Wendel Abel
JAMAICA IS in crisis. In our quest to find solutions it is important that we reflect on ourselves. Slavery was disruptive and destructive. Our families and sense of family was disrupted, our culture destroyed or distorted, so were our language, food and rituals. To have survived, we had to recreate ourselves, our culture, religion and family patterns. This article reflects on aspects of our recreations.
Political party: Central to the African's view of himself is, 'I am because we are, and because we are, I am'. In African culture, the tribe was more important than the individual. Our strong affiliation to political parties has been an attempt to recreate the tribal system. Unfortunately, our political leaders have not used this affiliation with political parties to develop our people. Instead, it is used to create garrisons which generate division and violence, destroy individuals and tear families and communities apart.
BLACK SUPREMACY
Ratafarianism: This movement represents an attempt by our people to formulate a new way of life, to establish cultural identity, to develop a form of religion that validated the black man and instilled pride in ourselves as a people. Our society did not understand this and this group was persecuted and ostracised in its early days. The movement has given to us a religion that recognises the supremacy of a black God. It has given us a rich musical heritage, reggae, which now has worldwide acclaim and has given us icons, such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. It has given us hairstyles, such as the wearing of the locks, which is popular even among educated and professional blacks worldwide. It has given us a lifestyle characterised by simplicity and non-violence.
The big yard: Slavery destroyed our family system. Men and women were torn away from each other and their children resulting in family patterns characterised by visiting relationship; 60 per cent of household headed by single females and the absent father figures. The extended family system consists of family members, relatives and friends living together as one family in one house or in one big yard. People living in a big yard provide a network of financial, material, social and emotional support for each other. Through this network children are cared for because 'It takes a village to care for a child'. It provides support for the sick, the poor, children in need and for older people.
Informal adoption of children: The practice in which family members or friends will care for children from another family. This practice started during slavery when children were separated from parents. The practice still continues. It, however, has its down side, such as abuse of children and multiple shifting as children are moved from one caregiver to another.
SACRIFICE
The parental child: The oldest child, or the most capable child in the family may have to take care of the younger children in such circumstances as a parent has died, mother has to seek employment, has migrated or is overburdened. The development of this 'parental child', who has to assume enormous responsibilities at an early age, is often affected. These individuals later feel cheated in life as they had to sacrifice their own development to that of their siblings.
Religion: Religion and spirituality have played an important role in our survival. The non-traditional religious practices that we developed as a people were an attempt to maintain our traditional religious practice. The Christian church has played an important role in the spiritual, social, moral and educational development of our people especially after emancipation. The church has abdicated many of its responsibilities and needs to recognise the critical role it must continue to play in all facets of our lives and particularly so, in many inner-city communities plagued by violence and social degradation.
Dr. Wendel Abel is a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.
