Shocking Revelation: Cannabis Use Lowers Young People I.Q.

 Shocking Revelation: Cannabis Use Lowers Young People I.Q. By Donovan Reynolds

While growing up in Jamaica in 1974 at the age of 11 years as a child I ran away to escape the horrors of domestic violence from a physically abusive father. I spent a short period of time with one of my mother’s friend in a place called Richmond in St Mary close to a male penal institution called Richmond Prison Farm. I attended a school in Richmond briefly nestled between the orange plantation and the Prison Farm. I had my first cannabis ‘spliff ‘one day while truanting from School with other tearaways in order to medicate away the pain of missing my mother and the horrible thoughts of leaving her behind to live with such an ugly beast of a father. The puff from the cannabis took me into a dark place with psychedelic background lights that made me very paranoid. It felt as If I was having a mirage were by I was attacked by several imaginary hostile Calvary soldiers with shiny swords waving above their heads. I began hallucinating and it felt as if I was experiencing a massive panic attack. To take the edge from disturbed mental state my cohorts squeezed a few sweet oranges down my neck to tame my appetite and I was given a bath in a river nearby to sober me up.  Later I was taken home to my guardian by a prison warder and my arse received a smacking that immediately sobered me on the spot and my posterior ached for days. During my teen years I went on to flirt with other less enterprising forms of substances- I dabbled with a bit of alcohol and tobacco but no other psychotropic drugs.

 While travelling on the London underground tube to work this week I was treated  in the Daily Mail to the shocking revelation that teenagers addicted to cannabis risk damaging their IQ and show signs normally seen in early Alzheimer's.The research was carried out by a eminent international research team, including some from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, put more than 1,000 boys and girls through a battery of IQ tests when they were aged 13 and 14. They did the same tests more than 20 years later, at the age of 38. The study found a marked drop in intelligence and attention and memory were also harmed. More sobering is the revelation from researcher Professor Terrie Moffitt, of the Institute of Psychiatry, said: 'Research has shown that IQ is a strong determinant of a person's access to college education, their lifelong total income, their access to a good job, their performance on the job, their tendency to develop heart disease and even early death.
  I reminisced mischievously after reading the article on the train that had I not dabbled in a bit cannabis at such a early age on that sordid day in 19 74 and damaged my IQ. I could have now been a rocket scientist on my way to work at the NASA space centre. But instead, I was on my way to work as a Care Manager in an unglamorous low paying job with the National Health Service. But equally I was well happy that my guardian had slapped my bum so hard was able to avoid cannabis dependence and truanting and severe learning difficulties.
For a man who had a near encounter with cannabis induced psychosis and a difficult childhood I have gone on to have a university education and a modest career as a Social Worker and part time Journalist is not a bad outcome in the scheme of things but it could have all gone potty.

The idea that Post- modernity, capitalism, the frantic Youth craze and its social trapping has caused mans insatiable appetite for drugs may be a figment of our imagination It seem as if our habit for using drugs was handed down to us  genetically by our ancestors in the caves of Africa many eons ago .Earlier this month scientists at Aberdeen University in Scotland revealed they have found a switch in the brain which may explain why smoking cannabis causes psychosis and addiction in more than one-in-ten users. The team, at Aberdeen University found a genetic difference in the switch, probably inherited from early humans who smoked the drug in prehistoric times.
The difference may also explain why some people could be more susceptible to conditions such as obesity. The chemical 'switch' discovered by researchers could explain by one in ten cannabis smokers suffer from psychosis and addiction issues.
 Meanwhile over on both sides of the Atlantic some misguided Rastafarians with their head constantly covered in a plume of cannabis smoke continue to peddle half-truths and explode various myths to young persons about the wisdom of the weed that was supposedly found on Solomon’s grave. In part it is true that the plant cannabis has medicinal values but when taken through your mouth and exhaled from the nostril , it ratchet up the case load at mental health institutions across the globe and lower teenagers IQ. As a matter of fact smoking on a whole is a dangerous and the confirmation that smoking among teenagers in the UK is a cause for concern with policy makers and health professionals.

A survey carried out In the UK for the NHS Information Centre by the National Centre for Social Research and The National Foundation for Educational Research .This survey is the latest in a series designed to monitor smoking, drinking and drug use among secondary school pupils aged 11 to 15. Information was obtained from 7,296 pupil’s in246 schools throughout England in the autumn term of 2010. In 2010, 5% of pupils smoked regularly (at least once a week), a similar proportion as in 2009. Girls are more likely to smoke regularly than boys. The prevalence of smoking increases with age; 12% of 15 year olds said they smoked at least once a week, compared with less than0.5% of 11 year olds.

The idea of a woman pulling on the end of a cannabis “spliff” unashamed is no longer a rear sighting as the statistics above has confirmed that it is a dangerous new vocation for  ‘ladetts’ living  in urban settings where the pressure to appear tough and hip like their young male counterpart. The recent new research always reveals a close relationship between increase vulnerability to mental ill-health and the use of psychotropic drugs by young people. Finally I have to admit that cannabis use in general is such a challenging undertaking as it’s the most socially accepted drug across the world I have weighed into it because of the serious health social and financial cost to our health and social and Economic wellbeing implication of its misuse. On the other hand you may be like my cousin in Jamaica called ‘Jah T’ that doesn’t care a joint and is stoned all day on the weed. He is always so high on cannabis every day - so much- that he washes his chalice more often than the dinner plates in his kitchen sink.

Donavon Reynolds is British Based Social Worker and a Human Rights Campaigner with an interest in Politics, Culture and International Development issues. Readers are invited to give a feedback on this blog at the space provided below or to e-mail him at Dannygerm63@hotmail.co.uk.You may also give your feedback on the Facebook or twitter link on this blog.

Towards a More Authentic and Coherent Understanding of Atheism and Organised Secular Humanism: By Donovan Reynolds.

Towards a More Authentic and Coherent Understanding of Atheism and Organised Secular Humanism: By Donovan Reynolds.

Professor Richard Dawkins turned spirituality upside down when he wrote the book “The God Delusion”. Before that I had read other books but none had ever shaken up my world for the better. It gave me a bedrock of understanding who I was and unravelled the mystery of human secularism as a decent and credible system of belief. Prior to that, I had grown up in a Jamaican religious conservative society and my religious curiosity was tamed by rapture hungry evangelist conjuring up a constant died of vengeful death by fire in an eternal hell furnace. However my discursive spirit spurred on my stubborn curiosity about the mismatched chronological world of creationism and evolutionary biology. But I was repeatedly tamed by religious hocks persistence of smothering me with the trenchant idea of believing by faith in a blinkered way.

  Professor Richard Dawkins is an atheist and he is a vice president of the British Humanist Association, and a supporter of the Brights movement. The Brights movement is a social movement that aims to promote public understanding and acknowledgment of the naturalistic worldview, including equal civil rights and acceptance for people who hold a naturalistic worldview .He is well known for his criticism of creationism and intelligent design.

In his 1986 book The Blind Watchmaker, he argues against the watchmaker analogy, an argument for the existence of a supernatural creator based upon the complexity of living organisms. Instead, he describes evolutionary processes as analogous to a blind watchmaker. He has since written several popular science books, and makes regular television and radio appearances, predominantly discussing these topics. In his 2006 book The God Delusion, Dawkins contends that a supernatural creator almost certainly does not exist and that religious faith is a delusion he describes it as "a fixed false belief". As of January 2010, the English-language version has sold more than two million copies and had been translated into 31 languages. It has been a centre piece of literature on the bookshelf of a number of Humanist globally like me as a source of comfort and a buffer against the argument of the religious right and the venom of hatred and scaremongering that they often spew out.

 Atheists, like me are a misunderstood breed .We face moralistic prejudice verbal and in extreme cases physical assault and imprisonment but we are not alone in our viewpoint of a godless world. The propaganda of us being arrogant devil worshippers is wearing thin and unwarranted. I have embraced my faith identity as an atheist but persons who question religion spawn a variety of other terms or identities, including, humanist, secular humanist, freethinker, objectivist, rationalist, naturalist, materialist, agnostic, sceptic, apathies, or even naturalistic pantheists or classical deists, and so on. In fact I use the term humanist to introduce myself usually in a hostile dialectic setting in order to maintain the shape of my face.

Humanist similar to  myself belief that this world is the only one we have and that human problems can only be solved by humans, humanists have often been very active social reformers. Compassion and a sense of justice are not unique to religious people. Most humanists embrace the philosophy that identifies pollution, militarism, nationalism, sexism, poverty and corruption as being persistent and addressable human character issues that is incompatible with the interests of our species.  Most humanists believe in democracy, open government and human rights, and support action on world poverty and the environment.  The basic and most credible tenet of secular humanism is the focus is on doing good and living well in the here and now, and leaving the world a better place for those who come after.

 At the core of our belief we promote public understanding and acknowledgment of the naturalistic worldview, which is free of supernatural and mystical elements? We fail to gain public recognition that those of us who hold such a worldview can bring principled actions to bear on matters of civic importance on a global scale. The humanitarian appeal that we raise along with our charitable work often goes unnoticed. It’s been an up hill struggle to educate society toward accepting the full and equitable civic participation of the difficult humanitarian appeals that others shy away from in order to preserve the moral integrity of their religious faith. Our members have gone into the trenches on their own raise a number of humanitarian concerns globally about Aids, Famine and social deprivation, poverty, religious hatred, homophobia, sexism, racism etc. We are found in every social organization globally from Green Peace, Amnesty International and the Red Cross without drawing attention to ourselves or being self congratulatory.

It’s not all been rosy as an Atheist as we face criticisms internally and externally and we expect to be held up to scrutiny. At a presentation at the atheist Alliance International Convention in 2007 journalist and noted atheist the late Christopher Hitchens likewise found it a "cringe-making proposal that atheists should conceitedly nominate themselves to be called “brights.”  Anti-humanists, such as Jean-François Lyotard and Michel Foucault, have asserted that humanism posits an overarching and excessively abstract notion of humanity or universal human nature, which can then be used as a pretext for imperialism and domination of those deemed somehow less than human. Philosopher Kate Soper notes that by faulting humanism for falling short of its own benevolent ideals, anti-humanism thus frequently "secretes a humanist rhetoric”. Rapture hungry evangelist from the pulpits of the religious right make a more scathing attack on us by spewing condemnation and  aggressive hate laced generalizations that are unfounded and stomach churning we are branded as false profits, the devil incarnate, fitting only for the everlasting furnace of hell. It’s a good thing that we neither believe in heaven or hell or we would have been frightened into heaven condemned to a life of a boring and unhealthy diet of milk and honey.

I hope this article has garnered some new understanding and debunk some of the silly myths around Secular humanism. It is a heady concoction but I have tried to simplify its core tenets. Like the philosopher Dwight Gilbert Jones I am a crazy romantic and quasi idealist. I believe like him that Humanism may be the only philosophy likely to be adopted by our species as a whole. He however cautions that “it is thus incumbent on inclusive Humanists to not place unwarranted or self-interested conditions on its prospective adherents, nor associate it with religious acrimony”.

Donovan Reynolds is British Based Social Worker and a Human Rights Campaigner with an interest in Politics, Culture and International Development issues. Readers are invited to give a feedback on this blog at the space provided below or to e-mail him at Dannygerm63@hotmail.co.uk.You may also give your feedback on the Facebook or twitter link on this blog.

“ Usain Bolt-Beautiful Jamaican Athletes and the Untamed Economic Beast” By Donovan Reynolds

Usain Bolt-Beautiful Jamaican Athletes and the Untamed Economic Beast” By Donovan Reynolds

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For the past two weeks while the Olympics gain momentum and the Jamaican athletes graced the field I forgot that Facebook ever existed and my Jamaican pride shot up to stratospheric heights. First there was Shelly –Anne Fraser-Pryce winning of the 100 metre event that caused my heart to pound like a racing car. Then Bolt tamed the beast on Wednesday leaving the Americans in a cloud of dust. While Usain Bolt had the Beast close to his heels celebrating Asafa was left lonely on the canvas holding his groin   unattended in agony while they lapped up the adoration of the world. Poor Asafa was taken down by an ungrateful groin injury. He looked like amateur dancer getting a painful fall while doing a difficult’ crotch grabbing’ Michael Jackson dance routine. While the word celebrated the antics of lightening Knights of Jamaican athletics his sympathy fell to three British women of Jamaican decent. While having a celebratory bottle of champagne in my local pub they convinced me that they could have done a better job on Asafa’s groin than his physiotherapist if he had locked himself in a room for a threesome with them before the race 100 metres race for less than 45 minutes. What they would have done to him to whip him in shape is imagination daunting.

 Then came the Thursday 1,2,3  heroics of Bolt Blake and Weir that sealed the Jamaican athletic cult status. It was watched by a record twenty million viewers on BBC and 2 billion viewers worldwide. By the time Saturday came Bolt Blake, Frater and Carter had shattered the world record on Saturday my voice went through the window of my apartment closely followed closely by my British politeness .While celebrating my blood  to alcohol  level was so high that my liver almost  set off the smoke alarms in my flat.

For two entire weeks Jamaica received such global spotlight I almost felt that we were citizens of a first world country but the bubble burst on Monday with a telephone call from a male relative in Jamaica that woke me up with the news that he was indebted and needed a loan as he was so broke and was expecting the courts bailiff to come for his furniture among them the TV that he was watching during the Olympics game. Jamaica is a country of amazing contradiction among the records that we have broken globally is the ability to punch above our weight despite our difficult financial circumstances.

 Professor Trevor Munroe confirmed a long held suspicion of mine s in a presentation to the Rotary Club of New Kingston, Friday the 10/8/12. The Jamaica Observer quoted Munroe saying that: while the performance of the athletes in their different events has literally pushed Jamaica to the top of the world, the country is still at the bottom of the pile based on its economic performance, pushed there by rampant corruption. Professor Munroe opined:"...At the same time as we are at the top of the world in athletics, we are near the bottom of the world in economic performance; in producing and in providing goods and services to uplift the quality of life of the majority of our people. Regrettably, when it comes to the economy, we not only don't qualify for the Olympics, but we don't even qualify for anywhere near the top three in our region," He quoted an article by the Economist magazine in July this year which predicted that based on current forecasts Jamaica will finish the year with the slowest average growth rate since 2000 in the Americas, behind even earthquake-stricken Haiti, Professor Munroe said Jamaica had "fallen behind a whole slew of countries that it was ahead of in 1970".

Figures obtained from UK Sport, the strategic body overseeing performance sport in the UK, detail the amount of money invested in each Olympic sport since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. An Olympic medal won by Team GB at the London 2012 Games cost an average of just over £4.5 million. Boxing was the most cost-effective sport in terms of funding per medal, with hockey the least. This money spent is estimated to be more than what is cost to send the entire Jamaican delegation to the 12 12 Olympics. The British government spent a whopping 12 billion Pounds to stage the Olympic Games yet in the athletic stadium at Stratford Jamaican flags were strung up around the track as if they were co- host of the Olympic Games. As a matter of fact prior to the games when the Olympic Torch arrived in Tottenham famous for the 2011 British Riots -I went out with my family to see it. There were more Jamaican Flag bearers dressed in Jamaican T-shirts chairing on the torch bearers than British flag bearers we are a n extremely clever and proud people. We Jamaicans are clever at high jacking a party and making it our own. Equally are experts at Hijacking other countries success and highlighting how we contribute to it. Yes, the mantra of our boasting of how our immigrant labour build Britain US and Canada is true to a certain extent but it wearing thin in light of the fact that we are unable to reign in our corrupt politicians and Public officials and create our own economic success. Yes, our athletes are famous and rich and they deserve their success but the nagging contradiction is that we are the begging bowl of the Southern hemisphere.

So the party is over and our two weeks of fame has ended. It was a triumphant game with stellar performances from talented athletes from a confident but financially broke country. Bolstered by the self confidence from the games Jamaican Government and Business should get out there produce and innovate. Let us begin the arduous task of find new markets for our indigenous goods and services that will give us a comparative edge is a difficult global financial market. We can’t employ mediocre politicians and Public servants and expect to get good economic result. Jamaica has had more than a dozen Finance Ministers offer the past 50 years who have less economic savvy than the dinner lady at my son’s primary school on less than £2 a day my son return from school so well fed during the week so much that only needing a bowl of cereal to go to his bed. There are too many charlatans in our parliament they remind me of a Bar attendant that I met in Westmoreland she felt that she was more clever that girls her age who had University degrees on the basis that she was sleeping with a judge and two lawyers at the same time and had a wide knowledge of the law.

 As I begin to retreat from the afterglow of the Olympics success and hardly recovering from the over indulgence of my alcohol laced week end Jamaicans living abroad have to join the Jamaica National and western Union lines to stave off a Haiti situation by helping out my country man. It comes on a fortnight that a famous Jamaican politician Facebook accused us of being facitious for wanting parliamentary representation because we are unpatriotic for running away from Jamaica totally oblivious to the fact that remittance is Jamaica’s highest foreign exchange earner. That mealy mouth self-congratulatory politician reminds me of the ungrateful relatives that we take expensive presents for while on vacation that disappears when our money is finished. So the Olympics are now over we have seen the beautiful lightning Bolt and the incredible fast Yohan the beast Blake but after the Olympics is over we know that Haiti is going to perform better than us this year if we don’t get our economy in order. May be I am a hopeless optimist but I believe that we can extend the example of our dedicated and  Athletic Professionals to our economic management over time we can be a great country.

Donavon Reynolds is British Based Social Worker and a Human Rights Campaigner with an interest in Politics, Culture and International Development issues. Readers are invited to give a feedback on this blog at the space provided below or to e-mail him at Dannygerm63@hotmail.co.uk.You may also give your feedback on the Facebook or twitter link on this blog.

“Prejudice Somewhere is Prejudice Everywhere”: Examining Homophobia in Jamaica

“Prejudice Somewhere is Prejudice Everywhere”: Examining Homophobia in Jamaica

Internationally acclaimed Jamaican singer, Diana King has taken an unprecedented step within the local music industry as she dropped a bombshell on Thursday, admitting that she is a lesbian. High Profile Jamaican female Reggae singer Diana King, known for classics such as Shy Guy, I Say A Little Prayer and L-L-Lies made the confession through a note which she issued on her official Facebook page last week that she was gay. It's a historic moment within the Jamaican music industry as she's the first artiste of note to have admitted openly to be gay. In her note on face book, King wrote, "My name is DIANA EUGENA KING; known to most as DIANA KING my fans call me ‘King Singa’. I AM … WOMAN … MOTHER ... AUNT … JAMAICAN … AMERICAN ... INTERNATIONAL ARTIST ... SINGER ... SONGWRITER ... BAND LEADER … FRIEND ... LOVER ... ENTREPRENEUR ... GODDESS! Among other things AND YES!!!…I AM A LESBIAN ... the answer to my most asked INDIRECT question. I welcome the "WHO CARES" right now. LOL." (End of quote).

Apparently her dressing and her facial and body tattoos in recent time seem to suggest that she was gay and the continued questions about her sexuality and the push towards viewing gay rights in the US and Europe as a civil liberty issue must have made her comfortable to make such a bold move. On the back of her posting, her face book page was flooded with mixed reactions of genuine as well as insincere support for her right to self-determination. Shortly after her posting - the religious right rapture hungry class of the Jamaican community and its diaspora flooded her face book page posting with a torrent of abuse and condemnation.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) rights in Jamaica are dominated by the prohibition of sexual acts between men. Sexual acts between women are legal, by virtue of the absence of any reference to them in law. Sexual acts between men are punishable with up to ten years in jail, although the law is seldom enforced between consenting adults. Jamaica has been described by human-rights groups across the globe as the most homophobic place on earth due to the hate speech and bias motivated crimes often directed at LGBT people. Yet hatred against Homosexuals and lesbians continues unchecked in Jamaica. Admitting to be openly gay or being an open gay sympathiser could lead to an unofficial death sentence. Most Dance hall deejays, political aspirants and rapture hungry evangelist in Jamaica have one thing that they like to do in common and that is to use gay bashing as a means to attract an audience.

The former JLP prime minister the Honourable Bruce Golding in an interview with the BBC in 2008 on BBC straight talk, while on a Visit to the UK one of the most liberal place on earth admitted to its host in an interview that he would not knowingly allow a gay members to serve in his cabinet. When questioned about the archaic buggery laws he remarked: “We are not going to yield to the pressure, whether that pressure comes from individuals, either that pressure comes from government or groups of countries, to liberalise the laws as it relates to buggery”. The reverberation of such an ill-conceived statement through the conservative side of the then prime minister Golding’s mouth made headlines in the liberal and gay press in Europe and across the Atlantic. Gay rights activist such as Stonewalls Peter Tachell, LGBT activist Michael Petrelis and Jim Burroway went into a frenzied overdrive to berate the prime minister’s statement.

The online magazine Queerty branded Jamaica as one of the most homophobic place on earth and in one of its quarterly publication called for its affiliates to kick off a boycott of Jamaican products because of its flagrant institutionalised human rights violation against gay persons. The owners of Stonewall Inn decided to dump their supplies of Red stripe beer and Myers Rum down their sinks.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual movement online went into overdrive and started a ‘Boycott Jamaica’ campaign. They accused the Jamaican government of turning a blind eye to violence against the gay community in Jamaica and posted an altered red stripe logo with the inscription “Boycott Jamaica and feel alright”. Above the logo was a call to ban red stripe and Myers rum.

Following are some of the low lights posted on the website:

•             In 2006 Kingston man Nokia Cowan was drowned after a crowd shouting “Batty Boy” (a Jamaican Gay insult) chased him off a pier.

•             One of the island’s most prominent gay activists, Bryan Williamson was murdered in 2009 and a crowd even celebrated over his body.

•             In 2008 a mob burst into the house of a gay man, Andre, having dinner with his friends. They screamed homophobic epithets waved machetes sticks and knives. Fifteen to 20 men kicked off the door, entered and beat both men senseless. Andrew received a deep wound to his skull and marks ear was sliced in half.

•             February 2010 two men (Dwayne Gordon and Andy Williams) allegedly stabbed to death Dane Harris because he was gay. The accused justified the crime by alleging that Harris made sexual advances at them.

Cultural attitudes towards the gay community in Jamaica have long been unhelpful and sometimes dangerous. One’s sexual preference or the denial to practice it is not often viewed as a civil liberty issue in Jamaica. Moral absolutists are rife and the hatred comes from every quarter, from parliament, pulpit and the places where deejays “strut their stuff”. Jamaica has failed to adopt the full letter of the United Nations Human Rights act. While a number of European countries have repealed the archaic Buggery laws countries like Jamaica has clung to it because repealing it might lose votes for politicians at a general or local government election. In the dance halls mealy mouth deejays use the issue to illicit crowd response and keep their fledging careers going .While puerile politicians such as Ernest Smith a St Ann JLP representative make insensitive anti-gay remarks in parliament without having being made to apologise. Meanwhile at all times rapture hungry evangelist use it on the pews across the island causing their closet homosexual members to go further underground. Those who fail to see gay rights as a civil liberty often confuse child sexual molestation with gay issues. If you are a heterosexual in Jamaica defending or having sympathy for gay rights you are accused of being gay and homophobic and a fatwa is passed by deejays sanctioning your death. Such is the level of ignorance. The rights of gays to assemble in private attract a death visitation and the mention of a public assembly is even worse!

These homophobic acts never go unnoticed in the International press and social media. It sullies the reputation of brand Jamaica. This unnecessary hatred is woven into the country’s cultural fabric and is difficult to disentangle because of entrenched attitudes. Culture is not static, it is fluid. Jamaica cannot remain behind the iron curtain as globalisation takes traction. Vehicles like the internet expose these human rights breaches that are indefensible. The dumping of Myers Rum and Red Stripe Beer by the gay lobby is only a spark of things to come if we continue in the same vein. The country should respond boldly to these breeches. According to the late Doctor Martin Luther King ‘injustice somewhere is injustice everywhere’. The country must begin by embarking upon a public education campaign in schools and across public institutions. To deny persons the opportunity of understanding their civil liberties is a breach of human rights by itself. Leadership should be transformative and inspire change. It should not be based on a vote catching exercise that keeps the status quo in power. Principle decisions by the leadership of a country should be underpinned by a respect of the UN Convention on Human Rights as a moral compass for ethical governance. 

 

This covenant details the basic civil and political rights of individuals and nations. Among the rights of nations are: The right to self-determination, the right to life, the right to liberty and freedom of movement, the right to equality before the law, the right to be recognized as a person before the law, the right to privacy and protection of that privacy by law, freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of assembly and association. The covenant forbids torture. All these fundamental rights impact upon persons of alternative lifestyles in a positive way. Yet, countries like Jamaica, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Uganda and Ghana all have discriminate laws that excludes LGBT from participating equally, thereby, failing to enjoy the freedom and rights as prescribed by the International Convention on Human Rights.

Let us be very clear: Gay rights are a civil rights issue that needs a positive rights agenda urgently. It’s not just old rules that should be flouted by nation states. It includes not just the freedom to exist but includes freedom of expression regardless of one’s sexual preference. Developing countries like those stated above need to encourage an open mind and predictable rules about protecting people of diversity. Civil liberty is a philosophy that promotes a willingness to treat people of whatever gender, race and faith equally. These principles needs to be stood up for, advocated and when not followed we should challenge, not concur.

In conclusion, Diana King, a respected reggae icon has come out of the closet bombarded by questions about her sexuality. She has been lauded by some for her honesty and castigated by the homophobic brigade. She has rehashed one of the most important debates about gay rights issue and our attitudes to people’s privacy and choice of alternative relationships. This is a very historic moment for the Jamaican music industry to embrace the positive changes as the gay lobby around the world are crying out for justice which they rightly deserve. This author, albeit as straight as an arrow is fully in support of her right to self-determination.  It opens the flood gate for LGBT people in Jamaica to also assert their right to self-determination. Attitudes are changing internationally towards people of alternative lifestyles; let us align ourselves with equal rights and justice regardless of our personal preferences. Remember that we should never accuse in someone what you would excuse in yourself.

 Donovan Reynolds is a U. K. based Social Worker and Human Rights campaigner. Persons wanting to comment or give feedback are encouraged to respond in the space provided by this blog. Alternatively, they may email me at: donovan.reynolds@hotmail.co.uk.

Global Criminal Links (Part2-Gangs of Jamaica by Donovan Reynolds)

Chapter5

Global Criminal Link

This chapter seeks to build on the understanding of how the Jamaican Gangs have extended their network and influences to the United Kingdom the United States and Canada. After the infamous 1980 General Election politicians in Jamaica disassociated themselves publicly with these criminal gangs while privately soliciting their assistance to maintain their political base in the garrisons. As a result the gangsters turned their activities to the global drug trade forging alliances with migrant communities in the above mentioned countries. The war on drugs spearheaded by the Regan administration had two effects the first was that the Seaga administration collaborated with the US government to undertake a massive cannabis eradication programme in Jamaica. This move hit especially the rural cannabis farmers hard in the pocket. Secondly the traditional cocaine transhipment port used by the South American drug lords were sealed off and an alternative route was found Via the Caribbean and as a result the Jamaican Drug Barons seized upon the opportunity presented and shifted their activities to cocaine smuggling. They formed a strategic alliance with their mainly Colombians and Panamanian counterparts and begun using the island as a passage way and transhipment port for the illegal but lucrative cocaine trade intended for the European and North American markets. One of the criticisms of the war on drugs spearheaded by the Regan administration was that it focused on supply reduction while the Americans appetite for drugs consumption remained the same.

By 1980 the gangsters in the garrisons recognised that the local political hustling was insufficient to go around more over the cocaine trade was a more profitable means of financing their activities lured by the lucrative lifestyles. They began to muscle in on the cocaine trade and venture out to the cities of North America and Europe to forge their vicious reputation and extend their influence. With cocaine awash on the island they began the process of recruiting mainly women from poor and vulnerable families in Jamaica as drug mules to the USA and Europe. On the back of this activates the Jamaican gangs created satellite networks in the major cities of North America and Europe. They wrestled the cocaine trade away from indigenous gangs and foisted their interest by vicious acts of gun violence, callus murders, extortion and racketeering.

The Jamaican Posse is a loose coalition of Gangs based predominantly in New York and Toronto Ontario. It is widely acclaimed that these gangs are affiliated to the two major political parties in Jamaica-The Peoples National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party. Their first involvement can be traced back to the 1980s where they began with gun running then extending to drug smuggling and racketeering. The Jamaican Possies are known for ferocious gun battles with the police. They have a reputation of committing drive by shootings stemming from disputes over drug turf. The Posse members are known for ritualised killings of members who steal drug proceeds or profits. Ritual violent acts have included the use of laundry irons, chain saw, hammer and nails to pulverise their assailants to death. They have and extreme violent code of conduct against their opponents or among those within their ranks that step out of line.

The most famous of all is the Notorious Shower Posse a JLP aligned gang with its head quarters in West Kingston run by Lester Lloyd Coke Alias “Jim Brown” a garrison Don and political enforcer. The international arm was run North America by a middle class Jamaican business man turned gangster called Vivian Blake.Coke was believed to have been responsible for the deaths of 68 alleged murders that included 13 police officers over a six month period in 1090.Coke was arrested on suspicion of 14 alleged murders but walked away scotch free by making witnesses disappear on his trial date. Lester Lloyd Coke and 60 of his hence men were cornered after and arrested after a blazing gun battle with the Jamaican Police. The arrest triggered extradition proceedings in the Jamaican court where he was wanted for murder and drug trafficking. While waiting to be extradited to the US his jail cell mysteriously caught afire and he was burnt to death. While Coke was awaiting extradition in prison his son Mark Coke took control of the gang and was cut down by a hail of bullets by a rival gangster this sparked a bloody feud for the control of the Jamaican drug market. Coke is survived by three sons that head the West Kingston gang but they maintain a low profile.

Coke counterpart Vivian Blake continue to deny that he is the leader of the North American Wing of the Shower Posse according to him his label stems from the constant stereotyping of Jamaican men. Prior to his entry into gang land activities he was described as a poet, writer and businessman. He is born of a union between a Jewish housewife and a Jamaican merchant tailor. He spent a part of his early years in London, United Kingdom attending a Catholic School. His family returned to Jamaica where he completed High School in Jamaica with   satisfactory academic credentials. It is widely believed that Blake used his upper class status and his political connections to steer attention away from the Shower Posse corrupt criminal activities. Blake turned his activities to get a piece of the American drug market by establishing a base in Miami which over time spawned the major capital of the US to include New York while back in Jamaica Lester  Coke ran the enforcement arm of the feared organisation back in Jamaica.

Over a period of eight years he expanded his influence in North America by wielding his sphere of influence backed up by acts of brutality. It is believed that he was responsible for about 1,400 deaths and the criminal empire was valued at about 2.5 billion US dollars. This drew the attention of the US Drug enforcement agency and the Federal Buro of Investigation( FBI) By 1989 Blake’s name headed the list of 38 members of the Notorious Shower Posse wanted on an indictment by the US authority on racketeering,smuggling and murder charges. He escaped being cornered by the US authority boarding a cruise ship destined for Jamaica. He remained free in Jamaica for five years fighting the extradition proceedings but he case was loaded against him as one of his lieutenants was a vital witness in the case. During his extradition proceedings in the Jamaican court Blake remained a legend of Robin Hood fame by the Jamaican people who organised rallies and protest demanding his release. The legal battle ended in 1998 when he was secretly handed over to the DEA in Miami. After a plea bargain arrangement in which Blake provided evidence against his accuser he received a 28 years sentence and released to the Jamaica in 2008 amidst a media fanfare and cheering from his West Kingston adorers.

Other members of the notorious Shower posse were caught by the US authority and are serving sentences in US federal Prisons. For example Richard “Story Teller” Morrison a high ranking aid of Cooke and Blake was extradited and sent to prison and is now serving a term of 30 years to life on murder and racketeering. Maxwell Bogle who had been listed as one of the world’s 100 most dangerous men in 2001and was sentenced to 58 years to life in absentia was caught in the same year and is behind bars. Another extremely low ranking lieutenant Rycliffe  Bruce on the FBI most wanted list for gunning down a DJ in a crowded dance with two automatic pistols in his hands.

Jamaican gang activities have extended itself to Canada the Malvern Crew and the Galloway crew wreaked havoc in the Scarborough area of Toronto committing random acts of violence gunning down innocent bystanders in an attempt to intimidate and assert their badness honour status. The terrorised the Toronto areas for about two years. One of the most feared gangsters that headed the Galloway Gang was Tyshan Riley a 23 years man of Jamaican descent. He was described by the Canadian Mounted Troupe as the worst killer that the City had ever seen. Things came to a head for the gangsters when they gunned down an innocent bystander in 2004.A joint Canadian Police Command was assembled code named Project Pathfinder. It consisted of officers from the Homicide Squad, the Special Investigation Service, the Intelligence Bureau and Prosecutors from the Attorney Generals Office. The officers swoop down on the gangs and Tyshan Riley and Phillip Atkins along with seven other gang members were arrested. Project Pathfinder according to a Canadian police source got its name from a Nissan SUV used by one of the alleged gangster who is from a Jamaican decent. Most of the men caught in the police sting are behind bars serving lengthy prison sentences for charges ranging from intimidating witness, gangsterism, robberies, and murder.

The United Kingdom and England in specific is vulnerable to the activities of Jamaican gangsters and their satellite network due to its large West Indian migrant population made up mainly of Jamaicans. The first wave of immigrants(492 persons)that formed the British African Caribbean community arrived in 1948 from Jamaica on a Ship known as the Empire Wind rush the first generation of these Caribbean immigrant are often referred to as the wind rush generation. They were for the most part hard working people who migrated to seek work and helped to rebuild the United Kingdom after the ravages of the Second World War. Most of these immigrants settled around South London and made Brixton their unofficial capital. The town of Brixton is often described as the soul of black Britain. It is famous for the Brixton riot of 1980, Nelson Mandela visited the town in 1996 and a street is named in his honour. A square in the centre of the town has been named and dedicated to the memory of the Wind rush Generation contribution to the development of the United Kingdom. This historic and proud contribution to the development of British life is now overshadowed by the activities of Jamaican Gangs who have stretched their influence across England and have forged their reputation by drug dealing and several episodes of gruesome blood -letting.

In 2003 things came to a head so much that the Independent a respected British news paper broke the story that around 200 “hard core yardies” are based in Lambeth South London. The paper recorded that they were operating as members of the “firehouse posse” or Brixton “Cartel crew”. Most of the gangs connected to the Jamaican Migrant communities in the united Kingdom are loosely called yardies the operate and integrate themselves across the UK among the migrant communities and have recruited their members from mostly recent Jamaican migrants and second generation Jamaicans living in the United Kingdom.Peter Walsh the author of Gang war makes an important point that term “yardie” has become so ubiquitous so that it means any Jamaican, African or black gang. These gangs are so entrenched in London that a famous estate in Brixton is referred to as “Little Tivoli” after Tivoli gardens a JLP garrison in Jamaica. Other prolific Jamaican influenced gangs are: the lock city crew, the much love crew in Harlsden,the Hackney posse in East London, The young Peck ham boys ,the Peck ham boys, the ghetto boys in Lewis ham, the murder zone crew, The poverty driven crew and the paid in full crew. Turf war is rife among yardie gangs and the recent trend is the younger gang members breaking of to form their own unit. For example the young Peckham boys broke away and form their own unit and were said to be involved in the murder of a ten year old African youth Damilola Taylor.

For both old and young Jamaican influenced gangsters automatic and semi- automatic guns is a necessity. They move from house to house at nights making it hard for the London Metropolitan Police to track them. This took place after a spate of shootings in the black community in London in the mid nineteen nineties. The Metropolitan Police launched Operation Trident consisting of an elite core of armed police officer to deal with the spate of shooting and gun related murders across London. At that time Cold Harbour Lane in Brixton was reporting three shootings per week along with a number of shootings in Lambeth and Brent. By 2001 things got out of hand so much that the police in a desperate bid to stem the escalation shot dead Derek Bennett a man of Jamaican decent after brandishing a gun shaped cigarette lighter in public. Despite wide spread outcry of murder by his relatives. A coroner’s inquest was held and a verdict of unlawful killing was handed down by the coroner and subsequently held upon appeal.

The killings continued unabated without the police making inroads with the recovery of firearms and operation Trident focused their swoop around the Broxton area in an attempt to deter gangsters from carrying firearms while appealing to the public for information this created a positive effect in terms of containment but by 2006 Brixton was again in the headlines. In September 2006 Brixton was the scene of a widely reported shooting of two boys in a McDonald Restaurant on Brixton Road Acre lane.

The new breed of Jamaican style yardie gangsters and “wannabees” in the United Kingdom is propelled by the growing availability of three commodities: greed, drugs and guns. The new trend is for the more powerful urban crew of gangsters to deliberately encroach in nearby northern cities. The headline making conflict that earned Manchester the infamous label of “Britain’s Chicago” in 2004- was a chilling episode aptly captured by Peter Walsh the author of Gangs War: The Inside Story of the Manchester Gangs and one of the authors of the book Cocky, about British drug baron Curtis Warren. Gangsters on mountain bikes chased each other down a Manchester hospital corridor as staff bravely tried to barricade doors and protect patience who were members of the Goosh Close Gang and their rivals the Long Sight Crew hunted each other through the wards masked in hoods, balaclavas and bandannas. The incident occurred because a member of each gang had been taken to hospitals with gun shot wounds in an incident that also involved the killing of Leon Johnson a Goochie member who had been mowed down in a hit an run attack. As a result of the incident ten young men were later jailed for either affair or pubic order offences. Things died down between both gangs but in July 2005 they were at it again: the Goosh and the Dooddington gang fought hand in hand and traded gun shots at each other in broad day light in the Manchester city centre.

The West Indian involvement has been key to the spread of gangs in many UK cities. A 2003 report suggested Jamaican Yardies had invaded Britain at an ‘alarming rate’ and their control of the crack trade had gradually spread north, reaching as far as Aberdeen. Of 43 police forces in England and Wales, 36 reported a problem with Yardie gangs. Yet in spite of their almost insane brutality, the Yardies have not always fared well against home grown rivals. In Birmingham, Jamaica interlopers were faced down by the ‘homeboys’ of Hands worth and Lozells: the Burger Bar Boys and the Johnson Crew. The Burgers and the Johnnies, however, then turned there guns on each other in a tit-for tat spiral. That culminating in the tragic killing of Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare at a New Years day party. Far from cowing the gangs, such high-profile incidents seem to heighten their bravado. The Birmingham gangsters have even made and distributed DVDs of their exploit

The city of Leeds was relatively free of violence until the murder of towering gangsters Clifton “Junior” Bryan in 2002 before that he survive a close assassination bid when he was lured in a house with another man, Dennis Wilson, who was shot in the head. Their bodies were bundled into the trunk of a car which was later found abandoned in a district in the outskirts of Leeds.

The clutches and influence of the Jamaican Yardie gangs which has its roots in the political garrisons of Jamaica have been exported and entrenched in the capitals and cities of North America and Europe. Hundreds of deportees have been repatriated by European and North American law enforcement agencies. Some of these deportees have found their way back to their point of deportation shortly after. Others continue to contribute to the burgeoning crime statistics in Jamaica yet a few have been rehabilitated and have turned their life around. The legend and reputation of Jamaican influence gang activity is etched on the mind of law enforcement agencies globally who often shudder and cringe when confronted by their fearless activities. 

 Donovan Reynolds is a British based Jamaican Social Worker who is a Human Rights campaigner,Independent Writer,Blogger and Author of" Poor and Boasy": a tour de force of Jamaican culture seen trough secular point of view.He also has an interest  in culture,politics and international development issuesThis is an edited version of chapter 5.Readers wanting to comment or critique this article can do so at the space provided for comments on this blog.Alternatively they may give their feedback at dannygerm63@hotmail.co.uk, or on the facbook or  Twitter link.

Why I am asking you to Support “The Intisar Sharif Abdalla Appeal”

Whether you live in Kingston or Khartoum London or Lima the sentencing to death of Sharif Intisar Aabdalla a Young Female Muslim in North Sudan is a stark reminder why human rights is borderless vocation. She was sentenced to prison in April for Adultery waiting to be stoned to death under Sharia Law in Sudan. We know that her child is in prison with her but the government Ministry in Khartoum refuses to give information about her. From information received she needs psychological Therapy. Let us raise our voice in an attempt to secure her release. “Justice somewhere should be Justice everywhere”. Intisar Sharif Abdallah, whose age has not been determined but is believed to be under the age of 18, was sentenced by a judge on April 22, 2012, in the city of Omdurman, near Khartoum. Since her sentencing, she been held in Omdurman prison with her 5-month-old baby, with her legs shackled.

 Her sentencing has drawn condemnation human rights groups across the word and Amnesty International has launched an appeal for her release. Africa’s director of Human Rights Watch. Daniel Bekele  has lead the charge by demanding that:"Sudan should immediately reform discriminatory laws and abolish both the death penalty and all corporal punishments that violate the international treaty obligations it has promised to respect." According to Mr Bekele no one should be stoned to death - and imposing this punishment on someone who may be a child is especially shocking,"

According to credible sources in Khartoum Abdalla initially denied the charge of adultery but later confessed after she was allegedly beaten by a family member. The court relied solely on her coerced confession to convict and sentence her in a single court session, while the man alleged to have committed adultery with her denied the charges and was released. Sudan is one of only seven countries that provide death by stoning as a punishment. Sudanese judges have sentenced several women to death by stoning in recent years, but courts have overturned all the sentences on appeal. The vast majority of adultery cases and stoning sentences have been imposed on women, pointing to the disproportionate and unequal application of this law.

The crime of adultery under Muslim practiced Sharia Law has long been a bone of contention with Human Rights protagonist who regard it as draconian moreover it often attracts the death penalty which is ridiculous and cruel overreaction. On a purely human rights basis it, also violates guarantees of a woman's right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly matters related to their sexual autonomy. In other words it a private personal matter and the assumption therefore is that it’s not the courts prerogative.

Under Sudan's public order regime, women and girls may also face arrest and flogging, up to 40 lashes, if they violate article 152 of the Criminal Act prohibiting vaguely defined "indecent and immoral acts." Women have been sentenced to flogging for wearing trousers and knee-length skirts, among other acts. The Protocol to the Charter on Human and People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa explicitly prohibits all forms of cruel, degrading, and inhuman treatment of women. The African Commission on Human and People's Rights has declared that flogging violates article 5 of the charter, which prohibits "cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment."

It is for this reason that as a human rights advocate I have launched an appeal on Face book called “The Free Intisar Sharif Abdallah Appeal” and urge my friends on Google, Twitter and face book to support this valuable appeal. I have also written to President Omar al- Bashir asking him for her Pardon and release on the Grounds of Human Rights. I have initiated this appeal because I believe that Sudan should uphold international and African standards on Human Rights .It should ban death by stoning and other corporal punishment, and revise laws that discriminate against women and girls."

In closing my readers let me reveal a secret to you that is a factual irony that sheds light on why this case appeal is so close to my heart. I was born in Jamaica in 1963 to a mother while my father was married to another woman. Should he have been stoned to death? I leave the answer to my reader’s imagination. Imagination aside -it shows how Kingston and Khartoum seem to be on different planets in terms of human rights. Finally my valuable readers I am compelled to leave you this quote from the great African American feminist Anna Julia Cooper as an apt reminder of why we should all support this appeal:

“We takeout stand on the solidarity of humanity, the oneness of life, and the unnaturalness and Justice of all special favoritisms, ether of sex, race, color and condition”. end of Quote.

Donovan Reynolds is a London based Social Worker/Human Rights Campaigner and Independent writer who has an interest in politics, and International Development issues. Readers are invited to critique or comment on this Blog, Face book, Google network or Twitter. Alternatively they may e-mail him atdannygerm63@hotmail.co.uk

Exploring subtle resistance, oppression class prejudice intertwined in the fabric of the Jamaican experience

Chapter 3

Exploring subtle resistance, oppression class prejudice intertwined in the fabric of the Jamaican experience.

This section of the discourse seeks to highlight the extent to which our cultural liberation began during slavery through subtle beginnings and the extent to which it was smothered by slavery, oppression and class-prejudice. The vehicle of transmission was by social encounter, dance and protest songs on the plantations pre and post slavery. The ghosts of these negative social forces continue to represent themselves along our cultural journey. Evidence is presented to debunk the myth that dance hall queens and lewd music is a product of the musical revolution of the 1970s and 1980s. It is believed that these repressive forces are continually riding the waves of our cultural evolution. It maps the progress of our culturally rich heritage, the social actors, power relationships and the hegemonic masculinity, the devaluing of women’s contributions and homophobia. It also offers insights, suggestions and strategies for future socio-cultural progress.

In order for me to generate the discussion of our cultural evolutionary process it is necessary for me to digress briefly by giving definitions of race and class prejudice in order to press home the unfortunate fact of how these twin evils and their associated power relationships stifled our creativity as a people. Unfortunately there is still a trickle down effect on our cultural space. It is instructive to note that in post slavery, post colonial Jamaica racism is no longer being perpetuated in its purest form. However, it is replaced by a subtle form of bigotry where lighter shades of persons bearing closer biological traits of white persons receive favourable acceptance in relationships and social institutions

Michael McIntosh, a Social Worker and a black second generation Jamaican born in the United Kingdom summed up his frustration with the class bias that he experienced while on vacation in Jamaica as follows: “In the hotels we were snubbed by workers in favour of white tourists totally ignoring us as if we were not there. When we met our family it became apparent that those of us with lighter hue were treated more favourably. We could tell how they felt by their positive or negative body language. While hanging out with my relatives there I heard blatant self-hatred being perpetrated in patois such as “anything too black nuh good” meaning if your skin is too dark you are not good enough to succeed at anything. The words ‘Mi preffa brownin’, was used to indicate a preference for black women who were of lighter complexion. Political correctness went through the window when a middle class member of the family snobbishly remarked ‘den unnoh deh ah Inglan so long, how unoh nuh ketch likkle colour? This seemed to suggest ridiculously that because we were born in the UK they were expecting our complexion to be of a lighter hue. I observed while moving around that those Jamaicans who dressed in nice expensive clothes were treated more favourably. We got into trouble at our rich aunties house when we invited her domestic helper at the table to have a meal with us. She felt that the helper was not good enough to eat with us as she was of a low status”

Burke and Harrison (2000) define racism as: A multidimensional and complex system of power and powerlessness. It is a process through which powerful groups, using deterministic belief systems and structures in society, are able to dominate. It operates at micro and macro levels. It is perpetuated through policies and procedures of social institutions. Slaves in Jamaica experienced personal and institutional racism and were socially excluded from accessing services in health care, education and housing. They were not paid for their labour and were ill-treated by their handlers and their human rights as citizens were ignored.

There is a longstanding debate in social science about the definition of class. Roberts, (2001) rightly observed that there are two sets of ideas about defining the subject. Marxist scholars define class in relation to the ownership or control of the means of production in a society. The other set of ideas are promoted by Max Webber’s scholars- they relate class to buying power- in contrast to the Marxist notion of the production ownership hypothesis. Neither of those descriptions can aptly describe the class relationship in Jamaica as it is a more complex arrangement. As Jamaicans, class relationship occurs in a saga of relationship exchanges that are both implicit and explicit. Like racism class is institutionalised and sadly acted out in our relationship exchanges of snobbery and  through episodes of social exclusion, oral narratives and either negative or positive body languages.

There is an abundance of evidence that class prejudice is the main bug bearer that prevents social, economic and cultural progress in Jamaica. This class prejudice has its genesis in slavery with the plantation class foisting a misleading ideology that because of their wealth, land ownership and biology they were better off than the slaves. Along with these ideas social arrangements were forged in a hierarchical manner. For example, there were the plantation owners in England, The overseer in Jamaica that ran the plantation, there were supervisory staff on the plantation some of which were mulatos and slaves who was divided in working gangs on the plantation. There were slaves who worked as domestic help on the Great Houses where the owners and overseers lived. These slaves were exposed to more privileges than the slaves who worked in the fields.

The governors were sent from England and the local government system implemented used oppressive and coercive laws that were reinforced by locally appointed legislative councils across the Island. Discrimination was perpetuated at various levels and these levels reinforced each other. The slaves were at the bottom of the power relationship ladder that bore the brunt of dehumanising conditions, and verbal insult and beatings that affected their self-esteem and blurred their self-concept. An ideology of divide and rule was inflicted upon them and the social, economic and environmental setting that they lived. This created the structural template for an oppressive class system that was institutional. This class categorisation not only created differences, it implied and entrenched notions of superiority and inferiority reinforced by the rule of oppressive laws.

On a personal level, slaves were denied a formal education the philosophy behind it was intended to prevent them from rationalising and making sense of their oppression which would ignite a social upheaval that would affect the security and economic interest of the white status quo. Through language, false ideologies were forced upon slaves such as being black was ugly, and white was beautiful. This implied a biological social division that was used as a justification for discrimination and entrenched inequality. It was this psychologically enforced misnomer that saw majority of the slaves over time believing, internalising and perpetuating self-hatred. Those who protested by running away from the system faced several beatings, amputation of limbs or in some cases public hanging.

A more subtle form of protest took place culturally through dancing and singing during the major slave festivals at Christmas time. Altkink (2000) a PHD student at Hull University gave insights into how this subtle protest was communicated by slave women through dance and song. She opined that: slave dances were both functional and recreational. It provided an outlet valve for stress, community cohesion and communicated ideas about sexuality and gender roles. These dances were sanctioned by the slave masters who endorsed the activity in contrast with education that they saw as a threat to their interest.

The slaves performed the Johnkanoo dance brought from West Africa. Dressed in harlequins accompanied by two masked male dancers outflanked by women they would lead their dancing procession from their estate of origin to several neighbouring estates. It is well documented by several writers that the masked men teased and heckled their slave masters behind the mask without them knowing. The unsuspecting planters showed their delight and approval of this perceived adulation by giving presents and money to the dancers at their gate.

Sharon Bryant, (2006) an African American historian from North Carolina on her blog opined that Johnkanoo was very much alive in North America and drew parallels with Altkings writing. Her account is summarised as follows: “They gathered in the afternoon with musical instruments, gave thanks for a good harvest and made fun of the plantation owners. The ‘ragman’, (the leader) wore a colourful rag costume, considered to be the spirits of the plantation owners’ family. He was followed by the fancy man dressed in a dapper suit with a tall black hat. He collected money in a tin cup. The parade travelled through the plantation and continued to the slaves’ quarters until the participants were tired”. It was by her account an exercise to vent stress, make fun of the master and acted as a buffer to prevent slave revolts.

The spelling of Johnkonoo varied and its origin and meaning widely contested. However it was widely practiced in the Caribbean and North America during and after slavery. These descriptions were documented by white writers during the period of slavery.

Historian Edward Long and Clinton V. Black have recorded epic descriptions of a vibrant dance hall movement during slavery and a dance hall queen was described. It was written that she had to conform to the expectation of providing a graceful performance when presented to her master. By their account, dance was very important in slaves’ lives similar to the dance hall influence in today’s society. Slave women’s hip wriggling during the slave rituals clearly simulated love making. The male domination in the slave dances conveyed courtship and male supremacy. It generated ideas about sexuality and reproduction. According to J.P. Moreton (year) a Bookkeeper: “The best slave dancers on the plantation raise their status in the slave community. One of them was a female slave called Psyche she earned this accolade because she was good at wriggling her hips. When Planter Monk Lewis requested a performance from the slave community it was no surprise that Psyche was put forward by general acclamation. Not wanting to draw the irate of her master with her hip wriggling skills it was recorded that she gave a performance that was light, graceful and easy spirited. Psyche received a handful of silver from monk for her performance”.

Edward long commented in his writings that it was plain to see that the slave women were born with the gift of dancing by the skills that they displayed. However, he was less impressed by the fact that children started to wriggle their hips at an early stage so much that he felt that it affected their walking making them as he described it, “Walk with a swagger”. Moreton stated that: it was amazing to observe the agility with which they moved and twisted their joints. Mary Ann Reid a slave woman from Unity Hall held a dance. The guests had to pay a small entrance fee to dance all night. Entertainment was provided by fiddlers and the slave guests were served with pork, yam, and plantain. There was a combination of admiration and debasement of how women dance during slavery.

Women’s contribution to the development of the popular culture of Jamaica has been undermined and has not received the attention and respect that it deserves. The popular cultures in past and present times have been bedevilled by hegemonic masculinity. Like race, women’s sexuality has always seen a biological matter that hinders their progress in every sphere of life. The sex difference of women has always been used to screen out or unjustly perpetuate injustice against their rights in pre and post independent Jamaica. In the early recordings of the emergence of our popular culture they had to take a back seat role. The Jonkanoo dances were led by two masked men. Today the reggae industry is male dominated and the success of women in this genre of music often depends on them forging sexual liaisons with influential producers in order to get the exposure that they so rightly deserve. The emergence of reggae music and its focus on consciousness through writers give the misleading impression that it owes its success solely to the emergence of Rasta music of the nineteen sixties and seventies and again women have been omitted.

 The great icon the Honourable Robert Nesta Marley (Bob Marley) became famous internationally in part due to an emotionally moving rendition of “No Woman nuh Cry” this sang drew attention to the difficulty of women’s conditions in Trench Town Jamaica an urban blight community battered by poverty and social exclusion. But how can the female singers, songwriters and dancers of past and present wipe their tears when their contributions have been excluded by the producers, writers and consumers of this beautiful art form? During slavery, slave songs were customarily the domain of slave women. Slave men only took the lead in work and funeral songs. The playing of instruments was male dominated and the lyrics of the song composed portrayed a sense of community spirit. Slave women expressed through their songs features of history that affected them most such as the beatings they experienced, enforced separation and forced liaisons with their masters. They clearly described in their songs how male slaves on the instruction of their masters held them down, stripped and flogged them in a way that was below a dehumanising standard.

So the Jamaican culture is subtly represented along class lines the culture has straddled a number of social relations with a strong masculine overtone that continues to discount female contribution and degrade any other sexual identity or their contribution to national life. In fact it is illegal to be gay and socially dangerous to act out any semblance of males not being masculine enough. There is a pervading feeling among the masses that the colonial master has represented himself through the old boy net work that constantly perpetuate a class war trough wilful act or omissions in order to keep themselves in power. Garrison constituencies is one of such political arrangement that I will revisit from time to time during this discourse.

Much has been achieved despite the drawback mentioned Jamaica is often described as the cultural Perl of the southern hemisphere our music, sports and food speaks volumes to our achievement. A web of deceit in the form of classism is spun around the countries people and has impaired their social interaction and prevents social cohesion at a cultural level. It has created social tensions resentment and divisions among people. It ails for legislation in the form of an anti-discriminatory legislative framework to tackle these problems.

Donavon Reynolds is a London based Social Worker/Human Rights campaigner and Independent Writer. He is the Author of “Poor & Boasy”: which takes a humanistic view of Jamaica’s culture. The foregoing is an excerpt of chapter 3 of that book. Please feel free to send your critique or comments to dannygerm63@hotmail.co.uk. You may also post your comments on face book, Twitter or at the section reserved for feedback on this blog.