It happened so subtly that many may have missed it. Somewhere in between the latest internet challenge and penguins going viral, pleas went out for the signing of an online petition to ask the United States to repeal the conviction of Jamaica’s national hero Marcus Garvey.
It hardly comes as a surprise that the petition failed to garner the required 100,000 signatures required to get the attention of the White House. As is the case with many other issues of historical significance, this one hardly matters to a generation consumed with self, selfies and self-aggrandizement. Then someone like Donald Trump comes along, and we all have to stop and pay attention. Suddenly, it becomes apparent that many of the issues affecting others are very much our own.
That Trump won the American presidency despite his venomous rhetoric is shocking only to those who’ve been in denial about racism and white privilege, not only in America but many other countries around the world. For those who lived through the civil rights era, present day America seems like a recurring nightmare. Thankfully, I don’t have to live in America. But many of my close relatives call that country home, and for them my heart is pained at the possibility of what might now be their reality.
For Jamaica, Trump’s rise could be the sign we’ve been waiting for to start acting like an independent nation, and let go off America’s skirt tail. Here are three reasons I think that some good can come from a Trump presidency.
1. It may increase Black awareness and Black pride
It’s heartbreaking that many black people today know very little about their own history, and the cultural significance of many of the things they do. But in the face of growing racism in the US, black people around the world are learning more about the past as they try to shape a future where they are free to realize their full potential.
We can’t stop racists from being racists. But what we can do is use the current environment to educate ourselves, our children and grandchildren about the importance of honouring those who bravely fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. Many people lost their lives so that we could vote, so that we could govern our own country, so that we could grow up believing that there is no limit to what we can be. We owe it to past generations to keep their names and legacies alive. And we also we it to our future generations to preserve these legacies.
2. Foreign aid is not always a good thing
If Trump carries out his plan, then it is likely that Jamaica is among the countries that will receive less aid from the United States. I’m no economist but in my mind that is a blessing. When the media tells us about trade deals and huge aid packages from good old Uncle Sam, China, and other developed countries, what we don’t hear are the conditions attached to these gifts. The saying that nothing in life is free couldn’t be more true when it comes to foreign aid. In return, you have to open your markets essentially for these countries to dump substandard goods and stifle the livelihood of local traders who can’t compete with subsidized prices and excessive tax breaks. Without US aid, Jamaica will be forced to stand on its own feet, and learn to truly function as an independent nation. We can give our local farmers and entrepreneurs a chance to compete on a level playing field, and might even move to explore the economic benefits of marijuana. Initially, it will be tough as we try to find our footing but, eventually, we will figure it out and it will be better for the country in the long run.
3. Jamaicans will look to greener pastures
For decades, America has been viewed by Jamaicans as the land of opportunity. But the truth is that there are greener pastures beyond our northern neighbours. Trump won despite his strong anti-immigration stance, which almost certainly means that it will become harder for Jamaicans to emigrate there.
Until Jamaica truly becomes a place where we all can live, work and raise our families in safety and prosperity, it’s the remittances, for the most part, that continue to keep many families afloat. So if you’re really looking to emigrate, there are other countries that offer stable job opportunities, and a much better standard of living than the United States. Personally, I don’t see the line at the US embassy falling drastically any time soon, but it may be time to start looking at other alternatives that could bring much greater rewards.
Overall, while I do agree that his campaign messages certainly created instability and uncertainty all over the world, I don’t think that a Donald Trump presidency is the apocalyptic event that many are predicting. It’s not the end of the world, but it’s the eye opener that this generation needed. History has taught us that if we are united, we can fight successfully against racism, injustice and discrimination.