Whether White/Blacks struggles in America or light/dark struggle in Jamaica. Both are a post-colonial vestige, a remnant of a Colonial past. The myth of privilege that has us fooled.

The origin of white privilege has always been as currency for underprivileged whites. Our government failed the poor, and rather than design programs to address their issues, increase job skills and jobs, ‘White Privilege’ became the currency. They were still poor, underprivileged, jobless, without insurance…..but they were at least assured that they would be ahead of/better than/higher than any of the persons of color who had newly become so-called beneficiaries of the bundle of rights interpreted into law by the new Supreme Court, and created into law by the modern Congress. It was/is Jim Crowism, it is Neocolonialism, it was and is NOT real, NOT true, have NO bearing in physical, natural or social science or any reality, and we need to extricate it from our existence.

Serving in Jamaica, I have observed a synonymous relationship between so called “white” Jamaicans (light skinned persons) and the masses or persons or darker hues along a spectrum of light to tanned skin tones.  I have noticed that “haves” and persons in business executive positions in both the private and public sectors are of the lighter hues, while the masses of “have-nots” are of the darker hues.  There was not “Jim-Crowism” that I am able to uncover in my learning the culture and history of Jamaica.  There appears however, to be an intangible line drawn between light and dark, and that line leaves the dark-skinned Jamaicans in an unending cycle of lack, reminiscent of the African American experience.  

In fact, while African Americans pursued civil rights in America, Jamaicans pursued their own pan-African liberation rights in Jamaica.  The Rastafarian movement and religion could be paralleled with the Nation of Islam in America and its mission to bring about the liberation of the post slavery Black man, whether he exists in the USA or in Jamaica.  

The presidential election in America has far reaching social, political and economic implications globally.  With our proximity and ongoing diplomatic relationship, if America sneezes, Jamaica catches a cold.  

As Peace Corps Volunteers, our role as Peace Ambassadors is even more important as we traverse the next few months of transition, and during the change of administrations.  There is just so much that makes us similar, if we only but look at our countries through the eyes of empathy.  In doing so, we will recognize that historically, we share a similar past, and that that past is sure to engender similarities that can assist us in forging relationships of peace, friendship, diplomacy and shared responsibility for development in the future.