THE EDITOR, Sir:
One of the topics of discussion on a recent "Hot Line" radio programme was "The effect of dancehall music on the behaviour and thinking of our Jamaican young people," dealt with by Ian Boyne in two articles on two successive Sunday Gleaner articles. Mrs. Gloudon sought the public's views on the subject and had a very healthy diet of ideas 'phoned in'.
One of the most distasteful was dished out by a well-educated female lecturer from the University of the West Indies - Dr. Carolyn Cooper. I may be a poor listener and even poorer at comprehending the spoken language, but I will state some points of concern based on my understanding of her discussion.
(a) The dancehall artistes are to be commended for helping black, poor women to appreciate and feel good about themselves, and overcome the poor self-esteem they had been taught to take on by the system. They have to be taught by these DJ's that they are not ugly and have value. Dr. Cooper and us certainly do not listen to the same artistes, do not hear the same lyrics from some of the coarser presenters nor hear the comments of some of the young men on the street corners who fling some of the dirt from some of the "songs" at some young women who pass them. Surely Dr. Cooper does not live where she can hear some of these insults and most derogatory abuses being dished out at women.
Some of us women at the lower end of the educational scale cannot understand how Dr. Cooper rationalises the concept of "uplifting people's self esteem" by constant bombardment and derogatory comments. The fact that many of these women dance to these songs, dress the part of men, compete with other women to attract their male cohorts, dress their young daughters to attract the males, is evidence that the conditioning has happened. To us some of the dancehall lyrics have been used to enslave, subjugate and demoralise women.
The "browning phenomenon" was just one manifestation of the subtle effect of the lyrics. Sure the cable images may have aided this but not half as much as the vibrating lyrics of the "women dissing" artistes.
(b) The cathartic effect of the music spoken of by Dr. Cooper is like vomiting to relieve the stomach of over surfeit, but doing so on the street in view of everyone else, depositing it on people, spoiling everyone's appetite so as to ease your own discomfort. It is sickening! The fact that you are hurting gives you no right to sicken others!
Where we may need to go is to help our young men to understand the ill effects of some of the dancehall lyrics on their behaviour. There must be a concerted effort of the above-mentioned socialising groups. If what one experiences in the environment conditions one's behaviour, then our task must be to make the environment more friendly and positive instead of that which dishes out violence and hate; glamorises sexual immorality; highlights vices and coarseness.
We must be clear in our minds which values we want to promulgate for reflection in our society and work to develop these. As Ian Boyne said, and we agree with him, let us sieve the dancehall music, discard the dross and promote the positive, creative aspects.
We all get dirt in our houses but we need not live in the dirt. Clean the dirt and let everyone, as many as possible, enjoy the cleaner environment.
I am, etc.,
IRIS M. MYRIE (Mrs.)
Vice President
Business and Professional
Women's Club (Kingston)
