Tigritude, Obama and the Price of Saltfish

In my last post I mentioned the term tigritude, Wole Soyinka's mocking dismissal of the negritude movement. Soyinka says that a tiger does not proclaim it's tigritude, it acts. Soyinka wanted unity of the races, not racism in another shape. The colour of our skin should have the same significance (to us) among human beings that a tiger's stripes has (to him) among cats. The colour of a man's skin should be of no more significance, than the colour of his eyes. When the human race gets to this place, then we can say racism has died.

Unfortunately, in the US presidential race, colour is of great significance. Obama's colour is often up for mention (or the fact that he is, simmers right below the surface of every discussion) for one reason or the other. How can it not be, this is a historic moment in America's coming of Age. There are lots of people voting for Obama because he's black, there are lots of people not voting for him because he's black, there are lots of people who are abstaining because he's black!

In my corner of the globe I'm really just interested in whose policy will send down the price of saltfish. I love my ackee and salt fish you know.

Americans should vote for the person they believe is most capable of doing the job, the person whose manifesto they believe in, the person who has the clearer vision, the stronger will, and the greater fortitude to steer the USA out of the turbulent waters that threaten to engulf her.

I hope in another hundred years or so America will be so grown up that these will be the only issues that will guide voters to their decision.

Psychosis not unique to Zimbabwe

Robert Mugabe still clings rabidly to power as though Zimbabwe might collapse into the earth's crust if the sun rose tomorrow and found that he was no longer president. He believes this even though one loaf of bread (if you can find it), costs $50 000 000 000 forcing the government to now print one hundred billion dollar notes.


This is only a little bit more psyhcotic than our politicians here in Jamaica who obsess over presiding over crime, poverty and the squalid water that sits in the open drains in Spanish Town and in the market at May Pen.


Edit notes: I've inserted this pic with a link to a petition that helped move Mbeki to break his silence. It's outdated but you could still sign in solidarity.