congratulations to Miss South Africa the Miss Universe winner. In the words of Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi, tonight a door was opened and I could not be more grateful to have been the one to have walked through it. May every little girl who witnessed this moment forever believe in the power of her dreams and may they see their faces reflected in mine.
Wayne Campbell
is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development
policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@ayhoo.com@WayneCamo
©
#ZozibiniTunzi, #MissUniverse #MissJamaicaUniverse
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