The Voice Of The Jamaican Ghetto: Incarcerated but not Silenced

by Adidja Palmer

These days of unrest after Walter Rodney’s ban became known as the Rodney riots. This was on the heels of the Coral Gardens Massacre where Rastafarians were rounded up like animals and killed trying to stand up for their faith. When Coral Gardens happened, Remember Bustamante (our National Hero) ordered that all Rastafarians should be shot on sight. Then Senator Shearer (before he was Prime Minister) asked that they be brought in “dead or alive.” Later on, as Prime Minister this black man Shearer instructed the police to “shoot first and ask questions later.” Another National Hero, Norman Manley also said, “These people – and I am glad that it is only a small number of them – are the wicked enemies of our country. I ask you all to report any unusual or suspicious movements you may see pertaining to the Rastafarians.” So there you have it, a man who banned black books in our black country is the man whose face is on the largest bill, the $5000 bill!!! In fact all these men who have spoken publicly in derogatory terms about black people without apology, have been honoured with being on the Jamaican currency at one point or the other – you condemned me but you have no issue honouring these people with probably the highest recognition an individual can attain in his country. Therefore if you bestow such an honour on black haters, why do you wonder who taught Jamaicans to hate their own skin – take a look in the mirror leaders! To this