The Hutu-Tutsi conflict and the Jamaican “Black-on-black” racism you described is nothing more than hate. People can be taught to hate, to hate others as well as themselves. You took the time to explain to us how the Europeans help build some of the corrupt government systems that presently exist in parts of Africa. You however failed to see how “hatred of self” was also institutionalized in Jamaica. The penetration of European power was much greater in the West Indies than in many other parts of the World. The British still own most of the land in several Caribbean countries. The case of the Hutu-Tutsi was easier, all they had to do was teach some people to hate and fear another set of people. It’s the same approach; it was only used differently in the Jamaican and Caribbean case. It’s called hate. The Hutu and Tutsi were taught to hate and fear each other.
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For 20 years after decolonization and subsequent independence from Great Britain, Jamaicans repeatedly democratically elected governments that were dominated by Anglo-Saxon whites and light-skinned mulattoes, demonstrating a preference for white leadership and a pathological distrust of national self-determination for indigenous people, thereby systematically reinforcing Eurocentric notions of black intellectual inferiority, as well as the corresponding belief, widespread at the time, of black incapacity for self-governance and collective autonomy.
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I think you can only compare Jamaica with the case of South Africa (not regarded by many Africans as part of Africa). All the different hue of people you have described are only known in Jamaica as “Jamaicans”. Not Euro-Jamaican or Anglo-Jamaican, just Jamaican. We never looked at our leaders as white or black, just on their policies and persona. A politician cant just say, “I’m black, vote for me”. That will not cut it. The fact is the descendents of the colonizers are now part of Jamaican society.
You failed to identify the contradiction (hard for many to understand really) how this nation of people who you have defined as racist, have had leaders such as Marcus Garvey, poets such as Claude McKay. Singers such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Burning Spear. This small nation is a world leader in black identity. Many nations have lined up behind us. As has been mentioned before, people from many nations adopt Jamaica as their nationality when they are in other peoples nations (e.g. USA, Canada, Japan, Europe, etc) I have had many African and Caribbean friends who have done this to get by. Why, they know Jamaicans will not accept being stepped on.
How do you explain the contradiction that Jamaicans have been the first in many things in Canada, USA, Europe and even Africa. Who else would dare to enter the Winter Olympics?. Who else would form the largest Pan-African organization in the World? Who else would colonize Britian and Europe with music? Who else would dare to believe that a Black person can fly a plane around the world? It seems only half the story (or research) has been told.
This contradiction is a battle borne out of the recognition that we have suffered from many years of hate (mostly self-hate). While this self-hate still exists and was formed over many years it is our responsibility to heal ourselves.
Finally, I am Jamaican, not African. I am a descendant of Africans (among other things). I am not regarded as African by most Africans living in Africa. I respect Africa and would not call myself an African either.