Jab Jab: The True Essence

Grenada Jab Jab

Okay, I know. Carnival is still months away. Despite this truth, however, the carnival celebration context is not the only context in which the Jab Jab masquerade can be talked about. Jab Jab is much more than just masqueraders gyrating through streets during carnival celebrations. 

So, in what context am I speaking of Jab Jab? I am speaking of Jab Jab as consciousness in action. As an awareness, fueled by a passion, that can and should be channeled, not only as masqueraders on the streets of Brooklyn during Labour Day, or during the Trinidad and Grenada carnival celebration, but to inform us in the fight for positive world change. Think about it! Thinking of Jab Jab in this context, however, requires us to, not only rethink our modern view of the Jab Jab masquerade, it requires us to remind ourselves of the true historical reality of the Jab Jab.

What is the historical reality of the Jab Jab? The word Jab, in English, simple means to strike with quick short blows. This is indeed an aspect of the Jab Jab masquerader. Armed with ropes and chains, [and snakes today, to frighten spectators] one has to pay compensation to the Jab Jab or else be jabbed with ropes and chains. Of course, this jabbing is a pretentious action, but it has a significant historical connection to the story of black human beings and their person-hood and humanity.

As a word connected to the carnival celebration, the word jab has its roots in the French word “Diable,” meaning “devil.” Thus, in the Grenadian context, Jab Jab, as it is used, means “devil, devil” or “double-devil.” Certainly, the masqueraders are not the devils themselves. They are instead acting out the actions done by a people they believe to be devils. In this context, the Jab Jab masquerade can be interpret as one group of people abusing another and forcing them into providing or performing some type of act [giving money to the Jab Jab in the carnival celebration context] against their will.

The question then is this: Who is the devil or devils, as demonstrated by the Jab Jab masqueraders? The answer can be found in the Jab Jab historical connection to the fight against slavery and the freedom that follows. There are different stories of how the Jab Jab masquerade in carnival came about. First, however, we have to remember that before the emancipation of slavery, the slaves were not allowed to partake in carnival celebration. After emancipation, however, the formally enslaved Africans were able to take part in the masquerade and began using, what is called, Cannes Brulees or “burnt cane” to paint themselves black and greasy as a commemoration of their freedom.

L.M Fraser, in History of Carnival, gives this story as the origin of Jab Jab. Fraser writes that:

“In the days of slavery whenever fire broke out upon an Estate, the slaves on the surrounding properties were immediately mustered and marched to the spot, horns and shells were blown to collect them and the gangs were followed by the drivers cracking their whips and curging with cires and blows to their work. After emancipation, the negroes began to represent this scene as a kind of commemoration of the change in their condition, and the procession of the “cannes brulees” used to take place on the night of the 1st of August , the date of their emancipation… After a time the day was changed and for many years past the Carnival days have been inagurated by the “Cannes Brulees”. [Traditional Mass Archive]

In Haiti there is the Lanse Kod, who are masquerading people that paint themselves as black and greasy as possible, to resemble the African slaves, and carries ropes and chain, as a representation of the brutality of slavery and the Haitian freedom in 1804. This very context is the essence of the Trinidadian Jab Molassie, [Molassie come from the French patois Mélasse, meaning Molasses] and the Grenadian Jab Jab.

Haiti Lanse Kod

Trinidad Jab Molassie

Yes, indeed. Jab Jab is an artistic metaphoric expression of freedom. That is the Jab Jab essence. Thus, as we celebrate the 20th celebration the Rwandan genocide, in the light of the Jewish Holocaust, the Albanian genocide, the ongoing actions of Muslim killing Christians and Christians killing Muslims, and other grave harms that we human beings have brought and continuing to bring upon each other, we must think of the Jab Jab in the context of a consciousness in action. In the context of an awareness that is informing our action towards promoting world peace, freedom and human rights for all. That is true Jab Jab.

Sure the Jab Jab dramatization is the mockery of the evils visited upon our black Africans ancestors by the white colonialists. Thus, these colonialists were the devils. However, we cannot let the Jab Jab spirit begins and end there. There are many evils in today’s world and their perpetrators transcend “race” and color. Therefore, as a people who are the Jab Jab essence; a people who embrace the consciousness of the Jab Jab, we should not let that awareness remain in the historical past. Let it be active. Use it and promote it as the awareness in the continuing fight for freedom and human rights for the many, many people around the world.

The high intense energy that the Jab Jab family demonstrates during the carnival seasons should also be channeled into fighting against those who act on the urge to demonize and marginalized minorities at home and abroad. The Jab Jab awareness should not be limited to just a celebration. It should be a consciousness that is used to foster the rights for freedom of speech, self-expression, and others' human rights. It should be used as an awareness to promote and protect gay rights, lesbian rights, nonbelievers rights, believers rights, women rights, etc. Our Jab Jab calypso and soca songs should echo a call for those rights to be upheld and protected. To me, this is the true expression of the Jab Jab essence.

So my Grenadian people, my Caribbean people, next carnival, as we blacken our skin and conjure up the African awareness of the Jab Jab, remember its true representation, and let us together, in the words of Jab Jab singer Tallpree, “play a wicked Jab” for the protection and promotion of human rights for all human beings, rights for animals, and for all of nature.

Jab Jab!

Here is a Jab Jab song. Enjoy!

Man Admitted to Hospital for Kidney Stone, Discovers He's a Woman

A Colorado man who was admitted to the hospital for a kidney stone received surprising news when the nurse came back with test results revealing he was actually a woman

Denver photographer Steve Crecelius said he's felt a little different all his life.

"When I was about 6 years old, I started having these feminine feelings, but that was in the '60s. Wearing my mom's makeup, I thought I looked pretty," Crecelius told ABC News.

So when he went to the emergency room five years ago, he wasn't too shocked when the nurse told him she found traits of both genders in his ultrasound results.

He was intersex, meaning he had both male genitalia and internal female sex organs.

"The nurse is reading the ultrasound and says, 'Huh, this says you're a female,' Crecelius said.”It was very liberating. I had spent so much energy after the age of 13 constantly evaluating how people looked at me and acted towards me."

Steve, who now goes by "Stevie," said his wife and their six children accepted his new identity right away. 

Read the entire story

COMMENTARY:

This story is a testament to the reality of human life. It speaks to the range of differences that lies between each human being. Our individual uniqueness. Each individual is different; unique, in his or her own way, and that should be respected always. This story should serve as a reminder that we should not pass judgement. We should not assume, especially basing that assumption on some ancient text, that what someone physically resembles (male or female) is what he or she is. We should not base our assumptions on these so-called holy books, books that failed to recognize actual reality.

Indeed, I must confess that reading Stevie's story jerked my memory back to a young individual from my country. He was affectionately known as “Look-Up”. This individual, at a very young age, used to dress in female clothing, lipstick, etc, and carried himself as a female. Sadly, even the name "Look-up" was meant to poke fun on how his physical, and behavioral characteristics, for his face was always facing the sky. Who knows, this might have been an attempt not to face his tormentors face to face. Indeed, there were more individuals like "Look-Up" back home, who saw themselves as females trapped in male bodies. I could only imagine the pain these innocent youth  had to endure. We, the community, ridiculed these individual and others like him. He was constantly teased and make fun off, bullied. This is the evil, the insensitivity that stems from ignorance. Worse yet, this ignorance is continually fueled by so-called “Holy” books, and their promoters. People who claim to have special and privileged connection to the God that supposedly "inspires" the writings in  these books. It is a shame! 

If this story teaches you, those whose worldview is glued to the pages of so-called "holly" books, anything, let it be that you must stop basing your worldview on these primitive, narrow spectrum books. Embrace a wider worldview of humanity and celebrate its rich diversities. Enlighten yourselves and understand that people like “Look-Up” have not personally made a choice to be who they are. They are naturally that. By Nature. It is biology. Not a personal choice, made. Help build a better society, a world community that accepts and respects all of humanity.  

New Android App Claims Ability to Detect if Your Son is Gay

Want to know if your son is Gay. Well, you don’t have to ask and he wouldn't have to tell, but, don't worry, there is an App for that. You remember the idea of Gay-dar, the intuition your homophobic friend claims to have, which giving him/her the ability to detect if a person is Gay or not. Well, you don’t have to depend on this guess work anymore. The holly spirit has answered this homophobic's prayers. All shout, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, praise GOD!
In Google's Android App store there's a download App that, they said, can answer your hunch about someone, only 99 cents. Yep, no kidding, you heard me right. There is a phone App that is believed to have the ability to tell you if someone is gay.

The phone App is promoted to mothers. It calms that it can tell Mam if her son is gay. All you have to do is simply answer a round of 20 questions.

So, after downloading the new phone App, you decided to call up your sister, Mary:  You had always have an hunch that her son was Gay and wanted to out him, but you was not sure. You smile, here is your chance to prove he is gay.

Questions

1. Does he like to dress up nicely? Does he pay close attention to his outfits and brand names? 
2. Does he like football?  
3. Before he was born did you wish he would be a girl? 
4. Has he ever gotten into or participated in a fight? 
5. Does he read sports magazines? 
6. Does he have a best friend? 
7. Does he like team sports? 
8. Is he prudish/modest?
9. Does he like diva singers?
10. Does he spend a long time in the bathroom?
11. Does he have a tongue, nose or ear piercing?
12. Does he spend time getting ready before being seen in public?
13. Have you asked yourself questions about your son’s sexual orientation?
14. Are you divorced?
15. Does he like musical comedies?
16. Has he introduced you to a girlfriend ever?
17. Is the father (you) very strict or authoritarian with his son?
18. In your family, is the father absent?
19. Was he shy as a child?
20. Is he close to his father?

There is absolutely no point to this. It is a pointless exercise. Will this App detect who is gay and who is not? Of course not. This is foolishness. It is asinine, absurd and ridiculous, but, instead of donating to some charity, there are those who will spend money on this absurdity.

Grenadian Men tries to convince the nation the rumor is wrong, they are not Homosexuals

This is a story that is troubling on many levels. In fact, it exposes the hypocrisy of the Grenadian people even though they claim to be believers, Christians, if that means anything. Certainly, if, as it is always claim, when a Christian, despite being a believer for the majority his or her life, done something wrong is always seen as a “false” Christian, then all of Grenadians are spurious believers, and the history of our interpersonal relationship bears this out.

First, I know, of course, homosexuality is a crime in Grenada, but the fact that someone has to convince the nation that he is not homosexual to be able to put bread on his table is absurd. No one should care about the sexual preference of another. It is the right of that individual. Here is something to ponder, the sexual preference of two consenting adult is a crime in our country, yet there is no law that makes it a crime to sell tobacco products to minors. Alcohol is been sold to youths as if it was an ethical act sanction by God himself. Rapists enjoy immunity in the same communities he or she violate the humanity of a child. Yet, with these problems plaguing our society, Grenadians spend their time bickering about sexual preferences of consenting adults. Sad indeed!

There are many who do not approve of homosexuality, and that too, is their rights. However, guess what! I too have things I don not approve of. I do not approve of men wearing tight skinny-fitted, gun-mouth gens that one have to be greased to slide into. That is so – gay! Should I them ask that it become illegal to wear these pants? Should I make the lives of those who chose to wear this style a living hell? Should I discriminate against them? I will have be nuts, crazy and deserve to be called such. We all have things we do like and others we not, but, that does not mean that other people have to conform to our likes and dislikes.  

Ooooooh, I know what you are about to say now. It not about your likes or dislikes. God/Jesus and the Bible said homosexuality is a sin, and Grenada is on God’s side in making it a crime against the state also. Well guess what, if you are going to follow that law, why not follow all the biblical laws. Why not create a theocracy, while you at it. Like, let’s say, Iran. Is this the kind of nation you want to live in, I think not. Being Bible lovers, I am sure the Grenadian people are aware that the “good” book does sanction slavery, for example. Do you think it is a good idea to enslave people? By the way, many things are considered sinful according to the Bible, for example, lusting, infidelity, sex before marriage, masturbation, and the list goes on and on. In fact, sin is often been describe as ‘any behavior that does not meet the standard of God's glory.’ Have you, the Grenadian people, met that standard? What ever, that standard is. If you do, cast the first stone. Oh, you can’t. That is what I taught.  

In trying to convince me that I too should bash and hate gays, I am often asked to imagine the act, and my response is always the same, why. Why should I. I am not interested, but what I am interested in, instead, is that individuals’ right to enjoy and live a full life is not violated by people like you. I think that the men who sit around and visualize two men in sexual acts need to reexamine their own sexual preference, period.

Look, we are out of the Stone Age. Humanity has eclipse God, ethically and morally. If we were to follow God’s unchanging words, all Grenadians will be stoned to death by now. In fact, we will still be cutting pregnant women open, and dashing their babies against walls. That certainly sounds horrible, isn’t it? Well, it is, and you Grenadian people know that. Grenadians, I know you all are much better human beings than that, display that. Let’s live a life of dignity, and let other human beings enjoy their lives, and that includes allowing them the freedom to choose their sexual preference. Stop being assholes!

The other aspect of this story that is troubling is, not only it was a rumor, but it appears to be the creation of a law enforcement officer, and one who appears to be the real criminal. We suppose to trust these people, men and women in uniform, man and women who demand respect. You can be arrested for cursing an officer. These officers cannot and should not be given respect if they are running around spreading rumors with malicious intent to damage the reputation other people. Look, these kinds of behavior is not benign, it is extremely harmful. People’s lives, families, business can be damage. According to the New Today, Francis, one of the victim of the rumor and “the owner of two popular buses said the driver of one of the buses informed him that whenever he passes through the St. George’s Bus Terminus he is also being heckled by the police on the alleged act of homosexuality.”

 “When they (the bus drivers) ask certain people if they are going up, they say they’re not going up with no buller man bus,” he remarked. Francis said this rumour about him is hurting his business since people are refusing to come to the barbershop.” [Source- The New Today - I am not a Homosexual]

Folks, this rumor should be taken very serious, and the police officer or police officers involved should be dwelt with in the appropriate manner. These men deserved their lives back regardless of their sexual preference. Come on Grenadians, let’s not give these scumbag police officer or officers more than they deserve.

Who is Responsible?

They are viewed as being other; people leaving a troubled lifestyle; a life filled with shame and despair. I am speaking here about the gay and lesbian community. Folks, this type of world in which these people live did not manifest from thin air. So who are responsible for creating the humiliation face and the hopelessness experience by Gays and Lesbian community? The answer, I think, is simple, and I will tell you who are reasonable for making the lives of hundreds of decent people miserable. 

Indeed, anyone drawn sexually to others of the same sex often finds himself or herself torn between two worlds; two worlds that is diametrically apposed to each other. One of these worlds, we are told, is moral and is approved by “God” and, the other, immoral and of the devil. This I was made to remember by the Christians I recently engaged in a conversation with. But, not so fast, “moral police”, how do you know that claim to be true. What make you right and them, you know, the people you label as immoral, and condemned to your make-believe pit of fire, wrong.   

According to these Christians and many others, the quality of life experience by gays and lesbians are of their own making. Their sexual orientation is a choice, they claim. Gays and Lesbians were not born with that predisposition. Why? Because God made man for women and women for men; not man for man and women for women, the holier-than-thou Christians assured us. Consequently, they say, Gays and Lesbians are the creators of the horrible relationship they enjoy with the society, more so religious society. To these Christians, gays and lesbians environment of alienation and feeling of despair is of their own making.

But is that true? To me, the answer is simple, No! It’s not. If one look around and pay attention or read the news, one will notice that the life of gays and lesbian is full with vicious people spelling cruel language against them and their lifestyle. I remember listening to one of Rev. Pastor Stamford Simon (Pastor of the St. George’s Baptist Church) regular sermons aired on a Grenadian online radio station Wee-fm and the hateful venomous words that came from this man's mouth concerning gays and Atheist was appalling. Not unlike the hate mongering display by the Kansas base Westboro Baptist Church.  I was surprised that someone in the congregation didn’t shout out, Pastor, let’s get out the pitchforks! Let's go get them. It was horrible, indeed. Certainly, one has a right to decent, but to incite hate, which is what he is doing, is  wrong and imoral. And yet this hate preaching pastor is given the time on radio stations that serve the Grenadian public. Shame, Shame, Shame! 

Indeed, if these angre people get their way, elimination gays and lesbian (including nonbelievers) from the earth do not appear to be a problem to them. Let's hope, however, that the people in Rev. Pastor Stamford Simon's church are much more moral than he is and so far they have shown that they are. Let’s hope that they are not push to hate others where they are willing to act on their conviction. Please, Greanda is a peaceful, loving country and we like it to remain that way. With such hope and punishment for acts of violence against others in place, these hateful, so-called God fearing people are in check, but, on the other hand, some do act out as these tragic stores bellow shows.

The recent tragic death of a New Jersey college student who took his own life after two fellow students secretly recorded him having sex in his dorm room and broadcast it over the internet is a testament to the dreadfulness gays and lesbians face as they try to leave a normal life, and this is especially true for young teenagers.

• Thirteen-year-old Asher Brown killed himself after being harassed at school and complaints to school officials went unheard. Young Asher shot himself in the head after being harassed by four other students.
• 16-year-old boy in Texas pleas for help to school officials of threats were beaten up because he was Gay.
• A Techachapi teen, wrongly labeled as Gay, committed suicide after years of being bullied
• A Portage teen received a skull fracture and other injuries after he was attacked and beaten up for being Gay.

Indeed, according to 8newsnow reporting on "a youth group meeting" held in Southern Nevada, Suicide is a growing problem among homosexual teens". According to the report “During a youth group meeting of Gay and Lesbian community center of Southern Nevada…..all but one of the 16 teens attending said they have thought about killing themselves.”

Is this scary thought a result of these young people sexual orientation? Certainly, not! One has to be very incentive and, or, ill informed to answer yes to that. As one teen attending the meeting say “(I was) teased, shoved in the lockers, my head smashed, and I got beat up like everyday”. This is the real reason. The way these innocent people are treated in society is reprehensible, and, it is the tormentors' religious conviction/s that is the reason for that treatment.

Indeed, I agree that gays and lesbians are caught between two worlds, but they are not the creators of these worlds. They are the creation of religious people. Gays and lesbians, I am quite sure, see one world; A world where individuals sexual orientation is of no one business, a world where everyone can leave a loving, peaceful and rewarding life.

Sadly, however, we are leaving in a world where different worlds are mentally created, most often by people captivated by religion where a we (the in-group) vs. them (the out-group) is mentality manufactured; a world where villains are manufactured in the name of an unknown God or gods.

So, to answer the question, it is the religious collective society that is the guilty party. They are the people who congregate in their “God houses” and upon their pulpits push kind loving people to hate others because of trivial differences. Indeed, it is the Christians among whom I live who are responsible. The religious community world wide is responsible. You people are the ones guilty for the despair, the depression and the hopelessness that engulf the lives of innocent loving people who just want to live a free and fulfilling life. 

- So say Shango