...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

X · 11-29-2011, 03:37 PM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

<span style="font-weight: bold">"HIS"story... </span>

regardless of the events, seem individuals form their own opinion based off their own orientation and prejudice.
growing in Jamaica up, I didnt notice "racism" as some here and this film seems to depict.

yes there was this "Browning" craze and to this day I hear elders talk about "good hair".. but in my eyes, it was never to the point where people would get a leg up in MY circles simply because of color.

Then again it may be that I was delusional or simply that I had decided early out that if a person had a problem with the color of my skin, that was THEIR problem, not mine. My sole objective was to simply break the cycle of poverty that my family seem to have been in. Had no time (nor was wasting any energy) to focus of who black, white, brown, yellow or even blue..
Now as an adult, looking back, I realize just how naïve I may have been, but fortunately I’m looking BACK, as oppose to be mentally imprisoned with this obsession with the shade of my skin.

In fairness, in retrospect, guess I was a subconsciously aware, as I now remember two of my favorite T-Shirts I had as a kid (and the only two I clearly remember to this day) was one that said <span style="font-weight: bold">“Black By Nature, Proud by Choice”</span> and another was one with a print of Malcolm X holding a gun and the words <span style="font-weight: bold">“By Any Means Necessary” </span>printed on it…

**j-kid** · 11-30-2011, 07:48 AM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

It went both ways, but yes, the Africans got it the worse. They usually are reacting tuh di way they (as a group) were treated by other Races, di affluent, visiting foreigners, and Ethnic groups over time.

**j-kid** · 11-30-2011, 08:01 AM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

Speaking from my experience. I grew up wid <span style="font-weight: bold">som</span> people who tink dat dem had one leg up pan yuh, simply from di mere fak dat dem skin was ah likkle lighter, dem had som Indian, or Chinese inna dem (noh matter how distant), or dem had di right name. Jus wan problem, dem was dut poor like wi was ah couldnt rub two penny together, but dem still had di nerve fi call yuh Neigaah an tink dat dem was betta dan yuh. Always talking bout dem wealthy realitives, who neva even farted pan dem much less com visit dem, or had dem eva com tuh dem house. As ah child, over time, dis only made mi stronger, an determined "to show dem". Consequently I excelled in school wen many ah di surrounding kids didn't.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xKs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
<span style="font-weight: bold">"HIS"story... </span>

yes there was this "Browning" craze and to this day I hear elders talk about "good hair".. but in my eyes, it was never to the point where people would get a leg up in MY circles simply because of color.

</div></div>

**jah_yout** · 11-30-2011, 09:49 AM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Peasie</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i must have been sheltered...
i definitely did not see all this racism against non-blacks;

i thought it was blacks who were the biggest victims of official, institutionalized, & cultural racism...</div></div>

Institutional racism is one thing. Cultural racism is another thing. Say, for example, you are a Jamaican of East Indian heritage. Would it be racist if, every time you walked down a street, complete strangers would bombard you with "Coolie Babboo, gweh!" </div></div>

yes it would be...but the thing is i knew many people of indian descent when i lived in jamaica and slept at their house & they slept at mine...
whenever someone said 'coolie' it was usually not meant in a hateful way...anymore than if you called someone "blacka"...common nickname for a very darkskinned person...
i have never witnessed malicious racism or hatred in jamaica toward someone because of their race...not saying it does not happen, but i have certainly never seen the type of racism & legalized discrimination & bigotry by one group toward another the way it was done in the USA or south africa or any other racialized bigoted societies...despite all this talk, it is blacks/africans who have suffered the most as far as bigotry & racism

**j-kid** · 11-30-2011, 10:21 AM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

Hear yuh, but usually wen di last part "Babbu" is added, it is not meant in a nice way. It is usually directed to sting. You also have to listen tuh di persons tone.

**jah_yout** · 11-30-2011, 10:52 AM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

yes i did acknowledge that if someone used those terms it would be racist....but i maintain that africans have been bigger victims of racism than any other group in jamaica; people who are different will always get some derogatory comments from ignorant ones...
but i'm almost certain that the indo-jamaicans are treated better in jamaica than the afro-indians are treated in india

**RichD** · 11-30-2011, 10:57 AM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

i was not even aware that there was any significant African population in India. I leared something today.

The Sidis

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pi...ties/html/6.stm

X · 11-30-2011, 11:23 AM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: J kid</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Speaking from my experience. I grew up wid <span style="font-weight: bold">som</span> people who tink dat dem had one leg up pan yuh, simply from di mere fak dat dem skin was ah likkle lighter, dem had som Indian, or Chinese inna dem (noh matter how distant), or dem had di right name. Jus wan problem, dem was dut poor like wi was ah couldnt rub two penny together, but dem still had di nerve fi call yuh Neigaah an tink dat dem was betta dan yuh. Always talking bout dem wealthy realitives, who neva even farted pan dem much less com visit dem, or had dem eva com tuh dem house. <span style="font-weight: bold"> As ah child, over time, dis only made mi stronger, an determined "to show dem". Consequently I excelled in school wen many ah di surrounding kids didn't.</span>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xKs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
<span style="font-weight: bold">"HIS"story... </span>

yes there was this "Browning" craze and to this day I hear elders talk about "good hair".. but in my eyes, it was never to the point where people would get a leg up in MY circles simply because of color.

</div></div> </div></div>
J kid

I guess being the victim of “racism” or perceived “racism” ( or “colorism”) to some degree can act as a catalyst for success or the EXCUSE for our failures.. depending on the individual.
In my opinion, growing up in the Jamaican society was a God send for some young black youths like myself, cause while there was obvious prejudism (which ironically I didn’t realize till AFTER leaving Jamaica… a fully grown adult, AND reading some experiences here on Ja.com) , cause there were/is overwhelming elements in the society that edified the Black identity. Growing up we were armed with weapons as simple as Blackness affirmation retorts like “Black is Beauty, red is corruption” and as culturally institutional as the Rastafarian faith.

In retrospect, the REAL Rastafarians can easily be the strongest reason why many Black Jamaicans are known to be strong, confident and successful because of their Blackness…

As a youth, I rearly ever heard (don’t remember hearing, but guess it must have been said) that someone was getting a leg up in my circles because they were fair skinned. What I did hera was the constant drumming of how great it is to be a Black man. That Black men are Kings and Black Women are Queens.. and that "Every Jamaican is a Superstar"..

My radio and TV was always on a program that would be talking about building our minds and being entrepreneurs or exploring history.. Unlike here in Canada where it’s a chore to find such a edifying feed. Instead we are constantly fed with advertisements about the time the next “famous” person will be in town, or whats up with the Kardasians..

Mi digress.. (as usual).. But the point is, it is what its is, bellyaching about racism without doing anything to better our situation is a waste of time…
We can try to see the challenges of “colorism”/ “racism” as FIRE, and ourselves as passing thru that fire.. If we are simply made of wood or paper, then we’ll burn to ash, but if we are (strong as) iron, then passing thru the fire simply makes us STRONGER..

**j-kid** · 11-30-2011, 11:58 AM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

Ditto.

Many times growing up, they were the ones in my family (relatives), that showed di love that others who should, didn't.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xKs</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In retrospect, the REAL Rastafarians can easily be the strongest reason why many Black Jamaicans are known to be strong, confident and successful because of their Blackness…
</div></div>

**Xavier** · 11-30-2011, 11:59 AM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

We interviewed David Ritter the Director of the "Forgotten Faces" in August. Check it out here - http://bit.ly/o6c6U9

**Wahalla** · 11-30-2011, 12:23 PM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

I recall an incident in my youth at my brief time in primary school... A black Jamaican called a "lighter black " boy "corruption" constantly.. He reiterated by telling his tormentor that he was black laka cyan crow. The black boy reacted like the he was insulted. The boy was beaten by the teacher and given a lecture about the history of slavery... The boy was protesting in tears that he was called corruption.. no one listened.. Me I reccall because I witnessed it and did nothing and was aksed if I heard the comment .. that is why I remember the incident... I have some guilt on that.. The parents took the boy awayf rom school after that

This was one of the reasons for my brief time in primary 2.school ..that and a ratehr nasty fight a couple days later with some one who called me a "teiffing coolie" I told him to suck out im mumma stinking pussi hole.. And then the fight start.. that was the first time I got knocked out and the I woke up and broke his head with a rock... I beleive that I caused him brain damage..Still Jamaicans fight hard .. But there was no racial element involved... just a non hateful comment...two fighten boys fighting.. Lucky me I got expelled... but that was about forty years ago...

But then I recall white people being called "pork",,, the Coolie one cent and the comment "white people fi ded" was common currency.. And children on the road shoutign "pork" at the rare white tourist occupant in cars that past through...that was not done in a hateful manner... This was deep country where the closest post office was a six miles away...where our level of sophistication was diffent from the urban paradigm

i worked irreguar as a day agricultural labourer from about 13 or 14 till about 22... I chopped cane, dug marl, broke rocks, dug yam hills, cleared land with machete, hoe ect .for nearly minium wage.. Because of my obvious ethnicity...I was told wi nuh employ "red skin man" .. "&&&& of u coolie 3333 [censored]"...when asking for work on occasion.. more often I was told sorry no work or yes mi cyan use u fi a week in two weeks time... or when deh rain fall..(or why u nat like u breda dem... to which I replied mi ah deh dunce one!)

But then I did what was nessesary.. I never saw it as a racial conotation rather it was just rude people, I still dont... Just a poor man needing validation by embiggening himself ...And yes they were black Jamaicans in the cock pit country...

I worked to chap cane with a few asians, a couple chinese Jamaicans, a couple white Jamaicans and they and I were called various racial ephitets.. yet these was answered not answered with a recepricoating a similar racial ephitet.... all used in a none hateful manner..This was seen as part of the ebb and flow of work enviroment. Now a recall a whitish Jamaican tell ing his tormenter that it didnt matter "lass night u ooman neva mine mi pork ".. that was a laugh as we teased the tormentor about his gal fren love deh red man... that incident ended very badly...That was seen as two men fighting.. not a racially inspired incidents.. that when the police came to investigate tehre were no witnesses....

there is a diference as pointed out, these are social interactions... where any tool is used as a insult...

My question is can any one tell me in their youth they ever heard a white, indian, Jamaican use a racial emphet toward a black Jamaican in public ??? I never did but my range of experience was limited......I have heard black Jamaicans call use the term "ah suh black people teif" or ah suh "black people stay"

And I know the first time I became aware of police corruption it was a white man shot a black man and got away with it.. but this was a time where the informal that the white man lost his job with the aluminum company, (the guy who remained was a black man).

now it is tempting to recite Jamaican history to me about non black people dominating the civil service, banks ect.. or the time when there was advertisment requiriong domestic help being from the country was a short hand for rred skin.. or Ras Carbi.. "long hair pretty people" song. It was still shocking to hear that there was a case last month much discussed on Perkins.. or Jamaicans not being served in hotels... (then I would not have been able to afford a hotel so at the time it was would have been a hyperthetical question!)

An interesting comment on the issue can be found in Rita Marleys Biography.. when she made a comment about Bob.... I missed it as it did not seem important..

As for my self I see my self as a Jamaican... Jamaica is primary of African descent, Unlike the yanki I dont see my self as a hyphenated Jamaican...With all the baggage of its history...I have made it clear...

there is a Manley Jr speech where he appealled to Jamaicans to stop using anti white comments...this was in the 76 or 77... The reason was one of his family was abused.. I recall because it canceled the program I use to listen to on a sunday night... there were reasons for alot of this and name calling does slight even if it is meant in a non hateful way...And he did mention the term pork being used...

I still am amused recalling black Jamaicans telling me as mentioned by another poster about their grandfatehr being white, with good hair or chinese or indian...

I went to a Jamaican friend of mine house a couple years back and this old lady of the house spent an hour tell me how she use to call this chiød pork belly because she was white.. But she never meant any thing by it was only children talking...

My comment was that " the next time your great grand child get called a n..... by his peers, tell her it just children talking"...

My veiw is that Jamaica of a few generations ago had less a yanki inspired world veiw..and we have echoed alot the simplistic world veiw of the Yankis where ethnicity is concerned...our society was not split simply on a bi racial manner .. It was more subtle and more nuanced.. but yes black Jamaicans were at the bottom of the heap and my experience may have been the crysysilye of escape...

Funny that though.. A afro guyanese old migrant who was drunk thanked me for being Jamaican because when he was in Ingland first it was the Jamaicans who stood their ground and ddi not turn back... when his daughters told him but not like wahalla... he said at times it was the red skine,d Jamaican who faced down the pestilence that crawleth by night while black Bajans and Guyanese turned on their heel.. And he had never seen a Jamaican back down...

but then I am a sell out wannabe Oyibo... (I did get called alot cousin and welcome home in West Africa when they heard I was Jamaican)

X · 11-30-2011, 12:36 PM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xavier</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We interviewed David Ritter the Director of the "Forgotten Faces" in August. Check it out here - http://bit.ly/o6c6U9 </div></div>

Thanks Xavier..
I just scanned thru and this stood out..
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Who is David Ritter?
I am a resident of Haiti who spends lots of time in Jamaica. I have lived and worked in Kingston. Prior to that, I studied art and minored in music production at a school in Boston, MA. I do audio production and sound engineering and I’m a selector for various sound systems in northern Haiti. In my free time, however, I create film projects between Haiti and Jamaica.<span style="font-weight: bold"> I am West Indian, born of French, British, and German heritage.</span></div></div>

I'm just curious to what is "West Indian born" ??
Is it the same as say "Europen born??" where an American, born of a Frenchman living in Britian decides to do a similar documentary on the fogotten faces of , say Austria?
it may just be me, but unnessasary "vagueness" piques curiosity..

**RichD** · 11-30-2011, 12:39 PM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xKs</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xavier</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We interviewed David Ritter the Director of the "Forgotten Faces" in August. Check it out here - http://bit.ly/o6c6U9 </div></div>

Thanks Xavier..
I just scanned thru and this stood out..
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Who is David Ritter?
I am a resident of Haiti who spends lots of time in Jamaica. I have lived and worked in Kingston. Prior to that, I studied art and minored in music production at a school in Boston, MA. I do audio production and sound engineering and I’m a selector for various sound systems in northern Haiti. In my free time, however, I create film projects between Haiti and Jamaica.<span style="font-weight: bold"> I am West Indian, born of French, British, and German heritage.</span></div></div>

I'm just curious to what is "West Indian born" ??
Is it the same as say "Europen born??" where an American, born of a Frenchman living in Britian decides to do a similar documentary on the fogotten faces of , say Austria?
it may just be me, but unnessasary "vagueness" piques curiosity.. </div></div>

i think the comma gives it a different meaning

West Indian,

Born of french , british and German heritage....

X · 11-30-2011, 12:51 PM

Re: ...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RichD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xKs</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xavier</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We interviewed David Ritter the Director of the "Forgotten Faces" in August. Check it out here - http://bit.ly/o6c6U9 </div></div>

Thanks Xavier..
I just scanned thru and this stood out..
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Who is David Ritter?
I am a resident of Haiti who spends lots of time in Jamaica. I have lived and worked in Kingston. Prior to that, I studied art and minored in music production at a school in Boston, MA. I do audio production and sound engineering and I’m a selector for various sound systems in northern Haiti. In my free time, however, I create film projects between Haiti and Jamaica.<span style="font-weight: bold"> I am West Indian, born of French, British, and German heritage.</span></div></div>

I'm just curious to what is "West Indian born" ??
Is it the same as say "Europen born??" where an American, born of a Frenchman living in Britian decides to do a similar documentary on the fogotten faces of , say Austria?
it may just be me, but unnessasary "vagueness" piques curiosity.. </div></div>

i think the comma gives it a different meaning

West Indian,

Born of french , british and German heritage.... </div></div>

now mi even more confused..

mi just curious to know where he was borned since he raised it, then became vague.

Was he born in Haiti? It doesnt seem so cause he says he's a resident there.

Is he "West Indian' or does he simply considers himself so?

Not that it matters, it just seem that there is an attempt to validate the documentary with heritage that may not exist.

There are thousands of people who are a resident of other countries yet spend a lot f time in Jamaica..

...Forgotten Faces of Jamaica Trailer

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

ads