As I sat down to my first lecture examining the theories and politics of social justice, in no time I was confident that I sat at the right table.  One of the easiest but most profound of questions was posed by the lecturer, Dr Akwugo Emejulu.  In trying to define social justice, she asked, “What might a socially just society look like?”  As the discussions progressed, it became evident that one sure way was living our lives in a manner that authentically mirrors the kind of society that we want.

This notion was of particular interest to me as I have been reflecting on the same issues over the past seven years or so as I put myself through a process of refinement.  In an attempt to understand, activate and manifest the spirit of society and citizenship, I have been using the Jamaican national symbols, the Motto, Anthem and Pledge (MAP) as my guiding source.  Little did I know, and I also doubt that my mentor Yvonne Coke knew that the principles of social justice were at work. 

Creating my standard from the MAP, “Justice, truth be ours forever….Teach us true respect for all….Stir response to duty’s call….Strengthen us the weak to cherish….To stand up for justice, brotherhood and peace….To think generously and honestly….Advance the welfare of the whole human race….as…Out of many, we are one.”  The visionaries that authored the MAP and those sitting on the Joint Committee of the Houses of Parliament that approved it on that fateful day of Thursday, July 19, 1962, envisioned an inclusive multi-racial world that embodied diversity and equality.  

Their intention was for a society where the fundamental rights of all were protected, and where every individual and each institution delivered on their responsibilities and duty to the other.  The wanted a society where the strong used their power to protect and not oppress.  They ratified a road map for redistribution, recognition and acceptance of differences and full representation not just for Jamaicans by Jamaicans; but globally by all. 

Social Justice theorists such as Iris Young, Nancy Fraser and David Miller, as well as John Rawls, have proven that Jamaica was ahead of its time where social justice was concerned.    These theorists, in positing their remedies for a socially just society have pointed to all the concepts outlined in the MAP.  For all intents and purposes, Jamaica was designed and ideally placed to be a socially just society upon becoming an independent nation in August 1962.  All the conditions precedent were fully outlined.  So, what happened?

Deprivation To Oppression

Armed with the blueprint of a socially just society and endowed with land, banana, sugar cane and bauxite, Jamaica should have been increasing in beauty, fellowship and prosperity and playing its part in the advancement of the entire human race.  Instead, the dominant opinion on the world stage is that Jamaica is the murder capital of the world, a slum overrun by poverty.  This position couldn’t be furthest from the truth.  

The Human Development Index (2014), World Economic Outlook (2013) and the World Development Indicators (2013) published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) respectively proves that these dominant views are actually dominant lies.  Only 4.6% of the Jamaican population live on less than US$2.0 per day.  Rankings from richest to poorest countries places Jamaica 94th of the 184 studied.  Less than US$1,000 in per-capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) separates us from the 89th ranked country.  

So too did the Global Study on Homicide (2013) published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes.  Jamaica’s homicide rates have reduced by 35% since 2009 to 39.3 murders per 100,000, dropping us to 6th place where homicides are concerned.  Why then don’t we hear that Jamaica is the 94th richest country in the world, or that Jamaica is no longer the murder capital of the world? 

As I immersed myself in the theories and politics of social justice, I began to realise what went wrong.  While Jamaica has made considerable gains, the world isn’t seeing that.  We have also not fully optimised our potential for economic growth and development?  There are several underlying reasons, among them the absence of wealth distribution, oppression and misrecognition.  I will begin to discuss oppression here. 

Firstly, while we had the blueprint for social justice, it was not fully enabled.  According to John Rawls, one of the basic principles of social justice is the fair distribution of the burdens and benefits of society.  Iris Young went further.  In order to facilitate justice, in addition to the conditions of distribution, development and exercise of individual capacities and collective communication must be fulfilled.  She argued that in the absence of these circumstances, oppression and domination constrains justice.  

This then is not surprising.  Coming out of a dependence state into Emancipation and Independence, the former enslaved were never compensated, nor did they receive any of the natural wealth of the land.  Instead, they had been further oppressed and subjected to taxation.  They bore all the burdens of society. With no land, no money, no ownership, there were no shared values and collective identities to operationalise our Motto, Anthem and Pledge.  Instead, we were slowly becoming a nation where oppression was to become institutionalised.

Source:

Coke, Yvonne., (2008) Perspectives from the Jamaican MAP, Kingston: Write Visions

Fraser, Nancy., (1997) “From redistribution to recognition?” from Fraser, Nancy., justice interruptus: critical reflections on the postsocialist conditions. Pages 11-39, New York: Routledge

Jamaica Information Service. (2015) “National Symbols” retrieved from www.jis.gov.jm on March 15, 2015

Miller, David., (1999) “The scope of social justice” from Miller, David, Principles of social justice. Pages 1-20, Cambridge: Howard University Press

Rawls, John, (1999) "Justice as fairness" from Rawls, John, A theory of justice. Pages 3-46, Cambridge: Oxford University Press

Young, Iris Marion, (1990) "Five faces of oppression" from Young, Iris Marion, Justice and the politics of difference. Pages 39-65, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press

Miller, David., (1999) “The scope of social justice” from Miller, David, Principles of social justice. Pages 1-20, Cambridge: Howard University Press