State minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Alando Terrelonge has called on Jamaicans to challenge discriminatory norms with regard to black identity and the issue of children wearing dreadlocks to school.

Terrelonge, who was the keynote speaker for the GK Birthright closing ceremony on Friday (July 26), commented on the issue in a provocative aside that elicited hearty rounds of applause as he spoke passionately about the right of Jamaicans to wear their hair however they see fit.

“Jamaica is the country of Bob Marley…of Marcus Garvey and we should never surrender our birthright— your birthright — to the myopic views of neo-colonialists who believe that there must be some shame attached to black hair or black beauty. We must shun it at every single turn,” he said.

The minister believes that in 2024, as a majority black Caribbean island, antiblackness must be abhorred as it could hurt the way black children view and understand themselves.

“I find it most offensive that in 2024 Jamaica, there are still persons who hold the view that locks or expression of black hair is somehow inappropriate or unprofessional… it is offensive,” he added.

“If we continue to deny the basic human rights of our young kings and queens, and if we continue to rob them of their dignity, then we rob them of what it means to truly be Jamaican — that birthright…We rob them of the benefit of the struggles of the path to freedom, that our forefathers would have fought and died for.”

Terrelonge went on to express his discontent with the fact that many opulent persons and persons in high positions still hold these archaic, colonialist beliefs and mindsets.

“It is a shame that there are Jamaicans who occupy affluent positions, in particular, within our school structure, who run contrary to government policy…and who take their own self-hate and anti-blackness views into the public space.”

“I don’t care if your institution is a private institution; you are giving service to the public and you must act in accordance with the rules of the land… You must act in accordance with government policy, and persons who support private schools that hold these very narrowminded, anti-personal indoctrination of self-hate views [should note they] rob our young kings and queens of their dignity and human rights.

“We must stop supporting them, we must shun them and we must call them out!”

Terrelonge took the time to laud GraceKennedy for their inclusive approach in their business practices, noting the opportunities given to individuals who benefit from their many programmes and sponsorships. He has charged the rest of society to follow suit.

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