The Jamaica STAR reported that Dancehall’s most controversial and incarcerated artiste Adidja ‘Vybz Kartel’ Palmer book he co-authored with Michael Dawson entitled, ‘The Voice of The Jamaican Ghetto‘ was added to the library of the Universities of Princeton, Vanderbilt and Duke. This is indeed an historic accomplishment for the Dancehall artiste not withstanding the fact that contents of his book is as controversial as this trendsetter which lead to its publication being ‘rejected’ by local book store owners. But despite the negative implications one professor of the University of the West Indies of Jamaica Professor Carolyn Cooper, had recommended that the book, ‘The Voice of The Jamaican Ghetto’ be added to local school syllabus (click here to read Professor Cooper’s recommendation)
Recently an article written by Hassani Walters and published in the local STAR highlighted the views of Michael Dawson who said he could not celebrate it’s recent accomplishment with Vybz Kartel in Jail. According to the article, Dawson explained what he believes is the reason local educators or the education system will not accept the book stating that it’s “disruptive to the traditional education system” to which has a “main problem” that of not being able to “find a way to rationalise the inaccuracies, distortions and omissions in the traditional history books now being taught in schools.” He further explained that “the reality is that the book factually discredits some traditions – from Jonkonoo to the dominance of Euro-Christianity” and questioned the local education system’s ability of handling “facts and empirical data” written in the book that proves much of what children are being taught in schools are fictitious. Dawson is said to have made reference to the nursery rhyme, Baa, Baa Black Sheep as “abusive to black children” to state his point.
Dawson also disclosed according to the article that Vybz Kartel told him that while “overseas educators and music critics laud him him for the power of his social commentary and realism in his music as they accept it as art, the Jamaican system criticises it because they prefer to sweep the things he sings about under the rug.”
Source: The Jamaica STAR
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