By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 11, 2010
When torrential downpours inundated north-western China on Saturday last (August 7), the Chinese government rushed in to assist the unfortunate victims of unprecedented landslides. In Zhouqu alone 1,117 persons died and 627 others were missing, a minuscule fraction of China’s 1.2 billion people. Yet the government spared not effort to assist them. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged rescue workers to hurry before the weather worsens. He declared: “You must race against the clock and spare no efforts in saving lives.”
Things were worse in Pakistan. Floods have devastated that country killing close to 1,600 persons and affecting the lives of 14 million people. Villages in the Ghotki, Kashmire and the Punjab region were submerged by what a UK charity organization called a “mega disaster.” The United Nations launched an appeal for $495 million dollars to aid the victims of this disaster.
Trinidad has not been exempt from these torrential downpours although it has not suffered in the same proportion as China or Pakistan. All of Trinidad, it seems, have been inundated with rains. When Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar flew over the flood-stricken areas to assess the damage she was not thinking whether Indians or Africans; men or women were affected. Trinidadians were subjected to an overwhelming disaster and it behooves the government to assist, no questions asked.
Some areas were hit harder than others. According to Newsday (August 11), “On Monday, the Cipero River broke its banks and once again set off massive flooding which left several homes in the area under water… Almost all of the houses were completely flooded; thousands of dollars in furniture and household appliances were washed away in the swirling waters and other items got damaged. Firemen used a dinghy, ladder and lengths of ropes to cross several families over the flood waters to safety.”
The response of the central and town governments was impressive. Dr. Roodal Moonilal, Housing Minister, declared “There is lot of damage resulting from the overflow of the Cipero River. We are trying to access the damage and to put things in place for emergency grants to help with replacing essential household appliances that have been destroyed and taken away by the flood waters.”
Marlene Coudray, Mayor of San Fernando, promised to seek assistance from the Ministry of Works “to come in at the Cipero River and see how the dredging could continue further down as the run-off is happening very quickly and it is bottlenecking at this point.” Burgess of the town understood, and rightly so, that this is how one responds to a crisis: one moves with alacrity to assist victims of the disaster and to treat the causes of the calamity.
Yet, when it comes to the crisis in the black communities to which I have alluded recently, everyone seems to lose their critical perspectives. Ms. Sonia Barker announced: “As a ‘Black’ person myself, I cannot identify with their behavior [that is, of the young black men] because the excuses of poverty and antecedents of slavery does not really resonate with me… The playing field for ‘Blacks’ is not a level one… and only if you walk in a ‘Black person’s shoes you will understand.”
Then she makes an outrageous claim. “There is perhaps a primordial feeling of entitlement deep in the heart of every ‘Black’ person perhaps going back to antiquity.” This is quite a leap. I will leave it alone.
Morgan Job had to get into the act. He writes: “Why do black communities need help? They can form criminal gangs with organizational technology and tools to rival the police service; they can form political parties that can win elections and thief billions of dollars. Black criminal organizations can control life and death from jail. Can you give a reason why this black intelligentsia [including persons such as me] cannot uplift its own kind, using the same resources it uses to control the mafia?”
Job did not ask why the UN is helping Pakistan or why Dr. Moonilal or Ms. Coudray is assisting victims of the flood. He does not have enough chutzpah to make the same charges against the victims of the flood as he does against the black community which he sees as an easy target.
Part of our reluctance to understand the problems of black youth; black on black crime; and the social problems that afflict them and their communities has to do with an inability to identify with blackness (which some insist does not exist); an incapacity to empathize with the trauma which our young black people feel; and a reluctance to recognize that anti-social behavior has reached crisis proportions in some black communities.
If the government or any private organization were to do an inventory of black men between the ages of 18- 35; determine their percentage with regard to the national community; the percentage of those 9that is black young men) who have been killed over the last five years; and determine the implications of such data for our society then we may begin to understand the crisis that is on our (that is, the nation’s) hand?
Moreover, if one undertook a regression analysis to determine the impact of such losses upon the black community many would be surprised at the results. In such an analysis one would consider variables such as reproduction patterns; manpower production lost to the society; the impact of the loss of these breadwinners upon their families; the psychological and sociological impact of these fatherless children on the society; the labor shortages that results from such looses; the decline of income in these black communities; the number of children who would grow up without fathers; and the impact of these looses upon the mothers and grandmothers of these fatherless children.
Any plan that arises from this data will have to focus on the collective behaviors, the norms and values of these communities. Culture and customs will also have to be address. However, first priority will be given to the norms and values of these children from the time they begin school. Anything less, would be a waste of time.
Crises imply immediate action to solve pressing social challenges. Just as race, ethnicity or nationality does not shape our response to the victims of the flooding; they should not color our response to the crisis that affects our black youth and young children.
Dr. Cudjoe’s voice is that of a Jeremiah, or a John the Baptist, another voice crying in a wilderness of anti-black hatred and self-hatred.
This anti-black phenomenon, one he does not identify as a cause, is that of low expectations had by others of these black youth and had by themselves of each other.
The situation appears hopeless until one understands that more black youth succeed than fail, but unlike every other community, Indian, Italian, Greek, Jewish, black communities regardless of where they are found; Chicago, London, Toronto, or Port of Spain are the only ones defined and marked not by their successes, but by their failures.
In addition, Stats Canada, for example, like data from the US government social services repeatedly show that it is easier for a white man with a criminal record and no high school diploma to find work than it is for a black youth with no criminal record and a degree in engineering.
Do these situations also obtain in T&T? I would not be surprised if they do.
Among the solutions is for black people to do as do other communities: spend their monies in black-owned businesses where these exist.
Among the communities abroad who have increased their financial and social wealth–despite the hardships in the homeland–are Haitian communities.
For example, in Florida, theirs are among the ethnic communities the ones with the largest groceries, commuter-owned services, travel agencies, etc.
They provide through these more financial assistance to Haiti than does the UN agencies.
Haiti led the struggle against slavery two centuries ago. Today, despite tge poverty and oppression in their homeland, they also provide–especially those abroad–leadership on beating anti-black hatred and self-hatred today.
There is without doubt a crisis in the black community with regatrds to the youths and youthful behavioural practices that tend to make older people cringe at the thought of interacting with them. We have long past the stage of blaming for reasons of this behaviour, it is time to act and act now to save a generation from itself because failure will bring down all of us. ‘Black’ youths of yesteryear almost always had the support of ‘parenthood’ for guidance. That might be Mommy, Daddy, brother, Sister, Cousin, Uncle, Aunt or well-meaning friends, there were always a reliability factor that could be looked up to when help is needed. The phrase that “it takes a village” were heavilly utilised by parents of those years to ensure proper upbringing. Thus those youths ultimate goals were to have a happy and loving family and family life. Therefore a good education, a trade or technical background was a pre-requisite before assuming the mantile of ‘manhood’. Today’s youth (black & others) do not see the ladder effect. They were brought up to see things and get things. Not much effort was placed on how we acquire them, values may not be part of the equation because in todays society, one has ‘made it’ when he or she owns something of value. Very little or no value is placed on how we get it, so the question of devaluation might be placed on our integrity. The solution to our problem is one of re-orientation where it involves self worth, understanding ones’s history, re-gaining the value of community life, re-introduction of religious indoctrination, the value of helping others and the re-building of our interests in arts. Government is NOT the answer (even though some is needed). The answer lies in the establishing of a cadre of elders from many different segments of the society and putting together a community type effort in our young so that their values can be re-learnt. Parental support is without doubt very essential to ensure any measure of success.
“In such an analysis one would consider variables such as reproduction patterns; manpower production lost to the society; the impact of the loss of these breadwinners upon their families; the psychological and sociological impact of these fatherless children on the society; the labor shortages that results from such looses; the decline of income in these black communities; the number of children who would grow up without fathers; and the impact of these looses upon the mothers and grandmothers of these fatherless children.”
Dr. Cudjoe clearly identifies the problem facing the black communities. I could not have said it any better. It is not an economic problem, it is a social problem. I know of children who come from homes of the ABSENT father regardless of ethnicity and they are the most vulnerable to crime and criminal behaviour.
This week I heard the pain of black mother. Her son is now 21 years a total recluse, abandoned by his father at age 10, he has no social skills and lives in a disturbing world. Another black woman told me her 13 year old son is verbally abusive to her in the worst way. At age 10 he heard his father told his mother that he hates her using the worst explicitives. And yet another 15 year old black male is in and out of prison, father not in the picture. I hear it all the time. However, I can tell you that I know a 40 year old man in prison of Indian decent, he grew up without a father. Yes the role of the father is beyond question the most important role in the family.
Just got off the phone with a grandmother, her son is having an affair, he has two boys 9 and 15. Tell me what will happen to these children when their parents go SPLITSVILLE. In the Bible in the book of Malachi, God said he hates divorce. And if the Creator of Marriage hates divorce shouldn’t we all. Shouldn’t we all strive to preserve marriage instead of attacking it by seeking affairs with other people spouses??? Or encouraging our children to behave loosely and listen to explicit lyrics of the money made record producers.
It is okay to identify the problem and blame social and historical factors, however Independence and Nationhood requires that you take responsibility for the present problems. Further society collectively holds responsibility in songs, behaviour, and language. The government alone cannot solve these problems. After all a strong black community is better for a more productive Trinidad and Tobago.
I knew mas from a boy. In fact, George Bailey was my mother’s nephew.
I know calypso and the positive impact and usefulness these have had on, and are to T&T culture and national self-identity.
I have lived abroad and seen the impact culture has on shaping the attitudes and actions collectively of people be it in Singapore, the UK, Canada and other parts of the Caribbean.
I have also followed mas in Canada, the US, and elsewhere like Brazil and have come to the conclusion that its impact today on T&T is a loss-leader, an effective negative groth activity in terms of morality, productivity, national sense of mission and sense of morality.
I am not a prude nor a purist, not by any means and know as any good TT man how to have a good time, yet be prudent.
But carnival and the mentality it helps to spawn, is one that runs not from February through Ash Wednesday, but from Ash Wednesday to Ash Wednesday.
This is so to the point that even Parliament has an air of being another mas camp, and the sitting politicians different and competing calypso tents with picong and gun-talk.
We need to take another look ar the social and moral impact carnival has on the youth and the country, especially in an age where there is no longer any public sense of shame or regret.
When I was a boy, anyone who was known to be a liar was shunned. Today this trait will get you elected and keep you elected.
Carnival has become, in places, to, like Toronto, a form of public pornography; and in an age in which democracy is being replaced by pornocracies and drugocracies, T&T, as victim and as defender, especially of the former is in grave danger.
God bless T&T, but God help T&T first.
I know calypso and the positive impact and usefulness these have had on, and are to T&T culture and national self-identity–Vic Gabriel.
Calypso used to be an art form. Today it is nothing but a “bump, wine and grind”. This can happen to any art form if it is not nurtured and proctected from vulgarity. Anyone today could be a calypsonian. Gone are the days of productive, thoughtful and intuitive thinking. Where are the Chalkdust of today??? Calypsonians need to think and thinking is a very difficult thing. 90% of the population do not know how to think. Thinking is not just a composite of ideas but it is a blending of current events, past events, what is resonating with the public, and most of all what is inspiring.
Here is a few lines I put together.
O Lawd Dorothy you eh play you dirty,
Water all over the place, flood for suh,
But Dorothy you still dirty.
Girl you took my hand and said I do.
Today you taking the hand of every man.
Flood all over the place, water for soh
But Dorothy you still dirty.
When you go come clean and stop playing the fool
Girl ah tired of your stench, please repent.
Look at our children running all over the place,
Dorothy I have to hide meh face.
All the neighbours talkin and jokin
Nobody know where Dorothy hidin…
The writer who made the comments about HAiti and HAitians is right on target. They preserve their culture and do not want to be classified as African Americans. TnT youth need a course in Afro-centric studies- a celebration and reminder of what we have achieved.The newspapers constantly point to the negative. Afriotrinis do not own shares in the papers and when they do, they are of the Ken Gordon variety. If you do not know who you are, you cannot also know where you are going.We often decry the Nigerians and Ghanaians as being aloof. They are trying to preserve their culture, and they do have a long masquerade tradition and celebrations of every sort. Those who decry the “canival mentality” have probably never seen a Roman Catholic mass in the indigenous language of any African country.You should have seen the celebration when Cardinal Arinze, an Igbo,from Nigeria, came to Houston years ago for an Easter mass. The women carrying the oferings of bread-homemade, and wine were dancing up to the altar to traditional drumming,their skirts held out like bele dancers. It was so soul satisfying. Those self-same Nigerians developed the satellite that brought back graphic images of the tsunami damage in South Asia in 2004. Yet, the Nigerians who set up small businesses in Trindad are derogated by the local Africans, and everyone else. (I have heard this even in one large church, and walked out).If our young men do not know who they are and whose they are, they will always appear lost. Government policies of near sightedness, keep those potential leaders, of reolutions and well as other things, poor and at the bottom of the society, to make sure they do not rise up. This is the heritage of British Colonialism, that has been maintained unabated since 1962. Only in the area of sport(International and local) are they allowed to excel. Their brilliance there is uquestioned.
“Government policies of near sightedness, keep those potential leaders, of reolutions and well as other things, poor and at the bottom of the society, to make sure they do not rise up. This is the heritage of British Colonialism, that has been maintained unabated since 1962” Linda
It is time we stop blaming British colonialism on the failure of black people. After all historically the PNM has been in power in T&T for over 40 years. 85% of the civil service is filled with Africans. Yet I hear you people whine and whine and whine and play the victim mentality. When will you all be satisfied??? You are always looking for someone to blame. Blaming the British, the PP, the society, the Americans, the….donkey..etc etc. Please stop it and start taking responsibility for your lives. The problem is a lack of respect for African women by African men. They need to respect the women and the women need to earn that respect. In doing so the home will be built and children raised properly. Earlier this year I looked at the series “Black in America”. A young lady with a child was being interview, her boyfriend next to her. She was asked the question “how involved is this young man in the life of the child”. The girl response was hardly ever. He had no emotional attachment to the child because of the way he grew up. Let us start at home base with the family to implement change….
I have just returned from a trip to one farican country where i spent more tha three weeks. Here is a quote from a high government official there.”when the British were leaving(1964) they stated that Africans we not suited to do business, so they sold all their business es to the Indians(Muslims). This was regardless of whether the Faricans had the money to buy and set up businesses or not. The persons with whom I stayed were college educated children of doctors and who have since risen to be major landowners, but the British tried to do th e African people in, justlike they did the Palestinians. Check your history son. Fifty years is twenty years younger than I am. In that country, Nigerians are the big African businesspeople. They were never really conquerred by the British, thanks for warlike people, the tse-tse fly and malaria.
You can see the patterns all over the ex-colonial world. Weare forty-eight years old. that’s an infant in the world of nations. Colonialism is very relevant to what we are doing now. ll the talk of who ontop in the Express commentaries, show what I am talking about.
“Colonialism is very relevant to what we are doing now.” Linda.
If colonialism is still very relevant to the lives of people today, I must say that they are not truly independent or liberated. The word independence should be eradicated from their vocabulary when it comes to nationhood. When you severe the link with a foreign power and fifty years later you continue to blame that foreign power then that foreign power still have control over you.
We can safely say according to Linda that Trinidad has NOT achieve independence in the true form of the word. So when does colonialism loses it relevance??? Personally I believe the crime rate in T&T cannot be blamed on the Brits. The endless set of single parenting cannot be blamed on colonialism. The day that Eric made the speech and said the future of Trinidad is in the school bag of our children, he set the tone for a colonial free T&T. He understood that education was the equaliser. Some could still see the British as their masters, as for me I am independent of that ideology.
After the British marginalized our people in the handing over of areas of commerce, they gravitated to the public and civil service. Today the beneficiaries of that British largesse sream about who dominate the public and civil service, while deceitfully ignoring the historical circumstances under which dominance in all economic niches came about. They just want it all.
29 years ago , I stumbled on the following six words, and my life was never the same , as I have tried without fail to implement them where ever I was in a position so to do. They are :’… without fear , or affection, malice or ill-will.’
Now that we have clearly identified ,articulated , and agreed on the problems, the bigger challenge for us is to decide , what we – the few socially conscious,justice oriented progressives- are prepared to do about them .
The problem has moved beyond an intellectually tinged ,sociological, or neo – recidivist historical debate , to one that requires prompt ,prudent political action.
Failure to step forward , will ensure that not only the greedy , conniving, and narrow power drive barbarians overrun the gates of our fledging democracy, but a likely devastating , no win social blowback can occur , that will certainly ensure that we are all losers in the country we claim to still love.
It’s your call folks , stand o the sideline , pontificate in safe enclaves… or, fill in the blanks.
I am on the verge of launching an organization,in my neck of the woods , and hopefully include our home , the region, and the much wider global village at large.
It’s purpose will be to focus on speaking on ‘truth to power within influential media, and much ignored social, economic ,and political injustices ,that has continued unabated against ‘all people.’ Hopefully my emphasis is noted .
I have come to the conclusion, that it is insufficient, and even foolish/non productive , for each individual to only tout perceive, or certain ,discriminatory and historically unfair practices ,as played out to them personally- or their own class, gender, race, and ethnic group – while dismissing that, as claimed by others.
Part of a new aged thinking ,and politically savvy ,win/win strategies for moving forward in efforts to advance the cause of humanity , is learning to build bridges to the future, by working in solidarity with others.
“The day that Eric made the speech and said the future of Trinidad is in the school bag of our children, he set the tone for a colonial free T&T. He understood that education was the equaliser.”(KHEM)
Very true, but what he did not understand was that the British borrowed system of education was not appropriate for the children of T&T. That outdated British industrial revolution age education is still being practised in T&T.And what is alarming is that we still boast about our”superior” education system without admitting that it caters to a minority. Our educational output of students is minimal compared to most developed countries.The majority of our students are failing!
An education system which fails to cater to the needs of all its clients will create a society of unadjusted individuals, who will choose criminal activity.Many of the young people involved in crime in T&T have suffered from the ridicule and humiliation of an education system which has failed them. Many past education ministers have paid lip service to the idea of change in education but have lacked the will to embrace new ideas. Also, the parent population continues to live under the illusion that our system is “superior”.Our present Minister also lacks the profile or background to effect change.It’s more of the same.If the establishment continues to ignore the specific educational needs of Black youth, nothing they do would reduce crime in T&T.There are solutions.They are long term solutions, which will involve schools, community and government.Presently, the focus of the government is policing, severe punishment and proposed misuse of the justice system. It is not going to reduce crime.
“And what is alarming is that we still boast about our”superior” education system without admitting that it caters to a minority. Our educational output of students is minimal compared to most developed countries.The majority of our students are failing”!—TMan
Trinidad education system is one of the best in the Caribbean. I say that because I have seen what Trinis have been able to achieve in the developed nations. I know many of them who have done well in life. TMan education is merely a vehicle for the betterment of an individual’s life. Education should achieve one purpose and that is to train the mind of our children to become CRITICAL thinkers.
The investment in education by the governing authorities has been incredible in T&T.
Now you can say that the education system in T&T is terrible and you would not be wrong. Because not everyone can “take in” education. We must not assume that everyone can be an A student. In order to deal with it the education system must identify these students who have not the potential to succeed academically and place them in the trade. Trades-men/women are in high demand. I remember my mom was looking for a good carpenter a few years ago and could not find one.
Also sports is another avenue for success. Tiger Woods earned $90 million in endorsements last year. Sport players make millions in the US. They have a well thought out sporting system from the college up. And so in T&T strides are being made in cricket but soccer needs to be developed also. Sports must be taken seriously and viewed as a way for young people to earn a decent income.
This is undoubtedly one of the better articles by Dr. Cudjoe. While I have differed with him on a number of subjects, I find that the question he poses has merit. One cannot erase or ignore history. To say that slavery and indenture and their legacy are no longer of relevance to TNT and not germane to the question of youth in our society today is to either be naive or dishonest.
Just take a more careful and objective look and you would see the impact of stunning social and cultural patterns and behaviors that are relics of a colonial past. Violence as a means of settling even minor disputes. The failure to nurture, establish or even recognize a nuclear family unit among humans who were viewed and legally regarded as property.
While I do not necessarily agree with the anology to flood victims, I certainly agree with Dr. Cudjoe that there is an urgency to act and that government has the primary responsibility to offer leadership and resources and take initiatives to address the problem. I think the economic and social costs associated with dysfunctional behavior are too well documented to cause serious debate. That’s why it would be better to view any policies and programs undertaken as investments that would produce returns to our society over time.
Dr. Job, Clarence Thomas, Thomas Sowell, and others have missed the point when they point to other cultures and immigrants who “made it” by their own bootstraps and propose that black youth do likewise. This is a prime example of the erroneous conclusions that may be drawn when one fails to see the historical context of a problem before offering a solution.
We are running out of time. This generation of youth feels it has nothing to lose and no future to look forward to. The alientaion is expanding and institutional responses are being dominated by advocates for more police and prisons, higher rates of incarceration, more frequent application of capital punishment, and DNA and other technology that would enhance prosecutorial success, etc. Thus, the nation is poised for a paramilitary approach to the problem and seems undeterred by the fact that this has not provided an answer anywhere in the world.
Government and communities working together in partnership can solve the problem. I believe that it would be a mistake to believe that there is one general response or approach. Each community must be consulted and involved in coming up with solutions specific to its own needs.
A government that is focused on policing and punishment is not going to be successful in its campaign to reduce crime in a country like T&T. Improving policing is only part of the solution. Changing how education is delivered at the classroom level is the more long term, lasting solution. Providing laptops to every student could become non productive if the education systems in which these computers are being utilized remain stilted, stagnant and locked in the Industrial Revolution age of Great Britain. The outdated exam driven, extra lessons, excessive homework and home study methodology, supported and encouraged by uninformed parents, should be reexamined. This policy of evaluation by single examinations puts many different learners at a disadvantage. Research has shown that most disadvantaged and different learners come from low socio-economic areas and attend schools with poor results and reputations. The false assumption in societies like T&T is that these learners are not intelligent. Again, research has shown that nothing is further from the truth. There are many ways to improve the lives and educate these creative and intelligent non-traditional students. The question is: Is the society and the government of T&T prepared to make the bold moves required? They could begin by stop blaming the people who live in these poor socio economic areas for their plight and by recognizing that they did not choose the circumstances in which they find themselves.
Many wonder if the present Minister of Education and those in his ministry are up to the task.
An educational system’s structure and goals reflect the core values of the society. It reveals the class essence of the society itself when one considers the curriculum and method of instruction, the choice of textbooks, the manner in which streaming is determined, the method used for the assignment of pupils to schools etc. Invariably, the children from poor neighborhoods are doomed to schools that are not high in prestige and, because of this, do not receive the tools, technology, teachers, and vital other resources needed for education to take place. The expectations for the unfortunate victims of such schools is low and this is mirrored in test scores. TNT goes a step further.
Children are made to compete through examination for admission to the better endowed schools. Those who “fail” are stigmatized as poor learners, discarded to subpar schools and prepared for life on the lower end of the socio-economic ladder. The message is simple: We reward the brightest and the best. It’s your shortcoming, not our fault, that you lack academic ability. Thus, when you find yourself jobless or employed at poverty level wages, you have only yourself to blame.
Just my way of agreeing with you TMan.
In addition to the comments previously made, let me add the ongoing issue of “colorism”. Forty-eight years after indepenedence, the country still favors lighter skinned, mixed race people whose AFRICAN HAIR AND SKIN HAvE BEEN DILUTED BY THE BLOOD OF OTHERS. WE HAVE FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR CAFE AU LAIT SKINS,OUR HONEY BROWNS, AND BROWN SUGARS WERE THE RESULT OF RAPE, FORCED SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS TO SUPPORT ONE’S SELF AND CHILDREN and so on. Tere are/were very few cases of legitimate marriage between white and African, where the man was white, or African and Indian where the man was Indian. Same thing for Chinese.Our African women’s wombs were the recipients of everybody’s seed, a dumping ground of sorts;and we the women so spawned have always been proud of this. We need a re-education. Intermarriage has changed somewhat in the present generations. Those who love to jump down my throat no matter what I say,need to visit the following places to validate this assertion. The banks, including the Unit Trust Corporation,of which I am very proud. The Arima girls’ RC School,and compare to the Girls Government School across the square, and any of the small private schools where selection, not matter what their stated criteria, seems to stem on skin colour, except the schools specifically called into being to educate African/Trini girls.Now, my mother’s people are the lighter ones, my father was the colour of coffee with no milk,but the Anglican priest who arrived in Ecclesvillage( and gave the place its name) in the 1820 period,left no marriage record of his laison with the local women, one of whom was my mother’s ancestor.
Forty-eight years after indepenedence, the country still favors lighter skinned, mixed race people whose AFRICAN HAIR AND SKIn–Linda
I thought you family were British Methodist White folks…. How can you speak out against you own DNA???
I am a Trinidadian by birth who evolved from a family of mixed heritage. I think the correct terminology you should use is called “Pigmentism.” This refers to the preference of people based on the COMPLEXION of their skin, as opposed to their individual MERIT. This mentality eventually carries socio-economic and political problems and consequences many fail to see. My paternal ancestry can be traced directly back to Africa. It is something I a proud of and will not hide from anyone. However, the pigmentism mentality initiates a type of hypocracy which some are willing sell their soul for, while depriving others of equal treatment and opportunity. This should not be!!!
Aglicans. DNA my arse.The truth is the truth. All human DNA is connected. That is why blood and other organ transfusions/transplants are possible, as well as interracial mating. I want my golden haired nieces, and blue/grey eyed nephew to know where we all come from.I also want this for the half-Indian ones and the coffee coloured oneswho seem like full blooded Africans, but are not.
Morgan Job had to get into the act. He writes: “Why do black communities need help? They can form criminal gangs with organizational technology and tools to rival the police service; they can form political parties that can win elections and thief billions of dollars. Black criminal organizations can control life and death from jail. Can you give a reason why this black intelligentsia [including persons such as me] cannot uplift its own kind, using the same resources it uses to control the mafia?”
I agree with Morgan, the greatest movements of the last century was started by black people. Who could forget the marches on Washington DC that saw the greatest change in the West, the removal of racist signs and the birth of civil rights movement in America. Everytime I visit America I am thankful for the leadership of Dr. King a man whose greatest influence was none other than Gandhi. A half naked Indian with a dhoti who changed the world and broke the back of British colonialism. Liberating African nations and other nations globally. Yes they can organise into a potentently positive force that can usher in the GOLDEN ERA of racial harmony and productive nationhood.
Like Job I believe.
i agree with Dr. Job, I am an indian teacher in a high school and anytime I reprimand a child of African race the first thing they accuse me of is being racist, i see the trials the youth face in this country and i try my best to educate them but they simply do not want to be educated Beyonce and 50 cents destroying the youth, the carnival mentality killing them and yet they want to blame everything on the government and society, a soceity which they have goverened for the past 50 years.
Everyone seems to be talking (writing)in circles. The problem that has been identified appears to be underprivileged young blacks in semi-urban areas. But I think that is a fallacy. The underprivileged young Indian and those of other ethnic groups exist as well. The only reason why the latter groups are not in the limelight is because of where they are located and the slim chance for them to survive on other means. Dr. Ramadharsingh, on his recent tour of flooded areas, has some statistics on poverty in other areas which were not observable. The fault, therefore, is not in the reason for being underprivileged but by the powers that-be not having the concern to deal with the situation. In Trinidad and Tobago, politicians have no need for people below the middle class level, except for election time. After that, the poor can go to hell! The few who graduate or somehow lift themselves from poverty never look back at their relatives or friends. What I am saying is that we are only making up reasons for not assisting our poor, uneducated, unskilled brothers (regardless of ethnicity) from the morass in which they find themselves and from which they are unable to lift themselves. No amount of short term handouts and assistance to repair their lodgings can cause a significant change. Also, there is the stigma associated with the areas in which these poor seem to have isolated themselves. No one will want to hire people who come from these areas, regardless of the ethnicity of the employer. There will be a preference for a candidate coming from built-up areas. So what does a government do? There must be a three-prong attack to get rid of poverty – create standard housing to accommodate all citizens for very long repayment periods, ensure all citizens have a reasonable skill level and create sustainable employment. One of our first priorities will be to ensure that every citizen of working age can find a suitable job. Gradually, the long term plan will be to train/retrain/retool citizens for jobs which can be identified. This whole process calls for a strong will and determination and setting up of a blue print which can be followed by any political regime to come. In other words, treat all persons in this country as citizens who must benefit in some way from the wealth and landspace of Trinidad and Tobago. We should stop making unsavoury references to any member of the population of Trinidad and Tobago. In some ways, we are all responsible for their state of dependency.
When Morgan and I were both at UWI, he was a brilliant student in Agriculture. He went off to East Africa- can’t recall which country to work on a tobacco plantation, and came home an embittered man, apparently hating his own. What happened to him I wonder? I have always asked the same question about Dom BAsil MAtthews, late of the Catholic Church, who went to Africa, visited for a long time, then came home, resigned his position as a senior cleric and migrated abroad, where he died about six years ago, without ever saying why he lft the clergy.
These two men apparently saw something,learned something or became something by a transformational visit. I wonder what happened.
His apparent hatered of his own causes me to discount aything he(Job) says. Same for Jack Warner.Please do not consider these two as authorities on things pertaining to Afro-trini youth, a group they apparently despise.
Now, the two other man-rats are going to fight it out on these pages, and after hundreds of thousands of words, not one thing would have changed for our young African men.No new after-schoolprograms would have been started, no vacation workshops to boost their thinking skills, no forums to ask what do they think of their future, or what do they think.One can be forgiven for thinking that this is some kind of verbal masturbatory exercise that men indulge in, who do not have great wealth to boast about. Those are forever bragging about business deals closed, and money made.The state of poor young men in TnT will remain unchanged, beause those designing the society, past and present want it so, sowing the seeds of the next bitter revolution in the process. I wait to see what great changes Errol McLeod and David Abdullah would make in government, but I am not holding my breath.
Throughout the Americas, the jails are filled with young African men, and that has to be part of someone, or more than someone’s greater strategy.We could keep talking while the jails keep filling.We could keep implying, via the Express, a paper I once respected and wrote a commentary column for, that the crime in TnT is committed by African youth, thereby, ignoring the Ish, Steve, Basdeo, Gomes ilk, and those who hire men to murder spouses, and those who,the day after a grusome murder hits the paper, finally admit that it was a domestic situation. Ah done.
His apparent hatered of his own causes me to discount aything he(Job) says. Same for Jack Warner.Please do not consider these two as authorities on things pertaining to Afro-trini youth, a group they apparently despise.–Linda.
Anyone who is black and seeks to uplift black people are deemed to be the haters of black people. Jack Warner went to Africa and made sure FIFA came to South Africa. For the first time an event of this nature was held in Africa but people like Linda will say he is against black people. The pride of the African people were never higher than the day the first soccer match was played in this great African nation.
Morgan Job is a blunt speaker but if you carefully consider what he is saying, it is not anti black it is anti stupidity. It is true they can form gangs and commit criminal acts but would not form a positive organisation to uplift their people. Job is pointing out the truth in the hope that his people will change their mindset. The number of dead black youths in T&T for the last 7 years is justifies Job stern rebuke.
But the reason why people like African American Linda have a problem with Job and Warner is quite simple. She is mother who believes the world owes black people. The colonialist, the government, the Indian people, the Syrians all owe black people.
These two gentlemen believe in a better African consciousness. And they are making that effort to change. In fact they have done more to uplift black people from the gutter than Linda could ever do in a lifetime.
“Morgan Job is a blunt speaker but if you carefully consider what he is saying, it is not anti black it is anti stupidity.”
Wouldn’t it be fun to see, or hear of someone from the Indo community who would follow suite, for there are certainly a million and one revolting behavioral characteristics that I am equally disgusted with , and have- not so secretly -felt contributed immensely to the terrible state of our entire country.
As to these guys being self haters , due to the fact that they rant where-ever possible about social ills within their race , as opposed to others? Some would say this is a pragmatic and lucrative shtick that has worked admirably for them. One is a lofty media guru with huge followings , a one time political elite of a predominantly Indo Political party,the other can do no wrong , and is loved , trusted and respected by all as he push a version of Obama com-Trini, post racialism theories, and new culture. Not half bad, at all. With respect to the Dom however, I feel the same about him as I felt about the psychologically twisted ,late Dr Williams ,who cares? He was simply a part of our history , and for that we are grateful.Now let’s move on , and look forward ,at the life of the living.
If stupid Africans ,wish to judge this Jack Warner enabled World Cup, a humongous success , simply because the world at large did not get a chance to see the racially skewed, discriminatory , socio political ugliness ,that still prevails in that underachieving country , even while a post Apartheid , ‘Kinky Head, Bantustanian regime,’ is in charge , then that’s their problem.
Probably we should be more concern about the crisis of youths generally , in Trinidad , including the thousand of misused, neglected , and abused , that cuts across racial and ethnic lines from Los Bajos, to Caranege , El Socorro to Westmoorings,Federation Park to Betel and back ,yes?
I stand corrected.
Wouldn’t it be fun to see, or hear of someone from the Indo community who would follow suite–Neal.
Neal you hit the nail on the head. I would like to see someone within the Indian community rebuke some of them. It is terrible to see young Indian girls and boys behaving like Africans. On the dance floor they whinning on each other’s behind. That use to be frowned upon by Indians Neal. The intermarriage of Indian culture has seen the vulgar side of Afro behaviour integrated into the normally conservative Indian world view. And i am non too pleased about it.
Just back from a visit to “Africa” myself. Wish some of you foolish commenters would spend the money to go validate things for yourselves.”AFRICA”is fifty-four differet countries.I went to two weddings, a coutry one and a city one.I saw no “wining up on each other”. I read poetry at the University of Malawi, visited schools and saw the most polite, civil children anywhere.Not a pants hanging off the backside, not even while wlking the streets. The bastardized version of Africa takes the vulgar dances of Spain and attaches it to African culture. African dancing is NOT IN PAIRS, but goups of women, and groups of men, separately. As for Ethiopian Airlines? The best service in the world from some of the most beautiful women anywhere. Wine and beer served in”economy class”, and four luxurious meals between Washington DC and Lilongwe. Some of you should go. An education, and a reassessment of racial prejudice awaits you.The Africa we see in the media is DESIGNED TO MAKE PEOPLE ASHAMED OF THEIR MOTHERLAND.I recognized my people. Their daily rituals of prayer, their herbal remedies, theirlove of fresh food,prepared at home, and the extensive family to which everyone belongs. People walking everywhee reminded me that some of their ancestors walked out of Africa to populate the world. For $42000.TT you could have the same experience, but you’s hve to budget for hotels which are costly. I stayed with family.
The Africa we see in the media is DESIGNED TO MAKE PEOPLE ASHAMED OF THEIR MOTHERLAND.I recognized my people–Linda
True, I remember seeing some naked African children drinking contaminated water. It made me sick for days thinking about. Then another image of hundreds of naked black children lined up for food served by Americans.
However, true African experience are not only those sorry images or the thousands of women raped in the Congo each year. It is the culture ethos that is sometimes hidden. I attended several African weddings my wife was gifted an African dress for one of the weddings. Their dance was not vulgar but rythmic. The young ladies formed two lines and did a special dance with special meaning to the married couple. The families also have mother father and children. African families are not fracture as one would presume. The fathers are present in the homes. As for political problems it is unfortunately based on tribalism. However, Africa will emerge one day as a powerful set of nations. After all England was like that prior to the 17th century.
Khem you said ,”It is terrible to see young Indian girls and boys behaving like Africans.On the dance floor they whinning on each other’s behind.”
I sure hope khem you are referring either to the recently arrived immigrant Indian youths ,from perhaps India , Sri Lanka ,Pakistan, or Bangladesh,or the kids of diplomats from any of those respective countries, for they are the only ones , along with their parents, who might find whining on each other during some culturally driven musical expression,morally repugnant ,like you are my friend.
However for real Indo Trini youths , that’s as normal as gyrating during a pagwa, Hosea, or Chutney Soca jam-down.
I told you I was getting worried about your identity ,for if you think that it’s African youths that are having this profound negative influence on their Indian cousins ,and corrupting them then you are sincerely more naive ,plain delusional,than I actually thought.
It is my hope that for their sake, our young wonderful Indo Trini national jewels, are able to forsake , and escape ,some of the disgusting , and dangerous habits that unfortunately too many of their parents generation have blindly latched on to , and which really have caused so much mayhem , havoc , and destructions in the countries I mentioned. I case to still want to pretend ignorance, let me remind you. It a sense of undisguised greed,a deep penchant for corruption, a neocolonial obsession of class subjugation by the middle class elites against the less fortunate, under some guise of adhering to an opaque religious ideology , and finally absence of any national patriotic spirit unless if living in a country that’s dominated by Caucasians.
Yet folks want to know why I am close to following the lead of our globally respected ,national ingrate in Chief , uncle V.S Naipaul, and give up this country?
Can one imagine having a couple thousand with the cultural mindset like kiem to deal with on a daily basis , or find oneself subjected to, or on the receiving end of any social ,or political policy initiated by his kind, and still able to survive? What a tragedy!
The bigger tragedy is why do I still find myself engaging in conversations with an individual with the mind of a mental pigmy,who in his heart believes that Indians have a normally conservative world view?
Is it the ones which ensured that close to 80 million or more Hindus and Moslems murdered each other since independence, or idly boast about being an emerging power , because they were able to acquire nuclear weapons during the Cold War , yet more that a half of it’s citizens are living below the poverty line,and wish to stay their due to their Karma?
Would this comedian wish to do a comprehensive survey of the analysis of global respectable economists to see how these great folks stack up against the alleged backward savages of the African continent? They might be surprise. Perhaps however ,it is I who misunderstand what conservative means ehh khem?Let’s just say Bollywood hypocrisy, verses Hollywood decadence.
I sure hope khem you are referring either to the recently arrived immigrant Indian youths ,from perhaps India , Sri Lanka ,Pakistan, or Bangladesh,or the kids of diplomats from any of those respective countries, for they are the only ones , along with their parents, who might find whining on each other during some culturally driven musical expression,morally repugnant ,like you are my friend.–Neal
You are obviously oblivious to the world we live in. After a few Carib you see the world differently. It is morally repugnant to fake a sex act on a woman in full public view. But this has been done so many times in the public that it is now common behaviour. Ninteen year old Miley Cyrus did the gyrating on her 42 year old producer and it was shocking to see such behaviour, even Larry King made a night of it. The point is this type of baccanalia behaviour is taking over our youths and soon the nation. Neal you must stop your cousins from this type of behaviour tell them this not black culture. And I will do the same for mines. That way a two prong attack on this lewdness could at least prevent some youths from going the wrong way.
Some time ago, a prominent member of Gopio, a Ms. Dipnarine called me a “stinnking N. c***” for pointing out that the sari was not a sacred garment, but one worn by tea planters and prostitutes as well as princesses in India. At the risk of another volley of name calling by the weak, whose only defencse it is,let me point out that Indian dancing as seen in movies, and illustrated in the Khama Sutra as well as in the Dolahin dances that prepare women for marriage, are extremely sexual, and the only difference from what we see on the streets is that bodies do not actually touch in public. No other culture goes to church(MAndir, temple) with half their bellies outside, even in women who have many pounds they can donate to the starving. The point about all this is that sexual behavious in the Cribbean, as demonstrated in street behaviour during celebrations, has evolved from many sources and traditions.In this new “government by badmind and racial invective”(My term for them, for which I take full responsibility,) Everything bad has been relegated to the African originated population and the Indians are saints. We are forgetting a few truths, whitewashing some, and overlooking others.
I saw blind old men in Africa/MAlawi, who were afflicted by river blindness.My friend Vivek attests to the fact that in Mumbai, people deliberately maim and mutilate small boys to make them more effective beggars, who then turn their beggings over to a master crook who controls them.
Yet people from those street traditions now living in a new country that gave them unbounded opportunities, curse the ground that their umbilical cord is buried in, attach every posible evil to young African men (even when they hire them to do their drty work,like the killing of that US army veteran over his child custody case)and preach one love in the meantime. Go figure.
When are you obviously educated folks going to realize that these heavily charged racial “tit for tat” exchanges are not serving any useful purposes, except some sort of perverse, personal and psychological satisfaction?
Here is a collective response on the subject , by us the progressive , more sane, less arrogant , or blatantly disrespectful, and condescending side of the isle, T-Man. “They drew first blood, not me.”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083944/quotes
Look in the mirror, to see the cause of this development , that you are now conveniently lamenting about. Let me add, if per chance ,you ran in like an idiot into a crowded cinema ,and cried fire to the top of your lungs , forcing panic, and perhaps injuries to fleeing ,desperate patrons, only for them to eventually find out such was a childish hoax on your part, then do not be surprise if an angry member, develop the courage , from a sense of outrage,to bash you in your face , and kick out a few of your precious teeth in retaliation, as a result of injuries you might have caused, in the initial melee, ehhh?
Again I am going to reiterate for the benefit of some of you comedians , as I believe that the Canadian Maple syrup, Australian Kangaroo breast milk , stale English muffins, and Yankee Apple Pies you all have been consuming over the past few decades -you escape your country of birth -have severely affected your sense of decency and logic.
If our borderline ‘bankrupt country,’ is presently in a disgusting , unacceptable state of affairs as claimed , then we all are responsible for this , Indians, Africans, Chinese,Europeans, Lebanese , Syrians, French Creoles, and our Hispanic transplants principally from Venezuela that make up our population. Now if the end gold is to rectify the problem as we deem necessary, then it would take all hands on board.
Anything outside of this , is simply “spinning top in mud,” as the wise one would say. So once all the post elections gloating is done, and foreign exploratory trips completed , African purges, and psychological beat down by media agents, and pseudo intellectuals are performed to the hilt, your leaders and their foreign or domestic handlers, must still eventually get back to the business at hand- namely, leading the country forward. Unlike ‘king delusional Khem ,’ you of course, are very smart enough to know what would be the consequences for failure in this end , ehhh?
You know , I have said it once, but perhaps it’s worth repeating, there is noting more despicable on the face of Blacksungod’s earth ,than country hating phonies. I sometimes get such sadistic pleasure from exposing them. It’s the lease I can do as part of my national service contribution.
I stand corrected.
Letter to Gypsy, the calypsonian. Tomorrow, Denyse Plummer will be in Houston to help us celebrate at our Independence Gala.I do not plan to attend but I was hoping to hear her sing something a bit more positive than Black Boy. I hope you noted the success of that little Black Boy from CIC who blew away all the competition. Will you please create a calypso for him featuring his ambitions?
Go little Jacob, go! Climb that ladder, and look back only to pull someone else up, who needs a hand.
Just like the “health care system” in Trinidad & Tobago, the social environment of the typical black youth today also is in desperate need of an overhaul. A typical patient who walks into a health care facility with a chest pain, a dog bite or a broken limb may arrive at 9:00am and has to wait hours before he can be seen. On the unfortunate youth’s side of life, they may orbit a environment filled with crime, poverty, and ignorance from the cradle to adulthood (a place commonly know as a ghetto). The only avenue they see as a way out of their misery is to be initiated into a gang, drugs or other forms of anti-social behavior. They see this as a way to protect their identity, and command respect!
on the contrary, in the US, Asian-Americans are considered a model minority group. Why? It is because they are high academic achievers and they have also demonstrated an ability to be hard workers and good small business managers and owners. History teaches US that many of them arrived in the US as indentured servants in the 18th and 19th century. They bought with them many things: Their families and culture. However, that did not exempt them from discrimination and the concentration camps they were ordered to during World War II.
Today, we see a similar situation with black youth today.They are like an social outcasts in their own country. They lack the status and economic resources to move up in society and many are willing to point their fingers at them instead of trying to help solve their problems. They feel as though they are herded into these poverty and crime filled ghettos. Identifying with them is just a small part of the problem-solving. It is listening to them and hearing what they have to say. Although Asian-Americans are considered a “model minority group.” Statistics showed they are not equally paid in comparison to their white counterparts who are equally qualified as they are, and they do not have the resources to be self-sufficient. Also, because of a lack of studies on Asian-American many statements made about them are inconsistent until these studies are performed. Historically, blacks have made tremendous contributions to nation. Now is the time for the nation to help them. We should make an effort to perform serious studies on the black youths of Trinidad and Tobago? We Trinidadians should be ones who are most concerned about black youth. I hope others get the message.
Correction: The word “concentration” in my last posting should be “Internment” to accurately complete the sentence which says: “However, that did not exempt them from discrimination and the concentration camps they were ordered to during World War II.”
“The US, Asian-Americans are considered a model minority group. Why? It is because they are high academic achievers and they have also demonstrated an ability to be hard workers and good small business managers and owners.” So you fell for that neo racist stereotype as well ,eh Solomon? What it means in real term for that community , is that State and Federal government could afford to ignore their scio economic and political needs.
http://www.ericdigests.org/2002-4/asian.html
Some day when you have the time I let you know about the thousands of East Asians that are living below the poverty line, as they engage in low end prostitution business,and garbage jobs and forced to repay exorbitant loans to rival smuggling and vicious ethnic gangs in the several Chinatowns that are propping up daily across America.
http://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/immigration/article/839212
I will tell you about the mental stress that my Korean American former Sociology Professor explained in details via careful studies, that members of his community endured to work as dry cleaners , while holding graduate degrees , but unable to speak English, and unable to engage in other form of employment.I will then explain what pressures exist to excel on these Asian kids ,because of the exorbitant monies in tuition parents are forced to pay. Now when all fails, we have a Virginia tech massacre.
In like manner in T&T you have these disingenuous ,and or clueless idiots masquerading as learned , and sophisticated , claiming that all is well in LaLa land ,re our indo community, when compared to Afro Trinis. It’s sad , but the worst part of it is that many are now thinking that Africans leaders are the sole reasons for this problem. We are all responsible folks, and likewise all hands must be on deck to rectify the problem not for the 200 or more elites across the ethnic and racial lines , but the masses that make up the majority of our 1.3 million ,and growing.
All our peoples are hurting Solo , white, blacks, red,yellow and brown people. The fall out manefest itself in different forms . In America it’s the guns, in Trinidad it might be the gramazone bottle ,fire, or a car. In Rwanda , possible a machete.
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=bd65e63697b31feb812d20eb502697bd
Let’s keep it real shall we, as there are no monolithic groups on earth, as some are simply better socialized to adopt a lifestyle for diverse reasons.
@neal. The facts speak for themselves. Asian-America are all of the above [except] being a model-minority group. Why? for reasons stated in my response: I vindicated them on the matter of stereotyping. However, ghettos are real, Neal. Have you ever been or lived in one? Eh? How familiar are you with Laventille or John-John? How familiar are you with negative terms associated with black men & women such as: “baby daddy,” “welfare queen,” “junkie,” “gang-banger.” Although the plight of black youth in T’dad is not as grave as it is in some countries. It could be. Brazil has the largest Black population outside Africa, and Rio De Janero, the Cap. city has the largest ghettos in the world, “the Favelas.” Its no secret, Neal.
You would be inclined to think all of this was African people’s fault,until you read that France charged HAiti millions of francs for its freedom, and the USA- its friend that ws fighting its own war of independence, stood by nodding.
You would think it was their fault,if you did not know that Africans were turned away from the plantations with nothing, but the white slave in the US(bonded servants, they called themselves) could move to the next open range state and claim land. Africans could not do that. You would think it was their fault,if you did not hear the director of a major company of an African country say to me” When the British left, they sold all their businesse to the Indians, because they said that Africans cannot run business.”These were businesses on African land. This country is yet to do “a Mugabe”however.
I do not like Nigeria’s policy, but I could see why non-Africans cannot be citizens of that country, unless they are married to a Nigerian.
While others get a jump strt, Africans in most parts of the west, keep starting over.In the East African country I just visited, all the farmers markets are run by Africans, and they are building businesses,despite the Brits. The Queen of England still owns the largest tea plantation. I do not know what they are waiting on to take over that stolen land.
LAnd is the basis of every person’s and family’s prosperity, if you do not, and cannot own land, all of your resources go towards providing houing. In the country I just visited,the people are all building better houses because in the countryside they can make bricks directly from the rich soil in their yards, and fire them in open air kilns. There are no laws in place to stop them from progressing. So different from Trinidad and Tobago, and the West.
The president of the coutry also defied the World BAnk, and gave agricultural subsidies,in the form of fertilizer and seeds to farmers. The country is now self sufficient in food.