LETTER OF THE DAY - Finding freedom from mental slavery
published: Friday | February 17, 2006

THE EDITOR, Sir:

AS ONE WALKS daily on the streets one can hardly but notice that, increasingly, there are persons who resort to bleaching their skin. In a month designated for the celebration of black history, a history that was wrought and marred in sub-human treatment and inferior labels, one finds the roots of much of this bleaching epidemic.

However, it may be argued that our history is past us, and currently, there is a new appreciation for our newly-found selves.

We as a people have come a far way, and yet there are some vestiges of the past, mainly an inferiority complex, that we seem not able to get rid of. We are now a more educated people; a more self-sufficient people, and still in the recesses of most of our minds lies the thought that we are less because we are black.

'HIGH COLOUR' MAN

The woman who sells in the market strives to have her daughter marry a man of 'high colour' in order to improve the social mobility of her child and grandchildren. The educated black man is shafted because for her the colour of his skin does matter. The young people put all different sorts of concoctions on their skins so that they will be looked on as a 'browning'.

STILL FAR TO GO

There is a level of respect that is garnered in Jamaica simply from being of a light pigmentation that leads the aforementioned to behave this way. As a people we have come a long way, yet there is so much further for us to go as we now must concentrate on releasing ourselves from the mental slavery Marcus Garvey talked about.

We have seen that our people can achieve, can lead, can prosper and have been pioneers. We must believe that this is possible for any one of us and we must find a way to teach this to our youths and children

Where was this published? Do you have a link?

For those who post other's work here, please try to give proper citation, especially for copyrighted works.

-TBNet

I often wonder if we are so "PROUD To BE BLACK" why bleach? As a child growing up in Treasure Beach I was made aware of my skin colour because I'm darker than my brothers and sisters, my Grand-dad use to call me "black gal" and my sisters "white", you see my mom family was not from TBeach so I take after her side of the family, but years later when I left home I was made aware of my colour but this time, I was a "BROWNING" because where I moved to most of the people were of darker tone, I could not understand it. I've since left Jamaica and happened to ran in a TBeach native that was on holiday here and now because, I look cooler this native proceeds to tell everyone how I was the "roughtest" of my mother's children I felt good because I'm known to speak my mind...but that was not what she was talking about she was talking about my colour and coarse hair... I pray for her at night because the colour of one's skin or coarse hair does not make one what's inside does..... am not tempted to bleach ,because I'm a daughter of a very proud black woman who instills value in me. Black is beauty.

I'm sad to hear that the same color and hair issues that plague us here in the States are rampant in Jamaica. I was actually quite pleased when I first went to Jamaica to have someone refer to me as an "African baby" because I am dark-skinned. I love my dark skin and spent a good deal of my vacation trying to get darker! I'm with Tigerhellii, Black is beautiful ... as are all other shades and colors. One of the things I liked best about my trip to Jamaica was seeing so many different colors of black people. Made me feel happy and right at home. Who would want to bleach away all that lovely honey in our skin?

This article waas taken from today's Jamaica Gleaner sorry I did not know how to link.Please see www.jamaicagleaner.com. I am sure this topic will generate a lot of responses. Even though we are in 2006 and Black strong women like Oprah are so powerful dark skin people in Treasure Beach are still off a different mind set, at least the older ones.

What are you guys talking about. I am a lightskinned person born, and raised in Treasure Beach. We never refer to anyone as blackie, unless it was a nickname generated from his/her family in a loving manner. Please we have had this same discussion on the website before, lets not start this again. We do not have racism in jamaica. The only prejudice in jamaica is money and education. If you have money you can attain a lot, same goes for education, your are educated you will probably have better chance of gaining good employment. Please stop imprinting "rubbish" in minds of our young children, making them think that they are being singal out because of their complexion. Dont you guys see that, this was placed here to start things among our nation. Check yourself my good people and let whats in america remain in america. I never experience racism until I came here to america.

Yardieupnorth you are having four laughs, as you stated you are a lightskinned from TBeach I'm of a black skin and I most certainly have encounter racism in TBeach and Jamaica it's there don't try to cover it , Education and money is a advantage for some. I remember living in Mobay and having a friend from Greenfield (who might I add is well educated)and a cousin from TBeach come to look for work my friend was told she was too dark and will not get a job , but the browning will ( the browning was my cousin). You should say you have never experience racism but, please don't dismiss it, it's very much alive in Jamaica. I must say I'm made to feel more comfortable with people who see all black people black and not "BLACKNING & BROWNING" as we Jamaican do. I know I was not call " Black Gal" in a loving manner. My Dad's family did not like my Mom simply because she was of a darker skin tone, they used to say when we closed our eyes we still see you and your family to my Mom. I've also seen how they treat me to other grandchildren (my sister and brothers included they are lighter) if i do something they did not approved of they say anthing black is too good. You're in denial Yardieupnorth.

Well said Tigerhellii,I think some of us need de-programming.Our slave masters must be having a good laugh in their graves and thinking what a superb job they've done on us.The kind of 'ism'you talk about is alive and kicking in Jamaican society, however it sits uncomfortably with some people who would rather it was brushed under the carpet.The fact that it's been a topic of discussion on this website before doesn't mean it shouldn't be aired again. I had a white grand mother from St Elizabeth who treated the blackest of her grand children(my handsome brother) extremely badly.She never stopped abusing him verbally and psysically about his blackness. Those lighter skinned in my family treated him likewise. He is age 53 and for much of his life he was psychologically damaged by his experience. I have 2 beautiful daughters and to protect them from this kind of poison I choose my friends and associates very carefully.As a consequence they are pretty well adjusted. My advice is grow up Jamaica,stop being the source of other people's material for entertaining comedy and party discussion.

CORRECTION: Anything too Black nuh good!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here we go again with this colour of skin.I wish to God we could all stop the nonsense and treat people equally.Just love one another and pray for our country that she won't be wipe off the map this hurricane season. Can't you all see what is going on in the world today."Stop the crap". Everyone has a light skin or dark skin in their family.Let us all Live, Love and Laugh and enjoy what little time God has on this earth for each and everyone of us.
Peace.

Here we again nothing...I also wish we all could be treated equally but, just as I said before racism is alive and kicking in Jamaica.
In America, Canada and England we are quick to play the race card ,well am playing mine at home because my first exprience of racism happened in TREASURE BEACH, JAMAICA is it so hard believe or do want to cover it up with other crimes that "don't happen in Jamaica"?

Jamaica has been around long before us and She won't be wipe off the map by another hurricane, She might however be wiped off by continued cover-ups and denials.

Yardieupnorth said " I never experience racism until I came here to America" my question to Yardieupnorth why is it call racism in America and not Jamaica? Please do tell the difference, I know it hurt more comming from your own as I've experienced it first hand not second hand at home in Jamaica. "Thief is Thief" can't spell it any different way "Racim is Racism" matters not which country it takes place.

I know this thread was not posted to start things among us, it has been happening long time nothing new here people , pass the buck, we all have degrees in. I'm happy for this thread because it helps people like me understand more and why my dad side of family could'nt understand the hurt they caused me and my beautiful mom because you are all in denial.

The issue here is not skin colour, hair texture, education or been opulent. The craziest, and ignorance issue is the Black History Month. Who is heavens name started this mess, Jamaica have an arrays of human pigmentations. Are we gonna have Indian History Week, Chineese History Week?. Now that the Koreans are helping the Island, how about Korean History Week. Let stop the madness. American can have the Black History Week, well founded, all of us can relate to this, but in Jamaica? Whoever started this need to be shot. United we stand, the saying goes. Why Black History Month in Jamaica?. I wonder if Cuban has this, or Brazil for that matter. STOP THE MADDNES. White,Black, Green, Red or Cameleon for that matter, does it really matter. Search your soul Brother and Sisters. Enough said.

It has been interesting to read this thread. I wonder why some people have gotten so angry in their responses to Tigerhellii ... maybe because they think if they respond 'loudly' enough it will make them seem 'right' and the issue can be ignored? Does Dr. O really need to say that someone proposing the celebration a culture should be 'shot' to get his point across?

Clearly there is something to the things Tigerhellii says or people wouldn't get so vicious in their reactions.

Here's something else to think about ... the first time I went to TB, I stayed in a well-known resort ... and I immediately noticed that almost all of the 'up-front' staff (front desk, waitresses) were very light-skinned and that all of the cleaning staff were dark-skinned. I tried to tell myself it meant nothing, but now I have to wonder.

*Can* we all 'just get along'? I don't know, but certainly I'd like to think we can. Not if we jump down one another's throats every time we have conflicting opinions, though. I think these kinds of discussions are important and that this website shouldn't only be about highlighting the 'prettied-up' picture of life in TB. As my kids would say, "stop hatin' on Tigerhelli" and let the lady speak her mind. If you disagree, that's fine, but that doesn't mean she didn't have the painful experiences she describes, and certainly doesn't magically make black-on-black racism disappear.

My two cents.

I would like to thank TB.Net for posting this thread. People in denial will always be.

Dr. O there is no ignorance in celebrating Black History Month. I "supposed" we are a free nation so if the Indians, Chineese and Koreans want to celebrate their history why not? Let's not wonder what others celebrate, we know what is celebrated in Jamaica. I supposed there is a shot out there for us all, because when we give our opinion and a few don't like it, this is their reaction. For me it is about my experience growing up in Treasure Beach, Jamaica and the racism that I've encountered.

Lynching won't work people, accepting that racism does exits in Treasure Beach and Jamaica might. Thanks TB.Net....I feel soooooooooooooo much better.

I have read all the thread, some I agree with some I don't.I am a browning born and raised in Frenchman now a tender age of 42.I cannot believe that people would say racism does not exist in Treasure Beach, more so that any other parts of Jamaica.

Whenever you would talk to someone here in Canada that is from Jamaica they would say to you "you from Treasure Beach all the red people from there, them don't like dark skin people".

We all can get along, we all get along, and we all should move on, however there is nothing wrong with this discussion. I think it would be a wonderful idea to have some black history taught in the schools, I knew very little about Black History until I came to Canada. There are some things we cannot deny, black churches in Alabama are being set on fire in 2006. The church of England is set to apologize for their role in the slave trade.

I would like to thank the website for allowing us to voice our opinions. Lets get racisim out of the schools,light skin is not better that dark skin, actually I wish I was dark skin they age more beautiful...my thoughts anyhow.

Three thoughts on all this:

a) I was born in a community where I was in the majority and I never experienced racism until I went to another country -- in other words, until I was in the minority. I've experienced it in every country that I've been to: Asian, Caribbean, and African.

And I know that others have experienced it in my country, the USA. It is my belief that, sadly, it is one of the dark sides of human nature. Note that I said human, not white or black or asian or whatever. No race has a monopoly on being good or being bad.


b) The churches being burned in the southern US have both white and black congregations, as this news article from the Boston globe points out:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/02/13/another_ala_church_fire_ru led_arson/ :
"Investigators have said that they do not have a motive for the string of fires, but that there is no racial pattern. Five of the churches had white congregations, and five were made up of black members. All were Baptist, the dominant faith in the region, and most were in country settings."

As tragic as these fires are, I don't think racism is a factor. Seems like the maniac(s) doing this is targeting religion.


c) So how to move forward to a world where everyone is respected? Expand one's view to not accept sexism, nationalism, religion-ism, politics-ism, or anything that that makes one think they're superior to another.

Its not about race alone; its about respecting ANY difference between yourself and others. Is there any doubt that we are all brothers and sisters in this world?


-Eric

I wonder what religion Matin Luther King represented?. These sick maniac are not stupid, they think they are confusing the government.

I think color is a major issue in Jamaica. The dark skin people call light skin people red people
and yardieupnorth, i don't think the only prejudice in Jamaica is money and education, naturally if you have a degree it is one step in the door. February is black history month, blacks need stop bleach their skin, and accept who they are.

Daaaahuh! That is exactly what I said, about the education issue. Why are we taking black history month to heart in Jamaica. The black history month is designated for Black Americans not Black people every where. Yes our people needs to stop bleaching their skin any month of the year, not just in February, that is what the original writer should have stated. Wanting your children to marry a high color man is not necessarily a black man. It could also mean a White man, which will in some case insure a better life out side of treasure beach or Jamaica on a whole. We should never have to participate in America black history month, we as Jamaicans have every single month of the year!! We are not a nation divided into black and white siction. We dont have black neighborhoods or white neighborhoods/welfare etc.Everybody in jamaica gets foodstamps, whether you are light skinned or black skinned. P.J Patterson our Prime Minister is a Black compexion man. Where do you live tigerhellii?, It could not be in America, because if you did then you would see real racism. Blacks comes in all shades, but it is still black, where ever you go. No one is going to call you jamaican or light skinned jamaican, you are a black woman/black man. Celebrate our history/heritage every day. Leave black history month to American.....dang!!

Tigerhelii lives in England.....We have race laws in America, Canada, England and maybe most countries in the world, but do we have then in Jamaica? I don't have to experience your experience or anyone else to know what "real racism" is nor do I need to be living in America. I must say you a very lucky that you've only experience racism in America, mine starts at home Treasure Beach, Jamaica....dang!!! as I said before better in someone yard worse in yu own, but we don't have to take it lying down. Am not here talking about what I've experience here in England....but one thing I've learned there is no browning, red skinned or blackning a very level playing field for us all...brain works. My brother recently got married to a lovely lady from St. Mary remarks at the wedding were she pretty, but she black go figure yardieupnorth. Matters not who started this thread in my humble (after all) opinion is a good citizen of Treasure Beach, Jamaica.

Taken from the Jamaica Gleaner
Colour should not matter
published: Thursday | February 23, 2006


THE EDITOR, Sir:

I agree that we should not have to worry about our colour. I am a Black American, but actually I am really an African American as the term goes. My great grandfather was African and my great grandmother was an American Indian. So I am really an African American, but I have really not thought of it that way. I, too, adopted the term.

My understanding is that this phrase became more popular after the author, Alex Haley wrote the popular 'Roots' series which was seen on television by millions. Black Americans then adopted the term as identifying where we came from: our roots. What I think others from other countries might not realise is that when our African ancestors were brought to America through the generations, our customs and culture were lost. We lost a sense of who we are.

What I have always admired about Jamaicans is that you have a strong sense of culture and you know where you came from. Even abroad you still keep your culture, with food, lifestyle, etc., but in America, you might get a relative who was taught the old stories such as myself by my grandmother, but it is rare.

I am, etc.,

B.P.

am229@city.ac.uk

Essex, London

Tigerhillii, this question is geared towards you personally. Where did your brother got married?. To TB Net. I think one of my emails, which preceded this last one was omitted. Tigerhillii would have seen exactly what I am talking about. The email to which I replied to before this one was geared toward what Jamie had said. Tigerhillii. Jamaicans in England gives black people in general a bad name. I am married to a nigerian, who lived in Londan for a long time. He said everyone is afraid of Jamaicans in England. So I get a whole different view of our people from a true African. If they are afraid of jamaican, which he said happned to be a blacker representation our people with more melenin in their skin, which a lot of time are mistaken for African, what to say regular person, or even our own. I would run from some one giving my country a bad name whether darker or lighter, and that is what I call a N word. Please answer my question Tigerhillii, then I will tell you why your sister-in-law received that comment. "peace out"

Yardieupnorth Nigerians are known to bleach their skin than any other nation, I think you have it wrong it is the other way around Jamacicans are afraid of Nigerians. I am sure you are light skin why he married you. Nigerians give black people a bad name with credit cards fraud.

I am nigerian. I do not bleach my skin, and you would be generalizing to say Nigerians bleach their skin. I have never generalized any particular group. I am married to a jamaican woman who is a beautiful black princess, and as for credit fraud, that is also speaking for all of my people. Man we really are afraid of Jamaican I am a Doctor, and I am truly afraid to treat a Jamaican person because they want to sue for every single thing. I love all people. I would just like to get along with everyone. Thanks for allowing me to share this website with you all...Dr. Olalekan

Harry you are so right i have met a lot of Nigerians and they only talk to white or light skin women. skin color is a factor for them. they rather take a white woman to Nigeria than a black woman.

Yardieupnorth my brother got married in Jamaica. Nigerians and Jamaicans don't like each other is the talk, but one of my best friend is Nigerian. As for the (Cock and Bull) story your reliable Nigerian husband told you am baffle because I've lived in London for more than sixteen years and I never know that Jamaicans in England give black people a bad name on a whole. My question to you is what did your Nigerian husband do to the Jamaicans in London why he is afrid of us? Yardieupnorth yu never si smoke without fire...I don't want to slag off a nation so therefore I don't want to be a part of you and your husband's debate about us Jamaicans living in England.... my 2cents ever heard of the saying the pot a calling the kettle black...GO FIGURE Yardieupnorth. I think you should wipe that smug off your face.

I am nigerian. I do not bleach my skin, and you would be generalizing to say Nigerians bleach their skin. I have never generalized any particular group. I am married to a jamaican woman who is a beautiful black princess, and as for credit fraud, that is also speaking for all of my people. Man we really are afraid of Jamaican I am a Doctor, and I am truly afraid to treat a Jamaican person because they want to sue for every single thing. I love all people. I would just like to get along with everyone. Thanks for allowing me to share this website with you all...Dr. Olalekan

Africans are always claiming they are are afraid of Jamaicans, Maybe they should read some history and they will tell the real truth why they are afraid of Jamaicans. They were sold by the slave master and brought to Jamaica as slaves. African on a whole only like their own, I would not say he marry her because she is light skin, that means nothing to them they like their own African people, meaning from Africa.

My friend African husband left her and went back to his African Queen in Africa she is devastated.

Sweeping generalizations (like saying the 'scary' Jamaicans in England are all very dark-skinned, or saying that Nigerians give black people a bad name because of credit card fraud) is hardly constructive.

I said it earlier, and I'll say it again, clearly Tigerhellii struck a nerve with a lot of us, or there wouldn't be such strong responses. Just because Tigerhellii points out that black-on-black racism exists, that doesn't mean every single light-skinned person from TB is racist. Can we have the conversation without the generalizations?

And an aside to Yardieupnorth: it's really troubling to read that you would refer to *anyone* using the 'N word.' Maybe you think it's ok if you only use it to refer to 'bad' black folk? I strongly disagree and take offense. As an African American woman 'of a certain age' I've been slapped with that word many more times than I can count; and even though some people like to say that they've defused the power of the word by using it to refer to their friends, the moment someone says it to them pejoratively, they get just as angry as I do.

Yardieupnorth when one becomes like this I won't engage in any debate.....dang!!!!! I've said my peace and am Happy with it...TB.Net I apologize for my e-mail (the unpostable one)..Keep-up the good work. Nigerians and Jamaicans simply don't have anything good to say about each other and this is not what this debate was about. You were quick to defend racism in Jamaica and in the same breath condemn them when your husband give you a very one sided story.

Natures children are we,
black,white,brown,yellow,red face.
All members of the same family,
The family of the Human Race.

Nature created us differently
to beautify the world.

Some people will hate and fight,
suppress and oppress others.
These wrongs we should strive to right,
and learn to love our brothers and sisters.

With the skill of the highest skilled surgeon,
we must incise this cancerous root of hate.
Accept and respect our differences
or Humanity shall suffer a disasterous fate.

This discussion seems to have degenerated into sweeping negative stereotypes about races and nationalities. We will not be posting any more messages here that deal in such themes.

Therefore we are respectfully asking that you take the conversation elsewhere.

-TBNet