Garth Rattray | That damn massa epithet

The fact that I am obliged to preface this piece by emphasising that it has absolutely nothing to do with politics, speaks volumes about our polarised and contentious society. This piece has to do with principles and good stewardship.

When the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Mark Golding, got carried away while addressing the national executive council of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) he uttered the words, “damn fools” when referring to supporters of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). He quickly apologised repeatedly and remarked that he “should not have made the comment”. As soon as the words left his mouth, I knew that there would be dire retaliatory consequences from the JLP. Even though he apologised unreservedly, I could see the dark clouds gathering.

Mr Golding did not seek out other meanings and usages for his ‘damn’ word. He could have decided not to apologise and claim that he never meant to use the word in a derogatory manner. But he apologised because he knew that the circumstance in which he uttered ‘damn’ would lead to one interpretation … his expression of annoyance and frustration with Jamaica Labour Party supporters.

He never referred to the modern use of ‘damn’, which includes a compliment or expression of admiration, as in “damn girl, you look great”, or “that movie was damn good”, or “damn, look at that car!”. The word can also be used for emphasis as in, “that’s damn right!”.

The repercussion for Golding’s damnation was swift and brutal. While in Parliament, the minister of finance and the public service, Dr Nigel Clarke, referred to Opposition Leader Mr Mark Golding as “Massa Mark”. Despite the negative epithet associated with the word “Massa”, Dr Clarke refused to apologise; instead, he denied that any racial connotation should be attributed to his remark. He insisted that the ‘modern’ usage of the word was non-racial. He drilled down on the use of the word by announcing that“Massa is [always] about an attitude and style regarding power, and that is how I used the term to describe what I saw as the disrespectful attitude and language of the opposition leader.” Obviously, Mr Golding’s contrition fell on deaf or very unforgiving ears.

DOES NOT MAKE IT SO

Simply saying that something is so does not make it so. Since I was taught to be suspicious of the use of the word “always”, and since some assert that Dr Clarke is correct about the word ‘Massa’, I did some checking. The word ‘Massa’ is listed as being offensive and dates back to the days of slavery. Slaves had to refer to Caucasian males in positions of authority as Massa (Master). Sometimes Caucasian male children of the people in power were also referred to as ‘massa’ as a special show of respect.

Obviously, ‘massa’ was the common [slavery] vernacular for master. And ‘master’ is derived from the Old English word mægster, meaning a man having control or authority over a place. ‘Master’ was once used, by the English, to describe the male head of a household. ‘Master’ could also be used to denote skill, as in a master craftsman, master technician, master chess player, master mechanic, or master whatever. Obviously ‘master’ can also be used to denote authority, as in head master. ‘Master’ has academic importance, as in a master’s degree … originally meaning “one who has received a degree conveying authority to teach in the universities”.

However, ‘Massa’ was not just a simple and innocuous abbreviation of the word ‘master’; it was solely and specifically used by an enslaved people who were uprooted from their homeland, starved, whipped, physically and mentally tortured, and stripped of their identity, self-determination, family units, and freedom of any kind. The word ‘massa’ inspired terror (not respect) for their cruel Caucasian masters. ‘Massa’ could sell you, whip you, torture you, rape you (whether you were male or female, boy or girl), mercilessly work you into an early grave or murder you without any consequences because you were Massa’s chattel, his personal property, no different from his cows, goats, or pigs.

HORRIBLE WORD

‘Massa’ is such a horrible word that we tend to use it in conjunction with ‘backra’. We often say, ‘backra massa’. And, ‘backra’ is the combination and truncation of the words, ‘back raw’. The massas used to whip slaves until pieces of their flesh were torn off their backs, hence the term, back raw. So, when anyone says “massa”, most of us, the children of slaves, remember the words and meaning of backra massa. To associate Mr Golding with any such word or phrase is inaccurate, unfair, cruel, and incites acrimony.

Calling Mark Golding ‘massa’ automatically labels his father, Professor Sir John Golding, ‘massa’ too. Sir John was one of the greatest men that I have ever known. He had no airs about him. He taught innumerable physicians. He was a dedicated humanitarian and philanthropist; he was no ‘massa’. I met Mark Golding on a flight once, and he was definitely no ‘massa’ either.

Minister Clarke’s refusal to apologise for his unfair, and offensive characterisation of Mr Golding (and therefore his father) will backfire. He portrays himself as someone who believes that he cannot be wrong, and as someone who could not care less about the opinions and sensibilities of our citizens. That’s not a desirable trait for a minister of finance and the public service. Minister Clarke owes Mr Golding and Jamaica a public apology.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com