When discussing with Jamaicans at home and abroad there is a tendency of its citizens to compare an infant culture with some cultures that are already over 240 years in the making and others over 1,000 years old. Jamaica celebrated the 56th year of political independence recently; however, in terms of the building and shaping of its citizens’ cultural identity, Jamaica is still an infant.

This is particularly so when compared with the European countries that carried out massacres on indigenous populations, pillaged Africa, and then enslaved mostly West Africans for their manpower in order to enrich their economic and cultural development. It must therefore be remembered that Jamaica is culturally young and, consequently, has a considerable amount of developing to do, both culturally and economically.

Jamaica is mostly made up of ethnic groups from West African origins, with some 90 per cent-plus of its citizens categorised as such. So why is it that when Jamaican citizens are asked about their West African descendants and identity many vehemently deny any such connections. Perhaps the answer may be revealed, in some degree, in the foregoing.

Jamaicans also demonstrate a strong denial of their British heritage, which is somewhat astounding. To set the scene for the discussion, some historical facts must be focused on. The history of Jamaica is mostly written by others, and so the story may be different; however, this is what is contemporary. Jamaica was in the hands of Europeans from 1492 – 1962; some will argue that it still is — I guess Independence will always be a reminder that Jamaicans now have responsibility for Jamaica. For most of those 470-plus years Jamaicans, and whoever else who choose to live here, were dominated by the British. So why are many Jamaicans at home and abroad denying the two most obvious influences on their present-day existence?

When 56 years is compared to 470 years, some British identities are clearly still embedded in many Jamaicans. To deny it is foolhardy. So why do we deny our likeness to the British?, especially when, through institutionalised and habitualised behaviour, British identity is certainly well engrained.

More importantly, why do Jamaicans also deny their obvious West African connections? For example, the language spoken in Jamaica, by most Jamaicans, reveals particular likeness to languages (particularly Twi) spoken in the West African geographical area. This is compounded by the fact that 90 per cent-plus of the citizens, in some ways, reflect behaviour that is a combination of West African countries’ cultural heritage.

The capturing and enslavement of Africans in the Americas and the Caribbean is the biggest genocide perpetuated on humankind in our existence. How is that celebrated in our culture? Such events must have shaped and is still shaping present-day Jamaica and Jamaicans. It may be that Jamaicans have no wish to be reminded of such a past, even when the version of history of that period in the construction of Jamaican culture and Jamaicans’ cultural identity is mostly written by their tormentors. Perhaps it is necessary for such writings to be presented from a Jamaican perspective. In that way citizens may become familiar with their history, rather than a history that is told and retold by generations of Jamaicans from the perspective of their capturers — because that is what they were taught.

How can Jamaicans let the story of their freedom be told from a perspective which portrays them as the ‘other’? Accepting such falsehood leads Jamaicans to deny totally and without any reservations any commonality with those who had dominion in the shaping of the cultural identity of Jamaicans and the evolving of Jamaican culture thus far. Jamaicans must therefore, in order to know who they really are, dispel the discourse of the Eurocentric view of Africa. In doing so, it is necessary for a better education of the masses, especially about their true identity, so that Jamaicans may have the opportunity to examine themselves through a different prism and, in so doing, they will be better informed for the shaping and developing of its young culture.

Taken from such a point of view Jamaicans ought to be prepared to give some thought as to who they are, and how who they are ought to be represented in the continuing shaping of the Jamaican culture and Jamaicans’ cultural identity. A consequence of Jamaicans not celebrating the genocide in their history is because of partisan activities and poor management of other factors; therefore, its citizens may be on a pathway to creating another slaughter. However, this one will be of their ‘own’ making. Those who do not remember their history are doomed to repeat it.

For Jamaicans who are unaware, a remarkable event in our history happens on August 17. It is a day that ought to be celebrated by all — the birthday of Marcus Mosiah Garvey. He is unquestionably the greatest Jamaican (African), and shouldn’t we also remember that he is an ‘ascendant’ of enslaved Africans in Jamaica? Sadly, in Jamaica he is still so easily forgettable. Yet he left us his legacy: The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey. And what do Jamaicans do with the legacy? Mostly ignore it.

I wonder when Garveyism will be taught in the greatest detail in Jamaica (from primary to tertiary) as part of Jamaicans’ education. Instead, the institutions created by those who enslaved Jamaicans are still utilised and continue to enslave the minds of many Jamaicans.

So, the corrupt partisan nonsense that is presently practised continues to lead to so many innocent lives being lost in the fledgling culture and cultural identity development process. Consequently, Jamaica and many Jamaicans continue to struggle with a system that is no longer economically viable to meet all its citizens’ needs. The system which it replaced was also at the time no longer economically viable. However, its abolition was turned into a human kindness story in the history of the story of the abolition of slavery.

Where are the writers of the true history of Jamaica? The history written continues to contribute to the system which leave many Jamaicans both destitute and illiterate. It is persisting, and will do so for the foreseeable future. How can it be changed? Jamaica must examine and construct a picture of what happened during the period of their subjugation. Jamaicans must tell their own story of their history. Remember that in the story of the hunt, “until the lions learn to write the hunter will always have the most interesting story of the hunt”. Jamaicans must not allow the hunter to, quite frankly, be lenient about what is Jamaica’s history. The story the hunter left behind may still be interesting for hunters, but it does not tell the story of the lion in the hunt. It is important that the descendants of the lion know the lion’s truth.

The fledgling culture and the evolving cultural identity development must be informed by how Jamaicans interpret their past; they must be mindful of the hunters’ version of events. Mindfulness and understanding of the past ensures the present and future to be free from the burden of that bygone era. In so doing, Jamaica and Jamaicans will not continue to be impacted upon but be informed by that bygone era. Cultural literacy insights gained from engaging with the Jamaican hi[story] could then be shared at all levels of education.

Jamaicans read the Proclamation of Emancipation from slavery on August 1 every year. It is a critically important act to be reminded of what was on offer, especially when compared to what went on before. The reading of the Proclamation of Emancipation should, therefore, be more than a gesture; it must be a significant act in demonstrating freedom from fear and subjugation. However, do Jamaicans emancipate their minds from the mental shackles that are also encapsulated in the proclamation?

It is critical that they do in order to live wholesome, fully alive, experiencing, ‘choiceful’, and be free human beings. After all, all humans are spiritual beings. Therefore, Jamaicans must sacrifice reliance and angst for peace of mind, perspicacity and freedom by questioning what has been achieved since 1838 and evaluate what is the nation’s state today in regard to the evolving culture and the developing cultural identity.

kargcase@yahoo.com