When Jamaica gained independence in 1962, it grappled with the question of how to define Jamaican national identity. With the absence of Indigenous culture, Jamaican nationalism sought to develop an identity that would unify its diverse population that comprised the descendants of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and European-descended peoples. Despite this approach towards racial inclusion, I argue that 20th-century Jamaican nationalism is a reflection of colonialism. While in theory, Jamaican nationalism was inclusive of its multiracial population, in practice, it maintained European beauty standards. Consequently, there is a societal preference for beauty attributes aligned with Europe’s standards. The physical appearance of the Jamaican identity also spews over to other sectors of Jamaican society, such as economic wealth and political power. This undesirableness of being Black, which is seen in Creole Nationalism, is further defined through the oppression of Afro-Jamaicans and enacted violence against the Afrocentric expressions of Rastafarians. The government’s narrative of racial harmony creates a colour-blind society; rather than addressing the racial tensions and problems in society, the government masks it under the motto, “Out of Many, One People,” and race is no longer a problem. This further perpetuates Jamaica’s racial issues, and race becomes more ingrained in society.
