Tarrus, Mutabaruka on race and history

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Jamaicans who justify bleaching are mentally enslaved reasoned entertainer Tarrus Riley, who steered his comments away from fellow entertainer Vybz Kartel.

At the same time poet/philosopher/broadcaster Mutabaruka revealed that many Jamaican teachers and youth cluelessly locate Egypt outside of Africa which reflects their torn link with that country's heritage.

"We have to be careful of an invisible chain that they wrap around our minds," stated Riley, who was one of three panellists including Mutabaruka and Omar Abdullah Johnson the great-great-great-great grand nephew of US scholar Fredrick Douglass, at a recent discussion entitled Shaka Zulu Pickney, produced by the Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of the West Indies Mona.

"Bleaching has become the in-thing. Something is going on in their minds. And I am not talking about artistes but real people. Because when someone look in the mirror and don't like what they see its a big deal" Riley said.

His latest single Shaka Zulu Pickney, released during Black History month in February, highlights the contribution of uplifting black leaders especially Shaka, king of the Zulu nation.

Deejay Vybz Kartel's recent revelation that he has lightened his skin to highlight his tattoos, has ignited a firestorm of comments.

Turning to Mutabaruka. He said that the geographic ignorance on Egypt's location hinted at a greater historical ignorance.

"I kid you not. None of the teachers could show where Egypt was on the map," said Mutabaruka who added that those teachers were from a school in Manchester.

Mutabaruka speaks at schools across the island on issues related to African heritage.

"Most youth in Jamaica don't know that Egypt is in Africa," he said. "We have a disconnect. When it comes to history because we don't know how we fit into world history. We never were taught that black people were before slavery."

In February, western media blanketed the airwaves with continuous coverage of the Egyptian uprising which led to the ousting of president Hosni Mubarak from power in what was termed a peaceful revolution.

Mutabaruka explained that the black history extends beyond any other race based on scientific findings of the first human fossils, or biblical data in reference to the Garden of Eden.

"When you go to church they are showing you African history but you not connecting it with yourself because when you look at the images you know it is not you," he stated about the biblical images reinterpreted as Eurocentric. "Our history is before slavery. It is longer than any other history. More than European, Asian or whatever. African history is the history of the world. It connects the world."

The Egyptian, Nubian and Moorish empires of Africa were globally the most advanced civilisations of their day according to texts including 'African Presence in Early Europe' edited by global scholar Dr Ivan van Sertima. These empires existed prior to the transatlantic slave trade. Mutabaruka argued that knowledge of the past would reshape Jamaica's social and economic reality.

"Marcus Garvey said that a man without his past is like a tree without roots," he stated quoting Jamaica's first national hero. "It would have made a big difference. Even though the people say that 'its only food and shelter we a deal with now and we not bothering to talk about history', what we don't know is hurting us right now."

— Steven Jackson

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COMMENTS (15)

D H
3/16/2011

I don't want to start nuttin' but is Taurus' hair in the picture above colored?

Liz Barnett
3/16/2011

I have a different take on it and hopefully I don't get crucified but I know alot of women who bleach because BLACK MEN do not love their own women who look like their mother and their sister, they treat lighterskinned women better and who doesn't want to be loved? That is the reality. People risk getting cancer to tan, bleach, get plastic surgery, all in the name of beauty its not just Black people, life is short, be happy. I happen to like my dark skin but to each his own.

Antonette W.
3/16/2011

Some excellent points were made here, by Muta & the readers. I met a Jamaican man who, on our first meeting spent about an hour preening about his family history, how they had come to JA from Portugal many generations ago, blah,blah, blah. This jet black man with kinky hair never once spoke of his obvious African roots, and how he came to look as he did. When I asked him what he knew of his African roots he responded, "That was such a long time ago. I don't have any interest in that."

Imo Bakari
3/16/2011

One of the most important ingredients for a people to realize thier destiny is to know who they are. Once this is not the case our African brothers and sisters will be engaging in self destructive acts without ever fulfilling thier potential for greatness. Our glorious past remains unknown to many who have been brainwashed to believe that Africa is the backward continent.. Once they can know the truth and what they have been told are big fat lies.It is only until such time greatness will occur.

Imo Bakari
3/16/2011

One of the most significant requirements for progress in one's life is to have a true sense of who you are. A major premise being your sense of history and culture. Once people are historically displaced and culturally disoriented confusion abounds in their lives and communities.The disconnect among African people in Jamaica and across the globe to their ancestral home land, its significance to world history and development is tantamount to a lost people who must be found to allow our rise.

steven james
3/15/2011

Thanks for the suggestion Emperor , and I do agree with you that there are some far more violent songs out there. but notice this was done by an artist that is labeled "conscious". My concern is the mothers (the hands that rock the cradle) biggin up a man who beats her because he makes her weak with the sex. As simple as it seems this message promotes good sex over decency. The bleaching will deal with Kartel and everything else he might be involved in, but he never claimed to be more than he is

The Emperor
3/15/2011

Steven, not to say your point is invalid. However, the 2 things don’t have to be mutually exclusive. We don’t have to choose, or be made to highlight & correct one ill of our society & not another. It should be an ongoing process to try & correct that which is wrong within our society. Countless other songs promote violence 100 folds over the one you referenced. Lets agree that something else needs to be done, but give credit for the current effort..
Blessed Love

howie J
3/15/2011

One scholar defines history as that which is TRUE and SIGNIFICANT. What is true and significant is based on WORLDVIEWS. The slave and his master see things thru’ different lenses and as such, they should have different stories to tell, but what we have in Jamaica, even after independence, is a regurgitation of what is “true and significant” to the Europeans.
We Africans have no need to lie or as some like to say, “Romanticize history” because the truth is on our side. For it is a fact that Europeans and Asians practiced and believed in the institution of slavery more than Africans.

steven james
3/15/2011

Women giving in to beatings because the man can satisfy them sexually is a sure sign of weakness, hence the breakdown of any decent society. For a woman who would wants to epitomize strength, why entertain such a man? Rastas need to know and focus more on the root problem in a society. It is the destruction of family. Bleaching is just a by- product.

steven james
3/15/2011

All this is well and good, but I would prefer to see and hear rastas addressing more moral issues like the common practice of men beating women and disrespecting women in the presence of their children. This does nothing for a child's self esteem. Queen Ifrica has a song that she glorifies her man in. "Me and mi lover always a fight, but him know wey fi do fi mek mi smile get bright!" She goes on to say (suggesting that it is sex ) when she looks below his waist, she's humbled like a child.

howie J
3/15/2011

“Mutabaruka argued that knowledge of the past would reshape Jamaica's social and economic reality.” — Steven Jackson
Muta is certainly right. To fix Jamaica’s social and economic problems is to reevaluate the history we teach to our people. I have made this into a prediction that unless we get our history right, then there will be no hope for this country. The high crime rates, the high levels of corruption, the beastly behaviors, low esteem, the lack of compassion and empathy are all intrinsically linked to our pseudo-history.
This is not a time to look down on those who are bleaching their skins, but a time to look at how our school systems have failed all of us. People live what they learn.

The Emperor
3/15/2011

3 of 3 continued from previous...
It is our own responsibility to perpetuate our culture, our race, and our people; noone else is going to do it for us. Woe be unto those who shirk their responsibility in this regard, and while doing so are actively working against people embracing and understanding their culture. If you do not intend to be a part of the solution, please (Vybz Cartoon and others) don’t add to the problem.
Blessed Love

The Emperor
3/15/2011

2 of 3 continued from previous...
I have people trying to tell me that I am wrong to bring up my youths on celebrating Kwanzaa instead of christmas, on not celebrating thanksgiving, on making sure that they observe MLK day. Firstly, I think they are out of place to try to tell me how to raise me youths, secondly I explain in detail to my youths why it is important that they know and celebrate these things as opposed to the others- they reflect our culture and our race. to be continued...

The Emperor
3/15/2011

It is sadly apparent that even our teachers are ignorant. You cant teach what you don’t know, and as a result there is a great chance that ignorance will be perpetuated throughout our society on a large scale. We still live in a society where one is ridiculed for being self aware and “afro-centric”. We are starting to tell ourselves that we are biggots and racists because we preach love for ourselves (note, not hatred for others, simply love for ourselves). to be continued....

Joe Wonder
3/15/2011

Talk the tings dem Muta, talk dem up.
The self hate is so disgusting.

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Tarrus, Mutabaruka on race and history