Letter of the Day | Dangers of political tribalism
Published:Monday | September 11, 2023 | 12:07 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Okogu and Umudjere (2016) defined tribalism as “the state of being organised and advocating for a tribe. In conformity, tribalism refers to a cultural term, a way of thinking or behaving in which people are more loyal to their tribes than to their friends, countries or social groups”.
In the context of Jamaica, the tribalism of the Maroons limited their views to the few acres of land gained from their fight with the British, but narrowed their vision of the wider Jamaica and its possibilities by uniting with the enslaved warriors against chattel slavery, in a common force against human oppression. It is the reason behind the “undated signed letters” that blighted the early days of Andrew Holness’ political blunders.
Tribalism is a negative concept that foiled the progress agitated by Maroons towards the nation-building possibilities of Jamaica. This blinded them from seeing the immensely great opportunities of joining with their blood brothers in the struggle for freedom.
It is a natural instinct to unite and support one another while experiencing mutual suffering. The system of slavery was exceptionally oppressive, and resistance to slavery became a common feature of Jamaican life. Educator Susan Hurn postulates that “When people experience mutual suffering, it is their need that unites them – the need to grieve, the need to find relief from the pain, the need for someone else to understand how they feel. We are social creatures by nature, and we band together in the face of catastrophe. Any situation or circumstance profound enough to produce suffering would be catastrophic in our lives; the natural response would be to reach out to others.”
The opposite happened to the Maroons, as their leaders, who were known to be tribally discriminative, also possess attitudes because of their urge for wealth, power, and fame gained through the capturing and selling of escaped rebellious slaves who posed an imaginary threat to their own leadership and their quest for the mess of pottage from the British.
The manifestation of this negative tribalism is what anthropologist Dr Herbert Gayle identified as an oppressive principle among Jamaicans, “we take care of ourselves, the others can go to hell” (Nationwide News, January 22, 2021). This worldview has blighted our Jamaican politics and has created the proliferation of gangs and politically entrenched garrison communities. It is the underlying force that drives our classism and our support of a system in which mediocrity is rewarded. It is the reason behind the political blunders at public meetings, for example, Dayton Campbell’s diatribe against the Nationwide News Network, and the consequential negative response by others.
DUDLEY MCLEAN II
Mandeville, Manchester