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Productive and healthy New Year to all massive.
There has been much heat generated and very little light cast in some very shrill and superficial quarters here on the racial dimensions of Jamaica's recent political and socio-economic development ..... or perhaps the disappointing lack thereof.
I choose to take a longer historical view and offer the following timeline with respect to what I see as some of the major forces that shape Jamaica today:
1494 - 1865
Jamaica dominated by Europeans who slaughter the indigenous population and completely wipe them out.... clear genocide and a crime against humanity. Africans brought in (most die intransit) under a vicious chattel slavery and exploited to the hilt by the English..... another unrequited crime against humanity.
1865 - mid 1940's
The English continue their domination, brainwashing and exploitation of the majority, now "free" descendants of slaves now with the desperately needed and enthusiastically provided assistance of a mulatto and near-white elite administrative class. Africans gain ground only slowly and painfully blocked at every turn by the English and a developing local elite class.
1950's - 1972
Black Jamaicans continue to gain ground by dint of hard work and a focus on education but the English, now largely absent, give more ground to local mulatto and near-white elites who accumulate and assert more economic and political power operating a Jamaicanized and modernized version of the English exploitation model they learned and love so well.
1972 - 1980
The Manley years of well meaning social experimentation aimed at leveling the playing field and increasing the power of the black majority.
Thoroughly derailed by a potent mix of poor planning, immature and misguided policy execution and irrational exuberance regarding cold war rhetoric seen as incendiary to a largely unsophisticated and selfish elite class, destabilization by US and allied governments in concert with local elites and right wing political forces.
Resultant polarization and social, political and economic chaos set the country back 2 decades. Manley bravely goes against his class interests to try to advance the black majority but proves to be quite immature politically and clueless from an economic standpoint.
He must be blamed for not forecasting the negative reaction of the local elites and foreign forces to his policies and given the Jamaican mindset, the extreme and destructive political divisions that resulted.
However, for the FIRST time in Jamaican history, large segments of black Jamaican majority feel a part of "society" ... a huge social gain but at too great a cost... a pyrrhic victory.
1980 - 1988
Structural reforms under Seaga. Local elites again empowered and come back to the fore and as ever continue a steady accumulation of wealth. No real progress for the majority either socially or economically.
1988 - 2007
Various PNP administrations with varying levels of ineptitude mostly under Patterson taking over from a neutered Manley. Through inattention and collusion Govt. allows a venal, greedy and corrupt financial sector run by local elites (some now visibly black but mostly not) to almost bankrupt the country and build debt to near world record levels - of course the majority bear the brunt of the burden through reduced services and increased taxation.
A thin coterie of politically favoured black businesspeople benefit from Patterson's largesse but adverse macro-economics severely limit progress of the majority. Trickle down capitalism at its worst compounded by the travails of globalization.
2007 - ?
The Golding years. After almost 2 decades of chafing the elites have their champion elevated to power by the thinnest of margins. That this margin is so wafer-like in the face of obvious PNP failure does not bode well for their longevity in office.
Near white elites and their assorted associates (some black) walk and talk with new found confidence and assertiveness..... minor examples of their garrulous ways exist for all to see on this forum.
Whither Jamaica in this new dispensation and especially the lot of the majority?
Only time will tell but I'm sure we all hope for the best however we choose to define it.
That's my take on things.
Selah
There has been much heat generated and very little light cast in some very shrill and superficial quarters here on the racial dimensions of Jamaica's recent political and socio-economic development ..... or perhaps the disappointing lack thereof.
I choose to take a longer historical view and offer the following timeline with respect to what I see as some of the major forces that shape Jamaica today:
1494 - 1865
Jamaica dominated by Europeans who slaughter the indigenous population and completely wipe them out.... clear genocide and a crime against humanity. Africans brought in (most die intransit) under a vicious chattel slavery and exploited to the hilt by the English..... another unrequited crime against humanity.
1865 - mid 1940's
The English continue their domination, brainwashing and exploitation of the majority, now "free" descendants of slaves now with the desperately needed and enthusiastically provided assistance of a mulatto and near-white elite administrative class. Africans gain ground only slowly and painfully blocked at every turn by the English and a developing local elite class.
1950's - 1972
Black Jamaicans continue to gain ground by dint of hard work and a focus on education but the English, now largely absent, give more ground to local mulatto and near-white elites who accumulate and assert more economic and political power operating a Jamaicanized and modernized version of the English exploitation model they learned and love so well.
1972 - 1980
The Manley years of well meaning social experimentation aimed at leveling the playing field and increasing the power of the black majority.
Thoroughly derailed by a potent mix of poor planning, immature and misguided policy execution and irrational exuberance regarding cold war rhetoric seen as incendiary to a largely unsophisticated and selfish elite class, destabilization by US and allied governments in concert with local elites and right wing political forces.
Resultant polarization and social, political and economic chaos set the country back 2 decades. Manley bravely goes against his class interests to try to advance the black majority but proves to be quite immature politically and clueless from an economic standpoint.
He must be blamed for not forecasting the negative reaction of the local elites and foreign forces to his policies and given the Jamaican mindset, the extreme and destructive political divisions that resulted.
However, for the FIRST time in Jamaican history, large segments of black Jamaican majority feel a part of "society" ... a huge social gain but at too great a cost... a pyrrhic victory.
1980 - 1988
Structural reforms under Seaga. Local elites again empowered and come back to the fore and as ever continue a steady accumulation of wealth. No real progress for the majority either socially or economically.
1988 - 2007
Various PNP administrations with varying levels of ineptitude mostly under Patterson taking over from a neutered Manley. Through inattention and collusion Govt. allows a venal, greedy and corrupt financial sector run by local elites (some now visibly black but mostly not) to almost bankrupt the country and build debt to near world record levels - of course the majority bear the brunt of the burden through reduced services and increased taxation.
A thin coterie of politically favoured black businesspeople benefit from Patterson's largesse but adverse macro-economics severely limit progress of the majority. Trickle down capitalism at its worst compounded by the travails of globalization.
2007 - ?
The Golding years. After almost 2 decades of chafing the elites have their champion elevated to power by the thinnest of margins. That this margin is so wafer-like in the face of obvious PNP failure does not bode well for their longevity in office.
Near white elites and their assorted associates (some black) walk and talk with new found confidence and assertiveness..... minor examples of their garrulous ways exist for all to see on this forum.
Whither Jamaica in this new dispensation and especially the lot of the majority?
Only time will tell but I'm sure we all hope for the best however we choose to define it.
That's my take on things.
Selah
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