Norris McDonald | Celebrate … but the ‘tuff’ emancipation journey still lies ahead

Beat drums, beat!

Beat out a riddim of joy!

Beat out a riddim of pain!

Beat out those times of trouble;

We feel again and again…

Jamaican Reggae Girlz’s dazzling success in creating history by knocking out Brazil in the first round of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup once again shows the world that ‘wi lickle but tallawah!’

All Jamaicans, and well-wishers worldwide, saw the Reggae Girlz’s victory as an Independence gift. It certainly made us all proud, especially since it is reported that they did not get much government support.

These are truly interesting times. Yes! It is ‘dutty hard times’. Let us celebrate if we must, but we ought not to foolishly think Jamaica’s nation-building work is done.

At the end of the day, what exactly are we fighting for?

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

It must be for the economic empowerment of most of our people.

Black economic power must be seen as an important goal. The sharp divide between the rich and the poor; between hustle economy and industry must be replaced.

Surely, we certainly did not escape from the whip and chains of slavery to be now entrapped by a capitalist society under which debt slavery is gloried and think that all is well.

Given this reality, can we truly boast about ‘emancipation’?

One problem we face is that we have uncritically adopted the open market policies of the International Monetary Fund, and Western capitalism.

At the same time, the Western countries continue to enrich themselves at our expense.

In commenting on this sad political economic dilemma, Professor Patrick L. Lumumba says poor Black countries such as Jamaica have relegated themselves to a “perpetual state of begging”.

But why should a nation such as Jamaica, or any wealth-resource nation for that matter, maintain this type of servitude?

Black people all over the world just do not have the economic concentration of power outside the system of Western capitalism.

Lack of control of our economic resources is one reason. Another key problem is that there appears to be no consistent effort to plan for, and work towards, developing our economies so that we can become true masters in our own homeland.

Control of economic power and the sharing of national wealth among our people must be the true measuring rod of political independence and emancipation.

What do you think?

TWIST OF FATE

Meanwhile, on the other side of the world in the American Black diaspora, Jamaican American District Court Judge Tanya Sue Chutkan is holding up this same ‘lickle but tallawah’ spirit.

Judge Chutkan is presiding over one of the greatest historical cases in America’s history.

Donald ‘the coup plotter’ Trump is the first criminally indicted American president of the United States.

And as fate would have it, the judge in this case is Tanya Sue Chutkan.

This is not just a twist of fate; it is a true irony that no masterful playwright could perhaps have better crafted.

Here we have a once powerful man, Donald Trump, who professes the vilest thoughts and sentiments against Black people and other races, against women, against all immigrants. And in a brutal twist of fate, nay, cruel irony, he now stands whimpering like a coward before a strong black woman.

Maybe it is not something to boast about, but the American press calls Judge Tanya Sue Chutkan “a tough punisher” of the January 6, 2021, insurrectionists.

My friends, it is as if all the stars in the universe are coming in alignment in these stressful times.

In the last couple of years, we have seen America having Barack Obama as her first Black president.

Even if it is symbolic, it is things such as these phenomenal events that uplift our people’s spirit and gives them hope.

President Obama has become an important role model for the young Blacks.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, is an antithesis, the very opposite of what Barack Obama stood for.

Trump is a man who sought to literally trample on Black people, women, and immigrants when he had political power. And there it is – he has been delivered into the hands of Judge Tanya Sue Chutkan, a powerful Black woman of Jamaican heritage.

O how the mighty have fallen?

PROGRESSIVE JOURNEY

My dear friends, I believe we can continue to find true strength and moral inspiration.

Even as we strive for economic empowerment, the “feel good thing” in these harsh times keeps a smile on our faces.

As we continue our progressive journey forward, to create a better society, I believe we must maintain:

• A positive vision of the future

• A strong belief in self

• The powerful confidence that we will be successful in our quest.

Maybe the spirit of our ancestors who never survived Black genocide are challenging us to continue the journey to true emancipation.

But how would we know if we throw up our hands and give up?

Jamaica has contributed to the advancement of world politics, culture, music, sports, education, medicine, science, technology and the arts.

Our people are admired throughout the world for our striving for excellence.

Yes, there are ups and downs: We are in bitta-sweet times, but as the saying goes, “the struggle continues”.

I leave you, my friends, with some comforting words of my poem DRUMS…

Come black people, come!

Start those drums beating!

O! Shake the earth!

Rastafarian sounds,

Kumina!

Pocomania!

O African sounds!

Let out a resounding cry;

Strike a massive blow!

And those chains of bondage

Shall crumble across the sky!

Despite our ‘sulfabitta’ problems, let us forever hold our heads high. And hold high the banner of truth and justice in our fight for real emancipation facing the future: Being proud to be Jamaican or of Jamaican heritage. Proud to be black!

That is just the ‘bitta’ truth!

Norris McDonald is an economic journalist, political analyst, and respiratory therapist. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and miaminorris@yahoo.com.