Natural hair wear ban by Jamaica’s Supreme Court sparks dread
Jamaican student who was allegedly discriminated against.
Caribbean Life, August 14-20, 2020 11
It seems like a century
ago — back in the 20th —
that Robert Nesta Marley, the
avowed king of reggae penned
lyrics lauding the global trend
of wearing natural hairstyles
fashioned by dreadlocks.
“Dread Natty Dread —
Dreadlocks inna Babylon…
Natty dreadlocks inna Zimbabwe…
21,000 miles from
home…’ the 1974 release garnered
pride associating African
identity.
The song became infectiously
popular and with it endorsed
an audience base with supporters
of the Rastafari doctrine
as well as reggae fans — of all
races — to a wash and wear
lifestyle while also freeing
wearers from the traditional
brush, comb, tease, straightening
regimen.
As a matter of fact, Marley
was convinced that the global
display and accepted fashion
statement by people of all races
would exalt the Africentric tradition
he envisioned when he
repeatedly punctuated verses
singing “I ‘n’ I gonna have
things our way.”
However, in the 21st century
and on Emancipation
Day in the beloved birthplace
of the legend a decision by
the Supreme Court banned a
seven- year-old student from
attending school if she persisted
in wearing dreadlocks.
Judge Sonia Bertram-Linton
ruled the school was within its
rights to impose its policy of
“no braids, no beads, no locking
of hair.”
“It is time to review and
amend the Education Act,”
Prime Minister Andrew Holness
said of the decision. He
added that “Our Children must
not be discriminated against
or deprived of their right to
education.”
Following that statement,
Senator Donna Scott-Mottley,
Opposition spokesperson for
the People’s National Party
(PNP) criticized it saying it was
“hypocritical.”
“This statement also rings
hollow,” she added, “it was his
attorney general who went to
court to give Kensington Primary
School a right to bar the
student from entering a government
school.”
Nationals at home and
abroad chorused similar sentiments
on social media. The
blowback seemed to quickly
register reform of colonial
practices by the British with
the launching of the Education
Transformation Commission
2020.
The leader’s explanation was
that the commission was established
“to reflect a modern and
culturally inclusive position
that protects our children from
being barred from any educational
institution on the basis
of wearing locks.”
Marley died in 1981 but his
son Julian did not hesitate to
decry the untimely judicial
decision from the second highest
court on the island.
The dreadlocked benefactor
of his father’s legacy said it
was a “disgrace” that Jamaica
celebrating 58 years of independence
would be going backwards.
He said his father would be
disappointed.
The next generation Marley,
a Grammy-nominated recording
artist was joined by some
of the top reggae recorders on
the island.
Dancehall deejay Bounti
Killa adamantly contended
that on the Aug. 1 national
holiday citizens should declare
“No Emancipation With Discrimination.”
Grammy winning dreadlocked
deejay Beenie Man, Taurus
Riley and Spragga Benz
agreed.
“There’s no justice,” Sherine
and Dale Virgo, parents of the
student reportedly said.
“It’s just backward thinking
and bureaucratic ideals being
enforced,” the father told media
outlets.
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
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