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Colonialism & Reggae

12/5/2019

8 Comments

 
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As usual I get a quick reminder from Donna Makeda that it is “story time”

I have written a lot of words over the years of doing this and do repeat myself at times, sometimes because I forget what was said in my last piece and at times because I believe some things need repeating

This is one of those times to repeat a message

I have made a few changes to suit this time yet the info below was written in 2014 and submitted to ReggaeXclusive

I apprecilove those who take the time to read I writing
~
co·lo·ni·al·ism
noun
1.
the control or governing influence of a nation over a dependent country, territory, or people.
2.
the system or policy by which a nation maintains or advocates such control or influence.
3.
the state or condition of being colonial.
4.
an idea, custom, or practice peculiar to a colony.                             
 
~
​
Knowing one’s role within said colony may aid in finding solutions to the issues that seem insurmountable to date. The ‘colony’ is one of hierarchy where there are ‘royals’ to be bowed down to and reggae has no place for bowing to any human being or false idols for that matter

 The essence of revolution is a breaking away from the normality of “the system” whether physical or mental.  We are all members of the colony yet totally unaware of our roles as the slaves to the system.  We all think if we work just hard enough or our luck turns we are out of the rat race.  An effective illusion

In order to maintain subservience we are given a myriad of distractions which are actually a series of stimuli that keep our eyes downward never allowing us to truly look up to avoid the obstacles, so always forced into a reactive state, constantly falling from one chaotic moment into the next.  Short of rent this month constantly facing eviction notices, payday loan habit that does not really work because you still have the same amount of money, need a visit to the clinic for a possible std, driving a vehicle without insurance for a month or two because public transportation can’t get you to your job and you have a family of five with 3 children under the age of ten years old, bill collectors calling constantly, going through separation / divorce with no aid from deadbeat husband, vindictive mummy keeping children away from an invested father, money earned does not meet bills to be paid, ridiculed for being different, human rights violations in all countries on the planet, global warming, rising unemployment, lonely singles targeted by a need to online dating, the rising oceans, occupy Toronto, occupy LA, occupy NY, racism, sexism, murder rate, revenue Canada, the IRS, federal / provincial elections, alcoholic, drug abuse, parent teacher meetings, hockey / soccer eight days per week, the IMF, the World Bank, lost millions / thousands in the stock market crash, eight hundred thousand dead in Rwanda in the space of one month, 911, Al-Queda, Afghanistan, North Korea, Pakistan, Iran, The Eagle, The Tiger, The Bear, teen suicide based on poor self esteem, child abuse, domestic abuse, riots in China...  There are hundreds of issues that are quite unique to many folks that are not mentioned here and at times we all face all of the above and more, all at the same time

“Governing influence and keeping one dependent”

Distractions... Life

The ‘colony’ is led by buckingham palace and everyone else falls into designated slots below the ‘royals’, each more important than the next one beneath it.  It is believed that in this way, it gives the lower tiered folks a goal to shoot for in order to achieve a higher standing.  So we work in jobs that barely cover the bills, create side businesses, work two or three jobs, try to save and invest in a home or rrsps, and yet never seem to be able to leave the treadmill as there is always a crisis that eats away at the savings.  So every Wednesday and Saturday we spend a few ducats on lottery tickets HOPING for the miracle!  One good hit and we are right out of our issues!  And the lottery and gaming commissions make billions because we remain dependent

Another great illusion {I bought lottery tickets in the past too}

The “system” of the colony is a powerful one as it allows its fiscally more viable members to revel in what they have with only sympathy / empathy to offer to the have-nots, believing that it is their right to be ‘better’

We are kept dependent on this corrupt system.  They maintain control creating that dependency

The ‘colony’ isn’t a place of upliftment.  It is a sweat shop for the 99%

Jazz, the Blues, hip-hop, reggae are the ‘news sources’ to those who do not live in that mental or physical ghetto.  With artists like Marley, Tosh, Spear and Culture who painted vivid musical images of knowledge, pain, poverty, love, upliftment and hope, reggae infiltrated into the psyche of many around the globe hence the continued growth of a fan base for this genre

The objective is to keep us dependent.  By definition, it does what it does!  Pretty redundant couple of sentences here yet even within that, we all get up and follow this “system” the very next second.  Yes we are all victims

This is how I learn to truly apprecilove what reggae music does for me.  I am grateful for the energy reggae music provides for me and billions of others around this planet.  As with the above verbiage, reggae identifies the issues in communities, towns, governments and countries, then touch on relationship issues, spiritual reggae tunes tend to set us just right, then there is the defiance to said system hence the genre, though quite popular gets no airplay on mainstream radio and the privileged few never wonder why – or more accurately – never crosses their minds why reggae isn’t on radio because the hierarchy of the ‘colony’ insists on reggae “knowing its place’ at the bottom of the heap like the people who invented it. Many in the dancehall speak / rhyme just as powerfully for those who seek a differentiation yet it is all REGGAE to me

The thing is, reggae does not care!  It keeps blazing and inspiring love, thought and camaraderie from nation to nation.  This powerful music comes from a black nation and is appreciloved by all nations and throughout our anger, pain and resentment, the genre seems to speak truth yet search for a solution/s for “equal rights and justice” four words that don’t work well within the ‘colony’

The colony’s system of distraction to create dependence is well orchestrated while the genre of reggae pushes the conscience of a planet towards equal rights and justice

Yes I, “Reggae for Life”
 
JuLion
www.canadianreggaeworld.com
 
 

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8 Comments
Orville Ellis link
12/5/2019 03:58:07 pm

Yes, King,
Killer narratives on the front and, no back-talk to the framers of the code of morality. Looking forward.
Peace and love,
Blessings.
Orville from capture land Brexit

Reply
JuLion
12/5/2019 04:14:51 pm

Bless up Orville

Reply
FoxE
12/5/2019 05:21:23 pm

Reggae music constantly speaks about uplifting ones self and community and uprising against the systems of oppression, but it seems like today's youth are just too complacent. Too far removed from what every event in history that has given people a step forward, but has access to all the information at their fingertips.

Reply
JuLion
12/5/2019 05:48:51 pm

You may be one hundred percent correct FoxE so then it is imperative to share where that knowledge is as this system as many adults confused... in which case, the children have no chance

The system inundates them with negative so the changes we seek must be individual, parent to child... just a tenacious as the negative messages, which a shared easily

Reply
Filomena Pisano link
12/6/2019 02:48:19 am

Your voice of wisdom comes through in your writing. Waking people to the harsh truth of our realities. I too buy lottery tickets, with the premise that I can assist my children out of the system.
Reggae is powerful and I cannot think of it without thinking of Julion King!

As always your articles provoke deep thought.

I’m glad I left it to read this morning with a fresh mind. I read three times.

Thank you.

Love
Mena

Reply
JuLion
12/6/2019 08:29:01 am

Raspect for positive words and vibes Mena... Grateful for a space to share opinion/s

Reply
Anthony Goldstein
12/6/2019 07:10:22 am

Surprise you did not mention the very "Royally" behaved Prince Andrew which speaks to "how the fuck" do these people hold their position over the rest.

Reply
JuLion
12/6/2019 10:46:39 am

AG,

The atrocities and corruption from buckingham are too numerous and VAST to focus on a horny, randy prince... shipping Africans in slave ships and maintaining slavery for centuries get to me far more than a horny boy

Sex with a minor isn't excusable either yet they also have a history of incest and pedophilia that has gone unchecked and unpunished for centuries as well

Again, I n I focus isn't them... it is how I may best be more productive in an oppressive colonial system

Blessings for taking the time to respond to this my brother

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