Emancipation, Judicial Ruling and Mental Slavery
"The Black skin is
not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness."
- Marcus Garvey
Many individuals in the society are upset by the recent ruling of the Supreme Court. The court ruled that Kensington Primary School located in St. Catherine did not breach one of their student’s constitutional rights when it denied her access in 2018 for having dreadlocks. An injunction was granted for the student to attend the institution following the court case. Unfortunately, over the years the Jamaican society has grappled with the issue of colourism. As a society we have bought into and continue to perpetuate the false notions of beauty. We have been brainwashed over the centuries to look down on our black skin and to elevate those of a lighter hue. We have been told repeatedly that the Eurocentric form of beauty is superior to Afrocentric form of beauty, sadly, many of us believe this falsehood. Additionally, this form of discrimination has found support in various agencies and branches of government including the education and judicial systems. We still hold as gospel the binary notions of “black and ugly” and “brown and pretty” stereotypes. What is disappointing is that the ruling of the Supreme Court comes on the eve of Jamaica’s Emancipation Day. Jamaica like most of the islands colonized by Britain fought for their freedom from slavery. In 1838 Emancipation was accomplished. It is much more difficult to free our minds from the shackles of mental slavery. While we are no longer bound by physical shackles, we continue to be enslaved emotionally and mentally. An example of this mental slavery is our preoccupation with the bleaching of dark skin. This phenomenon has crossed socio-economic classes in an effort to fit in with the "brownings". Additionally, our dark skinned sisters are encouraged, some are forced to straighten their hair from an early age. We are brainwashed from infancy to do as much as possible to escape our dark skin and identity. The Supreme Court ruling is problematic. A society cannot speak full freedom until and unless systemic discrimination is abolished. Those of us who are old enough will recall a few years ago when a journalist on television was ridiculed for having Nubian Knots while anchoring the evening news. It caused many to be uncomfortable seeing someone of dark skin with her natural hair reading the news. One cannot totally blame us for not having the appreciation of our dark skin. It is a deliberate attempt to keep our minds enslaved given that History Education is not compulsory at the secondary level of the education system. So many students graduate each year without knowing much about the history of our great people. We tend to know more about the history of our neighbours to the North but very little is known of Jamaican History. It’s very sad that after 182 years since our Emancipation our values, ideas, and attitudes remain enslaved. This enslavement keeps us still on the plantation. Just imagine the progress Jamaica could have made had we been able to free our minds from the values of our European colonizers and former slave masters. Kensingston Primary School now can ask the student to discontinue her education at the institution if the parents refuse from cutting her dreadlocks hair. Other students with similar dreadlocks hairstyle must now be wondering if they will be told to cut off their dreadlocks or to discontinue their education. What a burden this seven year girl must have borne and continue to bear given the ruling of the court was not in her favour. The society speaks about an inclusive education system; however, this ruling by the Supreme Court has brought home to us the reality. The reality is any public educational facility can bar any student with dreadlocks hairstyle. Are we back in 1838? This ruling seems like a retrograde step for the masses. The mother of the student is adamant that she will not cut her hair. Interestingly, both parents also have dreadlock hairstyle. To what extent is there a distinction to be made between someone who is a Rastafarian with dreadlocks and someone who has the dreadlock hairstyle? It would be interesting if the parents appeal this decision by the Supreme Court. Her mother Stephanie Virgo said, “I will not be cutting her hair! That was never an option on the table. As it is right now, it seems that everything is going the homeschool direction anyways”. “The most I can do as a Jamaican, as a mother, is to continue to instill good values in my child and continue to encourage her and continue to let her know that she is beautiful regardless. I will not be putting any creamy crack in her hair. Her hair will continue to stay the same”. Her father Dale Virgo commented, “Life goes on, and we still have to keep the fight going. She is very bright and she is very upbeat and that’s how we raised her. She is in a happy family.” Indeed life goes on; however, we need to interrogate these colonial beliefs which are discriminatory in nature. In this post slavery period of history what is needed is more engagement of the State and the citizenry. We need more progressive thinking in the realms of the education and judicial systems. We need to empower our people especially our females.
Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
Jamaica’s Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms outlines the constitution's rights we enjoy as Jamaicans. The influence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has been substantial. Its principles have been incorporated into constitutions of countries in the United Nations including Jamaica, making it constitutional law. The following are some of the rights guaranteed; the right of every child who is a citizen of Jamaica, to public educational institution at the pre-primary and primary levels. The right to freedom from discrimination on the ground of (i) being male or female (ii) race, place of origin, class, colour, religion, political opinions and the right to freedom of expression. We should be reminded that the dreadlock hairstyle is culturally and symbolically associated with Rastafarianism. Do you remember the Coral Gardens Massacre in 1963 in St. James when the State brutally attacked Rastafarianism? Are we satisfied with the progress we have made as a society? Who tells the history of our people? Prime Minister Andrew Holness in a media release stated, "our children must not be discriminated against, or deprived of their right to an education on the basis of their hairstyle." Is there a space for our cultural peculiarities in decisions taken by the agents of the State? What is the message being sent to the majority of Jamaicans who are of African descent? By their ruling the judges on the Supreme Court did not think than any of the student's constitutional rights were breached. Interestingly, a number of overseas media entities have taken an interest in the case; we have not heard the last from this case. We are a resilient and proud people. As we celebrate our 'Jamaicanness' this Emancipation Day, let us remember our forefathers some of whom paid the ultimate price so that we might be free. In the words of Marcus Garvey, Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
#EmancipationDay #Jamaica #culture #slavery #MarcusGarvey #BlackLivesMatter #badhair #goodhair #coloursim #discrimination #homeschool #education #Rasta
©
Many individuals in the society are upset by the recent ruling of the Supreme Court. The court ruled that Kensington Primary School located in St. Catherine did not breach one of their student’s constitutional rights when it denied her access in 2018 for having dreadlocks. An injunction was granted for the student to attend the institution following the court case. Unfortunately, over the years the Jamaican society has grappled with the issue of colourism. As a society we have bought into and continue to perpetuate the false notions of beauty. We have been brainwashed over the centuries to look down on our black skin and to elevate those of a lighter hue. We have been told repeatedly that the Eurocentric form of beauty is superior to Afrocentric form of beauty, sadly, many of us believe this falsehood. Additionally, this form of discrimination has found support in various agencies and branches of government including the education and judicial systems. We still hold as gospel the binary notions of “black and ugly” and “brown and pretty” stereotypes. What is disappointing is that the ruling of the Supreme Court comes on the eve of Jamaica’s Emancipation Day. Jamaica like most of the islands colonized by Britain fought for their freedom from slavery. In 1838 Emancipation was accomplished. It is much more difficult to free our minds from the shackles of mental slavery. While we are no longer bound by physical shackles, we continue to be enslaved emotionally and mentally. An example of this mental slavery is our preoccupation with the bleaching of dark skin. This phenomenon has crossed socio-economic classes in an effort to fit in with the "brownings". Additionally, our dark skinned sisters are encouraged, some are forced to straighten their hair from an early age. We are brainwashed from infancy to do as much as possible to escape our dark skin and identity. The Supreme Court ruling is problematic. A society cannot speak full freedom until and unless systemic discrimination is abolished. Those of us who are old enough will recall a few years ago when a journalist on television was ridiculed for having Nubian Knots while anchoring the evening news. It caused many to be uncomfortable seeing someone of dark skin with her natural hair reading the news. One cannot totally blame us for not having the appreciation of our dark skin. It is a deliberate attempt to keep our minds enslaved given that History Education is not compulsory at the secondary level of the education system. So many students graduate each year without knowing much about the history of our great people. We tend to know more about the history of our neighbours to the North but very little is known of Jamaican History. It’s very sad that after 182 years since our Emancipation our values, ideas, and attitudes remain enslaved. This enslavement keeps us still on the plantation. Just imagine the progress Jamaica could have made had we been able to free our minds from the values of our European colonizers and former slave masters. Kensingston Primary School now can ask the student to discontinue her education at the institution if the parents refuse from cutting her dreadlocks hair. Other students with similar dreadlocks hairstyle must now be wondering if they will be told to cut off their dreadlocks or to discontinue their education. What a burden this seven year girl must have borne and continue to bear given the ruling of the court was not in her favour. The society speaks about an inclusive education system; however, this ruling by the Supreme Court has brought home to us the reality. The reality is any public educational facility can bar any student with dreadlocks hairstyle. Are we back in 1838? This ruling seems like a retrograde step for the masses. The mother of the student is adamant that she will not cut her hair. Interestingly, both parents also have dreadlock hairstyle. To what extent is there a distinction to be made between someone who is a Rastafarian with dreadlocks and someone who has the dreadlock hairstyle? It would be interesting if the parents appeal this decision by the Supreme Court. Her mother Stephanie Virgo said, “I will not be cutting her hair! That was never an option on the table. As it is right now, it seems that everything is going the homeschool direction anyways”. “The most I can do as a Jamaican, as a mother, is to continue to instill good values in my child and continue to encourage her and continue to let her know that she is beautiful regardless. I will not be putting any creamy crack in her hair. Her hair will continue to stay the same”. Her father Dale Virgo commented, “Life goes on, and we still have to keep the fight going. She is very bright and she is very upbeat and that’s how we raised her. She is in a happy family.” Indeed life goes on; however, we need to interrogate these colonial beliefs which are discriminatory in nature. In this post slavery period of history what is needed is more engagement of the State and the citizenry. We need more progressive thinking in the realms of the education and judicial systems. We need to empower our people especially our females.
Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
Jamaica’s Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms outlines the constitution's rights we enjoy as Jamaicans. The influence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has been substantial. Its principles have been incorporated into constitutions of countries in the United Nations including Jamaica, making it constitutional law. The following are some of the rights guaranteed; the right of every child who is a citizen of Jamaica, to public educational institution at the pre-primary and primary levels. The right to freedom from discrimination on the ground of (i) being male or female (ii) race, place of origin, class, colour, religion, political opinions and the right to freedom of expression. We should be reminded that the dreadlock hairstyle is culturally and symbolically associated with Rastafarianism. Do you remember the Coral Gardens Massacre in 1963 in St. James when the State brutally attacked Rastafarianism? Are we satisfied with the progress we have made as a society? Who tells the history of our people? Prime Minister Andrew Holness in a media release stated, "our children must not be discriminated against, or deprived of their right to an education on the basis of their hairstyle." Is there a space for our cultural peculiarities in decisions taken by the agents of the State? What is the message being sent to the majority of Jamaicans who are of African descent? By their ruling the judges on the Supreme Court did not think than any of the student's constitutional rights were breached. Interestingly, a number of overseas media entities have taken an interest in the case; we have not heard the last from this case. We are a resilient and proud people. As we celebrate our 'Jamaicanness' this Emancipation Day, let us remember our forefathers some of whom paid the ultimate price so that we might be free. In the words of Marcus Garvey, Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!
Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
#EmancipationDay #Jamaica #culture #slavery #MarcusGarvey #BlackLivesMatter #badhair #goodhair #coloursim #discrimination #homeschool #education #Rasta
©
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