Dear editor,
It is very evident in Jamaica that the plantation society is alive and well. The classism that is being practiced in the country where Rastafarians are still being victimized after 57 years of independence, based solely on the fact of an hairdo. Marcus Garvey rightfully stated that”
Do not remove the kinks from your hair – remove them from your brain”
In the United States the Rastafarian hair style or dreadlocks was defended by the Supreme Court recently where it was seen as unconstitutional for a school or an employer to discriminate against anyone based on wearing what is considered to be a African hair style or dreadlocks. Recently in the Jamaican justice system there is a case where a student Is being denied access to an education in a government-funded school based solely on a hairstyle. The courts in Jamaica sided with the school to state that the student hairstyle was deemed unacceptable and they have suspended the child for it. Is it constitutional to deprive a child of an education due to religious beliefs? The student is being discriminated against for a simple hairstyle and Being deprived of an education until the parents decide to conform to Colonial ideologies of what is socially acceptable. This is disgraceful that the justice system in Jamaica find it appropriate to deny a child of an education due to a hairdo. Intelligence rules the world, ignorance bares the burden where is the discretion by the judge in this case and we as a society must reflect on the psychological implications on the child for this rejection of self.
The Constitution states that church and state is separate this simply means that my religious beliefs cannot be infringed on by the government or the justice system. The courts must Demonstrate that they are unbiased an Eschew From discriminating against Rastafarians and any religious organization based on an hairdo or their religious believes. Why is it that we are reverting back to colonial ideologies in Jamaica and infringing on the rights of Rastafarians. Even in so-called white America the Rastafarian hairdo is now culturally accepted we must reject discrimination in Jamaica on every level. The school system is financed by the taxpayers dollars the government must respect the taxpayer and do right. We must remember that education is not a privilege it is a right. I hope that this case is taken to the highest court and justice prevails.
I am,
Reverend Tanasha Buchanan
This ruling was a sad day for Jamaica. Sad because, it shows the ignorance and incompetence of some of the persons appointed to the Jamaican judiciary. First and foremost, Jamaica has accepted that Human Rights is an important aspect to the country’s interest. One of the rights protected is, discrimination based on religion, which this case is about. As a court sitting in Jamaica, even Stevie Wonder could tell you that , the rastafarian hairstyle is part of that religious belief. Whether jamaican so called elite want to accept it or not, it was and is the rastafarian community which put Jsmaica on the map.their music and tradition of using marijuana as part of their religious belief is one of the main reasons tourist visit the island, among other things.
The dreadlocks hair style is a look that has been adopted and can be seen around the world. That fact needs to be highlited to the Jamaican Hurry come up bujeous society, who thinks because of their colour ( which usually derived from the slave masters children, the raping of female slaves. prostitution to sailors or other white foreigners and the incestuous inbreeding to keep the colour) or through the money they usually inherited from dubious means (ganga exportation was the main means then ). most of these light skin looking people are usually dunce as bat, what got them through was the colour, a sickly reminder of the slave trade.
I would love to see the transcript of that judges ruling.
Yesterday, Justice Hale of the UK supreme Court, in the ruling against prime minister Boris Johnson made this statement, a statement which could be accepted as a definition of a vourt and the job of a judge . She goes ” the court exist in order to ensure that the laws made by parliament and the common law created by the courts themselves are applied and enforce. She went on ” the role includes ensusing that the executive branch of government carries out its functions in accordance with the law. In order for the courts to perform that role , people must in principle have unimpeded access to them.
This ruling has set a new precedent that must be followed.
I hope this family has taken their case on appeal to a higher court to make a determination on the lower courts ruling. I can almost bet that those running the school and these judgs are familiar with each
other. This case shows the contempt that the Jamaica’s judiciary has for the law. If you look closely at rulings from jamaican judges practicing in jamaica, no other country court system could use theirs case as any reference,it’s that bad.
No matter how you spin it dreadlocks as always been looked down on in our society and for some hygienic reasons and that same ignorance you talking about. You misquoted garvey because he wasn’t a lover of rastas either. Locks fashionable abroad.
@1.49pm
Can you show here, where I quoted Mr Garvey?
Nuff shout out to all the genuine Rastas out there. The struggle is real, but we will not give up the fight. One love.