Hartley Neita, Contributor
LAST WEEK, I told you about the reaction by the South African Govern-ment to Jamaica's decision in 1959 to ban trade with that country. As we look back in time, what was interesting was that there were unofficial apartheid practices in Jamaica then. This was so, especially where employment was concerned. The shade of the colour of the skin of the managers and employees in the commercial banks, and companies like Bryden and Evelyn, J.S. Webster, the oil companies, the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Jamaica Tourist Board, hotels and the ground staff of the airlines in Montego Bay and Kingston were as the song said, 'a lighter shade of pale'.
Even in Government depart-ments, the heads and their senior staff where either English or what was referred to as 'Jamaica white' and brown. So it was in a sense incongruous for the Jamaican Government and Jamaicans to be protesting about South Africa's apartheid policy when this was being practised right here in our country. The mote had to be removed from our own eyes.
A look at the Classified Advertisements in the Daily Gleaner of the preceding recent decades is very revealing. A 'Help Wanted' advertisement, for example, invited applications "for an assistant barmaid from young girls, white or fair and preferably from the country, to work in a tavern in Kingston". This was not necessarily discrimination by the employer but he was responding to the preferences of his clientele who wanted to see through their alcoholic haze, pretty fair-skinned girls. Another advertisement sought applications from young girls just from school, fair or white, and preferably just from the country, to assist in a private home. Note the emphasis on 'from the country' this was pointing to girls from St. Elizabeth and northern Manchester who were of German, Scot, and Irish descent.
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Even persons seeking employment thought it important to describe themselves as 'very fair'. There was a middle-aged woman, fair in colour, who sought a position as a housekeeper for a single gentleman, or to take care of an invalid, an advertisement which made one wonder about her hopes and intentions. Young men, too, described themselves as 'of light complexion', and the one I love is that "a gentleman of fair means steady and sober habits seeks the acquaintance of a lady not over forty years, fair or white, and of a kind disposition". The lady interested should send him a snap shot! There was also a request for an experienced Bar Man. "Must be fair. None other need apply." This one was in 1927.
Then there was the advertisement inviting "any white lady to recommend an intelligent white nursery governess to take complete charge of a child aged five years in the country, teach fundamentals of music, and superintend the tidying of a small bungalow. No housekeeping is required". And also wanted was a fair girl to take care and amuse a boy of five years. There was an admonition: "No spree girls need apply". So, it was both employers and potential employees who saw the value of "fair and white", and it was accepted by the society. Mothers encouraged their daughters to make sure their children are upgraded in colour by marrying a "fair or white man". The phrase was "putting milk in one's coffee".
BLACK ROYALTY
Jamaicans spoke about having good hair and bad hair. Women behaved as if they were in England and wore gloves to cocktail parties in the summer. Professional men, like doctors, teachers, parsons and politicians wore three-piece suits made from English tweed all-year round. Bustamante sported three-piece suits, and morning coats on formal occasions because it was the garb of a gentleman. And though he laughed at the former Members of the Legislative Council, calling them "black royalty", he knew he looked dashing in these suits.
A parting shot for this week. As late as 1952, the manager of one of Kingston's sports promoting bodies asked a friend to help him find a secretary. The wife of a senior Civil Servant in the Public Works Department, a Mrs. Doreen McDonnough, was recommended. But when asked, is she as fair as you and was told: "No, she is dark, but is quite good", the response was: "Thanks, but don't bother to send her. We will be able to find somebody else."
Next week we will look at how Jamaicans fought apartheid in our own backyard.
