Ghetto Amusement and Appropriation

There has been real heated discussion around the 2 new local TV shows starring social media comedians and influencers, with social media raving about their favorites and stark differences in the shows.

The line of reasoning in the online uproar that caught my attention would have been the identification of the uptown versus ghetto comparisons, with one show clearly more relatable to the masses because of its blatant showing of inner-city culture and behaviors that naturally flow from the contestants.

It is interesting that the ghetto as a subculture of Jamaican culture and highlighted by dancehall seems to pull a lot of younger upper- and middle-class Jamaicans who would not have experienced the inner-city life in the slightest, especially as a society of deep in classism and colorism. These economical differences are painfully obvious, yet the identity carved out by those in the inner city have sustained so many and created industries.

So, the fact is that ghetto/inner city culture and lifestyle as subset of Jamaica is not every Jamaican’s identity and culture in the same way Rastafarianism is not.

With that said I find it almost repulsive that so many are quick to defend ghetto culture when it amuses them and its convenient to be a “badman” or “goodie”. But even quicker to ditch the faux identity when it disturbs their comfortable addresses above the US Embassy as someone once said or it does not suit their image at the time.

But this is not just an individualistic issue, we often see the ghetto portrayed as other in big creative performances such as plays, and “clean” dancehall artiste mainstreamed by corporate and government. Where major earnings are funneled to a selected few that can be marketed as wholesome entertaining neglecting the realness of dancehall and the ghetto.

I must end by saying that we are “One People”, but still very much “Out of Many”. We must decide to come to see and face our biases and privileges to move ahead as more just, equitable and fair society.

Mario B.

We should be concerned about the quality of our Politics.

Beyond the possible impending effect on our democracy that the destruction
of the current opposition, the People’s National Party would have, we have another disaster in the form of chronically low quality in our political representation and governance both nationally and locally.

At our local level, the Municipal Corporation representation is seen as a glorified divisional organizer appointed by political parties to keep their election machinery active. These local rep functions continue to be overshadowed by central government via Members of Parliament to curry favor with constituents. The local reps are usually less educated but deeply passionate about their communities, often lacking any substantial knowledge about government and governance.

We should be additionally concerned that our local reps with years of representational experience are continuously overlooked by the political parties for promotion to the House of Representatives.

The Upper House (Senate) is a prime example of decline, with the establishment political parties continuing to thwart the initial concept by their perplexing political appointments of defeated politicians, party activist and future candidates. The debates and exchanges on legislative matters seem almost pedestrian. The upper chamber was meant to be a legislative buffer of independent professionals or civic minded folks not a compost heap.  

Lastly, the Lower House having the better crop of representation with older professional, and tertiary educated folks seemingly lacks boldness to go against the party line and fails to truly mirror changing sentiments of their younger and more modern constituents. There is an unwillingness to be creative with policy as many laws get dragged from colonial times to be applied now and reforms being done piecemeal.

There is no need for us to implement any stringent requirements for entry into political representation, as any Jamaican citizen must have a right to run for public office and offer themselves for service. However, we must demand political parties to emphasize the need for candidates to be sufficiently groomed and empowered with the knowledge about our government systems and governance is general.

As a developing state, we must support engagement at an early age with Civics and Government in schools plus continued wholesome youth participation from the community to the national levels. As we better the stock quality in the citizenry, surely, we will see mark improvement overtime as the selected few offers themselves to represent the masses.

Mario Boothe

Youth & Governance Advocate