Ramon Gordon | Spice exposes black hypocrisy

Never would most expect Spice, the minstrel known most notably for her bawdy motifs, to inspire meaningful conversation. I, too, fell with the majority, dismissing Grace Hamilton's sexual prowess as nothing more than a show of defiance - an attack on the institution of morality, or unchecked juvenile libido. However, last Monday, my position shifted drastically from disdain to overwhelming respect.

The entertainer broke the Internet following a post made after a self-imposed hiatus. Many stared at their devices in disbelief at the once melanin-rich dancehall queen, whose skin had now become 'dusty'.

"This cyaah be Spice ... a must flour," exclaimed one Instagram user. "She looking like the flood water in Trinidad," said another.

Grace Latoya Hamilton had fallen victim to the vestiges of colonialism, and betrayed everyone who had ever thought she was something more - ever thought she'd transcended the bonds of race to dominate an artistic sphere. What a cataclysmic waste! Or at least that's what I thought until I reminded myself that everything shouldn't be taken at face value.

Remarkable finding

So with journalistic tools in hand, and a bone to pick, I searched for answers, and what I found was nothing short of remarkable.

Spice had not, in fact, bleached her skin. Instead, she slathered her entire body with paint, shades lighter, to elicit a response that proved her thesis - black people HAVE NOT dismissed feelings of racial inferiority. Instead, we've clung to a notion of beauty characterised by lighter skin.

I paused, because I hadn't for a long time remembered that this is the reality of many in the black community.

International readers are often of the misconception that Caribbean sovereignties are void of said issues of identity. Regrettably, this couldn't be further from the truth. However, here in my homeland (Jamaica), skin bleaching is encouraged, praised even, by social-media influencers, one being 'Nikki Chromazz', who interestingly just released a line of skin-lightening agents (For reference - Chromazz, or Chrome, refers to 'light brown skin').

Nikki Chromazz and others have used their position of influence to proffer a narrative that has bred hate for self, and hate for others. It is important to note that she is but a symptom of an issue that has existed ever since house slaves and those of mixed lineage were perceived to be 'better off' than their darker counterparts who worked in the fields.

Thunderous blow

Spice has delivered a thunderous blow to the existing status quo, challenging colourism and its premise, while reminding us all as a people, a community, that our fight for identity is far from over.

"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots," said Marcus Garvey. A tree, might I add, destined to fall to depths unreachable.

We forget, as black people, the insurmountable strength of our ancestors who, despite being ripped from their homeland, bludgeoned and stripped of self, mounted insurrections compar-able to the conquests of Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan. We've neglected to honour our predecessors' fight.

We claim to accept our blackness, but we keep apologising for it. Our women flood weave stores and stock up on perm creams, while our men applaud. Some even opt for mutilation, biding Afrocentric nuances farewell.

We pander to the imperial hierarchy, but at what expense?

Black hypocrisy. Will we, in a drive for integration, forsake self and our brothers, or will we accept the beauty in our complexity? Is that acceptance far-fetched idealism, or is it attainable?

"Mi love the way mi look

Mi love mi pretty black skin

Respect due to mi strong melanin

Proud of mi colour, love the skin that I'm in

Bun racism, demolish colourism" - Spice

- Ramon D. Gordon is a third-year journalism major at Northern Caribbean University.

Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and ramondgordon@yahoo.com.