Don't blame the DJs

The correlation between dancehall music and juvenile delinquency

Trevoy Shaw, Contributor

Trevoy Shaw is a sixth-form student of Tarrant High School in St Andrew and a poet, songwriter, and young recording artiste the with aim of becoming a lawyer. This is an edited version of his oral presentation in the CAPE Level 1 Communication Task examination, which was submitted to The Sunday Gleaner.

While contemplating a theme for my oral presentation, I felt moved to look at the correlation between dancehall music and juvenile delinquency.

The question I sought to answer was: "Is there a correlation between dancehall music and juvenile delinquency in Kingston's high schools?"

According to sociologist Georgia Crawford, juvenile delinquency is the act of minors engaging in negative activities such as drug abuse, stealing, robbery with violence, gambling, and sexual permissiveness, just to name a few.

The inspiration behind this research ranges from the controversy that was stirred up by the recent statement that "many criminals in prison are former students of top high schools in Kingston". Hence, the big question remains: Is there really a correlation between dancehall music and juvenile delinquency in Kingston's high schools?

According to an article in The Gleaner written by Mel Cooke on December 27, 2009, a study on violence and dancehall music led by Dr Donna Hope-Marquis, lecturer in Reggae Studies at the University of the West Indies, found that there was no correlation between the two.

The research was conducted among three hundred 15-24 year-olds in Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, and Clarendon between June and August 2009.

Hope-Marquis told The Gleaner, "The results were so insignificant that it could not be used as a guiding principle."

She further stated that the study was not just looking at the cultural aspect of music to document it for posterity, but to also try to understand from a scientific perspective how music impacts the society.

Based on the study done in June 2009, what stands out is that there is no statistical correlation between youth consumption of dancehall music and violence.

In a television programme on March 18, the popular dancehall duo, Twin of Twins, was interviewed about their song Up Wid di Money, and I quote a few lines from the chorus:

"Up wid di money or go down inna hole

Check seh man a stay inna di ghetto and get old youth?

Fingerprint man a left inna di road

When belly empty supn else haffi go load

Up wid di money or go down inna grave

Could a live Scotiabank yo life still naw go save youth

Fingerprint man a left inna di street

Boss a gimmi two grand like mi pickny no eat

Responding to a question about the inspiration behind this song, the 'twins' explained that it was done based on their observation of the inner-city communities where many persons have the mindset that if one does not have it, it is best to steal, rob, or kill to get it.

They further argued that the song was done to draw the attention of the Jamaican Government to the fact that crime and violence is the end product of poverty, and that if this issue is not addressed, there will be no significant reduction in crime and violence.

What stood out in this interview was the argument that dancehall music is a true reflection of society and its happenings, and as such, there is no correlation between dancehall music and juvenile delinquency.

gathering data

A qualitative research study was conducted in a high school in the Corporate Area.

In gathering the data, the researcher chose to use the interview method, with the advantage that it allowed for more detailed questions to be asked, and it also achieved a high response rate.

The participants were students from first to fifth form. Ten were selected randomly from each form. Each student was interviewed separately on the topic.

In analysing the data, the researcher noticed that more than 90 per cent of the respondents had already committed a delinquent act.

More than 70 per cent said they were fans of dancehall music, while more than 85 per cent believed that there was no correlation between dancehall music and juvenile delinquency.

Half of the student respondents identified poverty as the main cause of juvenile delinquency, while 30 per cent said poor parenting; 15 per cent said peer pressure, while five per cent said dancehall music.

One of the issues raised repeatedly by the student respondents was the role of parents in preventing a child from becoming delinquent. Several of the respondents also argued that dancehall music embraced a negative culture.

I would recommend that parents play a greater role in educating their children about the consequences of being delinquent ... talk to their children, show them that they love and care about them regardless of the hardship.

On the other hand, young people should strive to be leaders and should not allow peer pressure to lead them in the wrong direction.

I would also dare every youth to take a stand against juvenile delinquency and eradicate thoughts of negativity.

In addition, I would remind dancehall artistes that young people in the country consume their music, so they should record more positive songs that would educate the young about the importance of not becoming a victim of juvenile delinquency.

In conclusion, it is my view that there is no correlation between dancehall music and juvenile delinquency in Kingston's high schools.

Juvenile delinquency is mainly the result of poverty, poor parenting, and peer pressure. Do not blame dancehall.