STATE Minister Damion Crawford’s recent controversial statements concerning Reggae/Black History Month have not only stirred intense debate, but seems contrary to the Government’s official policies.

Crawford was quoted that he was convinced that Jamaica should not be celebrating February as Black History Month.

On Dennis Brown’s birthday (February 1), the Jamaica Reggae Industry Asssociation (JaRIA) joined the Ministry of Youth and Culture at Emancipation Park where they staged day-long activities for the official launch of month-long programmes promoting Reggae/Black History Month, under the theme ‘Growing up black under the green and gold’.

Unwittingly, it has galvanised solidarity within the cultural fraternity for the mission of JaRIA and its component organisations, including the Dennis Brown Trust, to develop, preserve and protect this special period within our annual events calendar.

My general impression is that any attempt to change Reggae Month to another time of year will be vigorously resisted by a broad coalition of interests. Most people strongly object to the idea of manipulating our authentic cultural symbols purely to satisfy commercial imperatives.

Regardless of the origins of Black History Month, given the alienation, high level of senseless violence, the widespread practice of bleaching, and other negative cultural manifestations displayed, it is a worthwhile initiative for focusing the attention of Jamaican youths on the significant contributions made by our forefathers. This is not only in relation to the building of this country, but in various endeavours such as literature, science and technology, human and civil rights throughout the world.

One of Marcus Garvey’s most famous quotes says, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” In contrast, so often I hear black folks saying: “Anything too black nuh good” or “Mi nuh like nobody too black”. Too many of us hate the image that stares back at us when we look in the mirror.

Former Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green recently said: “It played to my advantage being white-skinned, because the people trusted white-skinned people more than they would trust a black officer.” This is one of the harmful legacies of our colonial past which, as a nation, we have failed to redress through our educational system.

The other comment by the minister in that recent television interview, that has caused public consternation, is his response to Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper about the lack of sufficient sponsorship of wholesome, family-oriented cultural events, such as Reggae Month, by the private sector.

He reiterated something I first heard him state last year, which is, that businesses have no obligation but to their shareholders. Well, that approach is taking us back almost to the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, which was built on the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors and in the sweatshops of the industrialised world, eventually leading to dire consequences for both the working class and the oligarchy…. Remember 1938!

Certainly, by the time I was being taught economics, we learnt that enlightened capitalists also had a social responsibility, if only in their own self-interests, because a stable society would sustain their ability to produce and market their goods successfully.

As that popular Jamaican song says ‘Time longer than rope…’

Email:che.campbell@gmail.com