Fitting into categories

From time to time I am forced to fill out a variety of forms for different reason. It can be an application for credit card, or driver’s license, or a job. One section is about ethnicity. You are asked to identify whether you are black, white or Hispanic. Well, it is not that simple. White, African-American, Hispanic (White), Hispanic (Black) and a couple other categories that I cannot remember are listed as choices. In other words everybody must fit somewhere. Sure, there is an “Other” category but I really wonder who checks that. It is almost like if you check “Other” you are hiding and denying who you are so if you think like I do you check the one that applies.

(Although, since I am not from Africa, do I still need to check African-American or should I petition for a Caribbean American category? Hmm)

I find that the norm in the US is to categorize everyone. Maybe we do it anyway as part of our human tendencies. But each time we put someone in a category, a whole slew of preconceived notions accompany it. I don’t think it can be helped. Some of those categories may not be required by law (gay lesbian or straight for example). But in keeping with this, the informal categorization does come into play and it makes it easier for biases to take hold. From pet lovers to sexuality to ethnic backgrounds, everyone falls into multiple categories. And there are a myriad of stereotypes to go around.

A heart warming story

This is a heartwarming story I found in the Jamaica Gleaner. Apparently the work of one young man brings about a much needed change for two elderly women in Jamaica. Young Tristan Rodney sent in his picture in a photojournalism contest and the story behind that picture helped to bring about change in two people's lives. Click here to read.



Though the ladies' circumstances are sad, it is nice to know that some positive change will come about from this good natured young man's action.

Recent Recalled Items in the News

Quite a few recalls have been grabbing the headlines in the past several weeks. Most of the recalls stemmed from items manufactured in China. Click here for some of the recalled items. Among the list of recalled items included toys manufactured by Mattel.

Toys coming out of China manufactured under the Mattel brand have a high level of lead paint which is harmful to the children playing with these toys. Two things come to mind instantly.

First, amid all of the danger attributed to these toys the old “bottom line” concept always comes into play. Wall Street is keeping an eye on the developments as the market responds to the news about the recalls. So even though these toys post a risk to some small child, somewhere there is some executive assessing the financial impact of this child’s risk. Click here for article.

Second, I wonder what this means for China. The large country is poised to be a giant in economic terms. Cheap labor means it is an attractive place for investment and business opportunities. But, does this cheap labor translate to a lower quality? And, I do wonder if there will be a shift to the old “Made in America” tag. American businesses are at a disadvantage in terms of labor cost. Businesses can manufacture products in China for a fraction of the cost here. But if these news items are indicative of the quality coming out of China, then that low labor cost may not be worth it. Made in America may be making a comeback

As a side note, I wonder why is it that there is not more investment in the Caribbean islands. I do believe that as Caribbean folk we can do quality work and relatively cheaply too. I understand why China is an attractive prospect, but the Caribbean can be a viable alternative too.

Just my thoughts.

Assimilation

I struggle from time to time with this thought. Being an immigrant I have to assimilate into my adopted home. But, does that mean I have to give up aspects of the things that I know and am familiar with? Am I supposed to defrock myself of all things Jamaican? The fact is that I don’t have mannish water immediately available or that I don’t get to play cricket in the street. If I speak of Brian Lara in my office nobody knows what I am talking about. My speech pattern has already changed along with terminology and general attitudes toward a variety of situations along with it. For example, I still think homosexuality is wrong but I am now accepting of the fact that some people may choose to engage in this lifestyle. So while I don’t subscribe to the old Buju Banton “Boom Bye Bye” and think “all batty man fe dead”, I don’t agree with this course of life. You make your choice and I make mine. I choose to stay straight.

But the more I reflect the more I can realize and appreciate my upbringing and the way I grew up. I am realizing more and more that being Jamaican is more that identifying with reggae music or knowing who Bob Marley was. It is more than just rice and peas and fried chicken at Sunday dinner. It is more than just jerk chicken or white sandy beaches. It is more of an inward thing, a state of being sometimes something you can’t even explain. It is more than just patios. It is knowing you can escape to your island home with a single thought. The food, music and the dialect are tangible and obvious manifestation of the state of mind known as “Jamaica” which is part of the mental framework known as the “Caribbean”.

So while living here has brought with it a physical and sometimes cultural distance from my homeland, when a salesperson stops me at the mall in Palm Beach and tries to get me to buy something I don’t really want I can escape to Jamaica inwardly as I calmly say “no thanks” but inside I am thinking “but onnu si ya, im tek me fe eediat nuh” kiss mi teet an walk off!

Advertisers' paradise

The arrival of the fall season brings with it the start of what I call the advertisers’ paradise. This is the period in time between Halloween and Valentine’ Day (October through February) where consumers are absolutely bombarded with commercials geared at separating them from their money. Marketers and advertising departments go crazy this time of the year. Walk into any department store, mall or shopping center and there are displays that betray the season. Right now there are displays with cryptic art depicting Halloween. I personally never liked the idea of this “celebration”. Something about ghouls and goblins or witches and sorcery never seemed like something I needed to commemorate. Neighborhoods kids knock on doors with the cursory “trick or treat” greeting. I plan on having my doors closed and lights off to discourage any trick-or-treaters. Of course it may backfire as they may end up thinking that my house is the haunted house.

There is Thanksgiving in November and then the Christmas celebrations (I’ll post more of my thoughts on those two later) followed by New Year and then the time of year where everyone falls in love, Valentine’s Day. So brace yourselves. Coming to a television screen, newspaper, radio, billboard, magazine and any other media source near you is a barrage of advertising that will assault your every sense. There is no getting away from it.