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Carnival prejudice?
Published: Tuesday | March 17, 2009
The Editor, Sir:
I was made to feel like a second-rate citizen several weeks ago when I attended the opening of Bacchanal Fridays at Mas Camp. I'm a dark-skinned Jamaican and the class prejudice in our society raised its ugly head in an unforgettable way.
I was purchasing a [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]costume [COLOR=orange! important]for[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] the upcoming road march and was greeted with the most discreet, yet pungent form of classism. The attendant, who was selling costumes for one of the most popular groups in Bacchanal Carnival, informed me that I could not purchase the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]costume[/COLOR][/COLOR] if I had not 'jumped' with the group before. Shocked, I demanded that she sold me the costume as that was the one I liked and it was still available.
What this young lady was actually doing was handpicking who joins their clique, based on social status and appearance. Just look at who comprises the various groups each year, especially one group in particular.
Victim
The dichotomy between upper St Andrew light-skinned Jamaicans and the average, and might I add majority, dark-skinned Jamaicans is a well-known secret of our society. But, to be a victim of it is quite something else.
I was under the impression that carnival was about uniting and having fun, similar to a [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]reggae[/COLOR][/COLOR] festival.
I am a lover of reggae, but I am a soca fanatic and cannot wait for carnival each year. One of the most exciting things is to choose the costume then parade in it on the streets. Sadly, my experience at Mas Camp has me reassessing my annual Easter festivity.
I am, etc.,
JC
Kingston 10
Published: Tuesday | March 17, 2009
The Editor, Sir:
I was made to feel like a second-rate citizen several weeks ago when I attended the opening of Bacchanal Fridays at Mas Camp. I'm a dark-skinned Jamaican and the class prejudice in our society raised its ugly head in an unforgettable way.
I was purchasing a [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]costume [COLOR=orange! important]for[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] the upcoming road march and was greeted with the most discreet, yet pungent form of classism. The attendant, who was selling costumes for one of the most popular groups in Bacchanal Carnival, informed me that I could not purchase the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]costume[/COLOR][/COLOR] if I had not 'jumped' with the group before. Shocked, I demanded that she sold me the costume as that was the one I liked and it was still available.
What this young lady was actually doing was handpicking who joins their clique, based on social status and appearance. Just look at who comprises the various groups each year, especially one group in particular.
Victim
The dichotomy between upper St Andrew light-skinned Jamaicans and the average, and might I add majority, dark-skinned Jamaicans is a well-known secret of our society. But, to be a victim of it is quite something else.
I was under the impression that carnival was about uniting and having fun, similar to a [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]reggae[/COLOR][/COLOR] festival.
I am a lover of reggae, but I am a soca fanatic and cannot wait for carnival each year. One of the most exciting things is to choose the costume then parade in it on the streets. Sadly, my experience at Mas Camp has me reassessing my annual Easter festivity.
I am, etc.,
JC
Kingston 10
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