Many years ago, a White South African wrote a song in which the refrain was ‘conscious of the colour of your skin’ as he painted everything white.
Every time I go up to America I become very conscious of the colour of my skin.
Sometimes it doesn’t happen right away, and I’m talking to people and then something happens, someone says something or does something.
And like that South African, I am suddenly conscious of the colour of my skin.
I live in Jamaica. If you ask me what ‘Shorty’ looking like, I will tell you; “Well, he’s really about six feet four inches, and very big… I just call him Shorty as a nick…”
In America they will say, “What colour is he?” and me I’ll look around and try to find a colour that matches his complexion.
Then, I’ll realise what I’m being asked; “Black.” I’ll say.
Don’t think it only happens to those from Jamaica who are Black. It happens to those who are White.
In a supermarket, asking a shelf packer if he has ‘muesli’ and getting into a conversation, prompts the manager to arrive; “What is the problem?”
Obviously if a white person is talking to a black person in the supermarket she either has a problem with him, meaning that she’s on the white manager’s side, or she doesn’t which means she is one of those lower class poor white trash.
Saying ‘Good Morning’ as one passes doesn’t get the expected response but suspicious scowls.
When Barack Obama was running from President I was in Florida visiting and I saw him.
I thought to myself; “I think bad things are going to happen, because a lot of these people are racist and hiding it.”
I hoped I was wrong, but I wasn’t.
Americans will vote against free health care because a Black Man suggested it. Congress will refuse to pass a budget because a Black Man directed it.
Every other week a Black Man is murdered in America by White Police. Police killing people never was a big deal. Anyone who lived in the ‘ghetto’ would always know someone whom the police murdered.
Now it is a big deal.
In Jamaica Police kill people almost every day. The difference I guess is that the Police are Black, the corpse is Black.
Every time I leave Jamaica I have to remind myself of the colour of my skin.
What is the Main Cause of a Heart Attack? What is its Solution? A heart attack is the blockage of… Read More
In the vast economic arena, one term that often takes center stage, inciting extensive debates and discussions, is the "debt… Read More
De-Dollarization: The Changing Face of Global Finance The financial landscape is in a state of flux, with an intriguing economic… Read More
The curtains closed on a dramatic Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich standing tall once again, clinching their 11th straight title.… Read More
The Unfolding Story of Celine Dion's Health In recent news that has left fans across the globe stunned, iconic singer… Read More
As the echoes of the recent NBA season start to fade, the attention of enthusiasts is firmly glued to one… Read More
View Comments
Is it only when you leave Jamaica? Are you saying there is no "color consciousness" or racism in Jamaica? I've never been there. My husband is from The Bahamas. To say there is no racism in that country would not be factual. To say the racism is not as bad in The Bahamas as it is in the USA would be a factual statement.
Colour is not the factor in Jamaica. It may be class, it may be power... but it isn't colour. Not as in America. I can list situtions in which leading experts were not allowed to join specific organisations because of their colour and the only way they get in is to have someone inside pull strings.
Most Americans hate to hear about racism in their Country.
I'm not so sure Americans hate to hear about racism in the United States. Our news reports are loaded with stories about it! Indeed it is an accepted fact of our life, woven into the tapestry of our society. I don't say it as if it's a good thing. I simply say it as a fact, an historical fact, and a fact of present day living in America. Any American who tries to disregard or ignore that fact is just being purposely ignorant. Even though it is a fact, not all Americans are racists or concern themselves with skin color. Once read an interesting article titled “Top 10 Most Racist Countries in the World” found at InfoBarrel.com. Racism is disgusting no matter who is being racist against who! I might also add, IT'S UNNECESSARY!!
If you were in Jamaica for a time, you'd notice the difference. To give you an example, I was in the supermarket. There's a very good customer, who had not won a prize during the Xmas contest and was running a joke with the staff who said that they tried to pick out her name but failed. Another customer said that only scammers win... and everyone laughed. At the time it didn't occur to me, but sitting here, these are people of 3 different races. This is the kind of banter once gets... this unconscious response to what is said not the complexion of those who say it.
It is not appropriate to say there is no Color consciousness in Jamaica. It may be there and can be identified in case of those in U.S only. In the case of Jamaica, it is not color consciousness but for Race and Power. It is always there. Here a black will kill black. The shooter will be the police.
Unfortunately, in such incidents happening in the U.S the shooter will always be a U.S police and the victim will be a black. Hence, the reason for arriving at such decision.
This is not the only incidents. There are many cases and situations a discrimination is being shown towards the black.
In the case of the appointments for jobs getting good salaries, the Black are considered very rarely. Most of the Blacks are getting the jobs in U.S as Labourers. The wages they paid are also less than what is paid to the others. Again among the blacks, the women get less than men.
Mr. Donald is very much against this color consciousness. He will do something for the people of U.S and make them feel proud of their President. He will definitely uphold the dignity and grandeur of the U.S Internationally. Let us hope for the best from Mr. Donald.
You do not seem to understand Jamaica or the United States.
It is true. Firstly, in America you might say; "Joan has red hair..." that doesn't mean you are prejudiced or pro red hair. The colour of skin is as important. Trump will increase the racism and as you have seen, things are happening which are making people more conscious of the colour of their skin.
Why sometimes we do exaggerate racism when are so many stories in America and yes, Bahamas where black and white are helping, marrying cooperating each other. We can magnify this kind of stories and not the stories that have been the nightmare of the past.
In America the race issue was never properly confronted. So people don't say anything, they just act.
Until this time racial discrimination is waging war in itself.Brown or black skin, some whites feel allergic. But like me whose skin is brown as being a brown American hehehe, do not matter at all in terms of color.Skin color depicts our location, our terrain, climate, so why are there people haters of skin color? What is important is we are good citizens in the republic where we were born.
There are people who don't consider you a 'real...(nationality) unless you are a particular colour.
Understanding is the only option that we can do in dealing with different sets of people.It is difficult but we need to be broadminded with such bad things done by others.Racism is the worst thing that other people do.I was also a victim of this when working with foreign people who came from developed countries.At first, I ignored the malicious acts towards me.But then, when they deliberately insulting me; I started to give my piece.
I was working in an international NGO before.As international volunteers, we are not educated to discriminate others.I emphasized this bad implication.At some point, they had to stop doing it.If they still insist, then I will report them to the higher ups.