Staff writer - Latoya Wakefield
I believe in the power of words…I believe that we telling the world what we stand for will make some even if it’s a few respect what we’re about and therefore I write not only for me but for every child that doesn’t have a voice, for every person that’s hurting, for an injustice, to make our concerns be heard…and today I write for a friend who met prejudice where she thought it wouldn’t be.
High school was my roughest part of growing up. I was constantly teased, grossly rejected, frequently put down…I was the weirdo in school, the outcast, the one who didn’t fit in and one day I might share the reasons that society gave to reject me.
I learnt through these experiences that a simple word can inflict deep wounds on an individual that no knife or gun or any weapon could cause. And so even now I frown down on people criticizing others about things that are beyond their control. I disagree when someone calls someone ugly or fat or dunce. It’s sad when people formed an opinion about someone because of their physical appearance. I hate bias, hypocrisy, prejudice and racism. To me, God is the only one who should ever judge.
Symbol of tolerance
Numerous times others have said to me that I’m a ‘Mother Theresa’, that I advocate for others too much, that I care beyond the limits…is it that I can’t help it or I just don’t want to?…My experiences have taught me that being there for someone when they need it will make society a better place.
Today I write for that girl who was the most talented of her bunch but was turned down because of her looks and religion. Prejudice is real. Even though Jamaica’s motto is ‘Out of many one people’, it vastly exists here especially in the tourism and banking industries.
It is advertised in the newspaper that they want ‘talent’, ‘a good command of the English language’, ‘a sound character’. These are all written yet when someone who fits all the criteria is not light coloured or slim or in their eyes ‘attractive’ and a Christian gets turned down and someone who is brown, slim, ‘attractive’ and doesn’t fit the criteria gets the job, what would you think? Is it fair?
Jackass always says ‘di worl’ nuh level’. Indeed, it isn’t. In any country of the Caribbean, we as a people shouldn’t continue to put down others or not offer someone an opportunity because of their looks, religion, background or weight. It seems even though we are independent, our minds are still enslaved. How can we ever really be progressive if our minds are incarcerated?
They say ‘Image is everything’ and the image that is portrayed to be the right image is slender, light coloured, long hair…which race can we identify that image with? In the Caribbean, we need to stop copying other nation’s way of doing things. We need our own identity, our own image.
I’m tired of prejudice in the working world. Our people will never rise if only the ‘high coloured’ are getting the big positions. The Bible proves to be true, if we continue then the rich will get richer and the poor will always suffer. We shouldn’t hire people because of where they come from, how they look, their religion, etc. We should hire because of their abilities and what they can bring to the table. It’s time we stop prejudice especially in our little country, Jamaica land we love…
If you’ve ever had an experience like this, I encourage not giving up. One day you will be successful. As I said in my facebook’s status ‘Believe in yourself even when the world doesn’t believe in you. Stay strong even when your own friends are trying to get you down. Keep trying even though you’ve failed a million times. Success will be yours but first you gotta realize that obstacles are just a part of the journey’
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