From time to time, people have asked me why I’m so concerned about what is happening in America. I often respond by asking, “Have you been in the supermarket in Jamaica lately?” In fact, the entire world has gotten so interdependent over the decades, that we are all forced to be concerned about what is happening worldwide. Additionally, I would hazard a guess that there are as many or even more Jamaicans or people of Jamaican descent living in the USA than in Jamaica! That alone makes American affairs critical to us in Jamaica. As the old saying goes, “If America sneezes, we are likely to catch a cold”.
So, when I think of the extraordinary and tireless work that black (and so many non-black) men and women of courage put into making America and the world a better place, it makes me sad today. The courage, despite the fears that guided their every step toward a more just America; the incredible sacrifice made by so many; the loss of life and limbs by hundreds who took a decision that there must be a better way and were willing to fight for; add to all that, the decision to confront the apartheid system in America in a non-violent way. Well, in many ways, sadly, not a lot has changed for the better, in terms of civil rights in the USA over these many years. Sadly, the struggle continues in 2025.
One critical fact that is too often overlooked is that despite the legislations to ensure civil rights in the country, the racists and extreme right wing were quite comfortable going underground as the rest of the society celebrated these new “rights”. They had one thing. Patience! They organised and plotted underground while strategically infiltrating critical institutions in the country to carry out their cruelty and undermine the well fought for civil rights of blacks and other non-white groups. The police force nationwide was a prime target for their infiltration. The education system was another. They worked tirelessly in these critical areas to ensure that America is an uncomfortable place for non-whites to exist freely. And this is despite all the public relations nonsense of America being the home of the free. Sadly, many immigrants bought into this public relations crap and saw the USA as their saviour and gateway to prosperity and a better life. It worked for a few, but only a few.
These ugly underground racists are in love with the current president, Trump, for one reason only. In our lifetime, he is the only president that gave them full permission to take off their masks and show their true ugly selves in public! They know it may not be for long, and this is why they are moving with such breakneck speed to change the public face of America at such a rapid pace. Their Project 2025 plan speaks loudly. Unfortunately, most adult Americans who are eligible to vote are so hopelessly uninformed that they were easy targets for the propaganda media. So, many went to the recent polls underprepared, not to mention the millions who never thought it was critical for them to go to the polls at all. Hopefully, the massive demonstrations across the country (and many other countries in the world) in the recent “No Kings” marches will send a message that it is not likely to work out for the rabid racists. Good thing is that so many who supported Trump’s return to power realise that their lives have been hell for the last nine months with improvements nowhere in sight. Let us hope that the massive show of people power across the country will awake the complicit republicans in Congress to a new vision for America — one that does not include Trump and his MAGA flock they now are so scared to confront! Without this new vision, America will surely gather speed into a certain decline.
