What about Jamaica’s Trayvons? And why do we laugh at Jamaicans who cry for justice?

I am posting below an article by young Jaevion Nelson, a youth activist with a clear-eyed view of life in Jamaica. Here he touches on a couple of issues that have preoccupied us quite a bit on the social media, and which I referred to in last Sunday’s post. I am reproducing below his column in the “Gleaner” newspaper, published today and available at http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130718/cleisure/cleisure3.html.

“We need justice, not lip service justice. We demand that all our furniture be replaced. Everything has been destroyed. Regrettably, no one, except the cameraman, has visited as yet to see what has happened. This is unacceptable! We need justice! Justice is what we need for everyone, especially given the predicament we are now in.”

That is an English version of what the young lady from 21¹/² Sunlight Street in Kingston 13, who was recently flooded out, who has become the newest local Internet celebrity, was trying to say to the nation – to whomever cared to listen to her concerns.

I am yet to see the kind of outrage and anger from Jamaicans about what happened to these people as there has been around the verdict in the court case involving George Zimmerman for the death of Trayvon Martin who was shot on February 26, 2012 in Sanford, Florida. In fact, many of my (Internet) friends on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, including those who laughed uncontrollably at the young lady, have changed their profile pics to show solidarity with people of colour in America. In the most uncanny way we have all of a sudden become social justice protesters – posting and tweeting because there must be #JusticeForTrayvon, but hastily and happily sharing the ‘Funny Jamaican Interview’. Does Trayvon Martin deserve justice any more than the people of 21¹/² Sunlight Street?

“Wi need justice, real justice wi need. Justice wi need. I waan bak wi furniture. An a nuh 30 gran bed in deh, an nuh 30 gran dresser or nuh 30 gran fridge or nuh 30 gran whatnat or nuh 30 gran, or ten gran night table, touch lamp, eveybadi! Flatscreen in deh mash up! Flood out wid gully wata. Nuh badi nuh come fi look, only di camera man. It cyaan work suh! “Wi need justice!”

‘fun and games’

Regrettably, because of the language she used, which many of us think is only good for ‘fun and games’; and the so-called dramatic way she employed to register her distress, we didn’t hear her screams for help. We laughed more than we cared, as we did when Clifton ‘Cliftwang’ Brown told us that they desperately needed a bridge in his community. And we still laugh because the people are ‘deading’ without realising the grave situation of some of the most vulnerable Jamaicans.

We aren’t as outraged about the arbitrary indecent language law, which we were reminded about as a result of the death of 26-year-old Kayann Lamont from St Thomas, who was eight months pregnant.

Would you care if Trayvon was Jamaican; if he was your gardener’s son; if he was the little boy who washes your car on Sundays when you’re too tired to go to the car wash? Trayvon Martin could be any one of us so I understand the level of disquiet.

I understand our outrage. I, too, am saddened about his death. I suspect we are so emotionally connected to this case because of the depth of investigation and persistence by the American media (something local journalists desperately need to learn).

vexing issues locally

However, while I have no issue with persons expressing outrage, I would love if we would use this to reflect on some vexing issues locally. Injustice knows no boundaries but we should always use one incident to help us be better in our immediate surroundings.

To be honest, I am ecstatic that so many Jamaicans are committed to the ideas of justice. However, as my colleague Rodje Malcolm (who volunteers with Jamaicans for Justice) said – transfer the outrage! Where exactly was this outrage for the 219 persons killed by the police force last year? Where was this deep and passionate concern for the children who suffer in state care? Where was this bursting need to act for the victims of Armadale? Where are the tears for the hundreds of inner-city young men who are profiled (George Zimmerman Style) by the security forces?

There are many Trayvons in Jamaica. We interact with them every day. Sadly, perhaps because of my work, I know and know of too many Jamaican Trayvons. Poor people, women and girls, sex workers, the disabled, black/dark skinned Jamaicans, people living in low-income communities, lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people, children, especially those who are poor, come in conflict with the law or need care and protection, and people living with HIV are our everyday Trayvons.

“At the end of the day, as [we] all change our profile pictures to symbolic hoodies and incessantly tweet #JusticeForTrayvon, I would humbly suggest that you avert your teary eyes to your own backyard and get upset about the injustice on our little island ‘paradise’ as well.” (Rodje Malcolm)

 

Jaevion Nelson is a youth development, HIV and human rights advocate. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and jaevion@gmail.com.