EDITORIAL - David Starkey and the power of Jamaica

David Starkey may know a lot about the personalities and politics of England's Tudor period, on which he is an authority and has written several books. Mr Starkey, though, has little understanding of England of the time in which he lives.

He is probably also racist, but too ignorant of his condition to recognise it for what it is. Perversely, David Starkey, although his intent was malicious, heaped encomiums on Jamaica.

In seeking to explain the recent riots in England, he blamed black people, although the looters were of all races and ethnicities. He especially fingered Jamaica.

Said Mr Starkey: "The whites have become black. A particular sort of nihilistic gangster culture has become the fashion, and black and white boys and girls operate in this language, which is this Jamaican Patois that has been [introduced] in England. Which is why so many of us have this sense of, literally, a foreign country."

Clearly, David Starkey found a simplistic, jingoistic frame within which to capture the alienation felt by so many young Britons and which contributed to the riots. When challenged on the silliness of his argument, he declared himself to be merely a plain speaker, and of the criticism said: "It's not coz I is black, coz I is white."

That, of course, was a crude attempt of what Mr Starkey presumed to be Jamaican Patois, or his perception of the language of black culture in England.

His intent notwithstanding, David Starkey, in his ignorance, hit upon a profound truth: Jamaica's powerful culture and global brand with recognition and influence beyond our size.

Creativity and capacity for leadership

We would hardly argue with Mr Starkey that in today's multiracial and multicultural Britain, Jamaica's cultural influence has transcended its immigrant, minority status and is becoming mainstream. These days, when subjugation by violence is frowned upon, language and culture are likely to be the tool of choice of colonisation. It helps if they are in the ownership of a confident, talented people with dominant - or is it winning? - personalities.

It may not have been his intent, but Mr Starkey reminded us of something about ourselves - our inherent creativity and natural capacity for leadership - such as was on show at the World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea.

Imagine how David Starkey would consume himself if we were to convert these positives into economic success and if it were major Jamaican firms in the City and the high streets of London and other British cities.

That, perhaps, should be our goal, as Mr Starkey might put it: "Coz we is Jamaicans".