Dear Editor,

The author of the column on February 17, “The irrelevance of Black History Month in Jamaica” presents a perspective that serves only to reinforce the need for the very same thing he regards as irrelevant. Professor Franklin W Knight’s argument lacks a basic understanding of black plight, struggle, deprivation, anguish and even success, from a local and global perspective.

The majority of Jamaicans who consider themselves black are still living a reality that is not far removed from social and economic marginalisation. How do we account for over 1600 murders in one year; an education system that betrays more students than it saves; and a political system that promotes corruption and strife among the masses? Black History Month has everything to do with celebrating the contributions of black people in the Americas and the world over. It is about setting the historical record straight and giving black people and others who care to, an opportunity to learn the real history of black people from antiquity to the present.

We must reject every attempt to trivialise the importance of Black History Month beyond the USA. Whether it is one day, one week, or one month, the opportunity to highlight and remind the world and our children that we are somebody within the context of the history of mankind must be seized. The formal education system, Franklin, has failed miserably in this respect. Lest we forget that in Jamaica, not long ago, to be black was synonymous to being inferior. Lest we ignore that in Jamaica today many of our young people believe that the closer they are to looking white, the better their chances of finding love, acceptance, and dignity. Lest we are unaware, it was only in 1991 that the Colombian Constitution officially recognised black Colombians.

On the subject of Kwanzaa, I cannot fathom Professor Knight’s objection to Jamaicans adopting or participating in a cultural ritual that promotes the principles and values of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. The world is shrinking daily as cross-border interaction among the peoples of the world accelerates. If we buy into Knight’s thesis, the majority of black folks in Jamaica will continue to slip deeper into obscurity and irrelevance.

Dr Richard Kitson-Walters

Maryland, USA

k-w@comcast.net