​Norris McDonald | The life of Jamaicans in a Trump America

Black History Month in South Florida was marked on Saturday, February 10, 2019, by a gathering of black elected representatives. This included many Jamaican officials. “FREEDOM, RESPECT, LIFE” was the main theme as persons gathered at the Coral Spring Country Club.

On their minds, no doubt, was how will the black community deal with the political reality of this new Trump America?

Black minorities today are increasingly being mobilised in a fight for a better quality of life. There is a new push for a US$15 national minimum wage, improved health care, immigration reform, among other things.

Florida State Representative, Al Jacquet, P.A., was a main speaker at this: ‘The 5th Annual Black History Celebration Luncheon’.

He implored the black community to become much more focused and assertive; “to stop trimming leaves”, and to fight for issues that are transformative.

“We must stop fighting against each other,” he implored the gathering of black community leaders.

Jacquet challenged them to become more focused in dealing with the fundamentals affecting the black community and the society as a whole.

POLITICAL ANXIETIES

Political anxieties are on the rise in this new Trump America. Prior to President Trump’s election – even given the existence of racism, social and ethnic discrimination – America was said to have been becoming much more racially diverse.

According to Pew researcher Michael Dimmock, in “2013, for the first time, the majority of newborn babies born in America were racial or ethnic minorities”.

Interracial marriages were also on the rise, with 12 per cent of newlyweds reporting that they had married someone of a different race, Dimmock reports.

White working-class fears and other anxieties take place in an extremely low-wage environment in which the federal minimum wage was $7.25 in 2018. The changing employment situation has not led to increased wages, hence the push for a minimum wage of US$15 to address the angst of the poor.

What are some of the other factors triggering white fears?

The US census data predict that by 2045, white Americans will be in the minority. One can well imagine that this does not sit well with many white folks who are well used to a society in which they are on top of ‘the pecking order’.

There are about one million people of Jamaican ancestry residing in the United States. According to recent data, Jamaicans make up the largest group of Caribbean immigrants, with just over 300,000 live in the New York Metro Area. An additional 167,000 Jamaicans living in the South Florida region.

Jamaicans, like many other minorities, have suffered under of this new anti-immigrant, perceived racialist attitude in the new Trump America. Many undocumented workers are Jamaicans, hence the drastic rise in enforcement measures have forced many them deeper into the shadows.

Many Jamaicans also benefit under the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA), a programme aimed at young migrants whose parents had brought them to America.

Owen Taylor is a small business owner and insurance executive who has lived in America for over 30 years under “many presidents”, he says. He gave his idea of why many Jamaicans came to America and what he thought the American Dream was all about.

“When asked, many people say they come to America for a better life, but most cannot say what this better life is,” Taylor said.

“I have been in America 30 years, and I cannot truly say that my life is better than when I was in Jamaica, but since I am here, I make the best of it. I chose to focus on the economics rather than the political.”

Taylor says that he has “lived under many presidents, and politically, I do not see a difference. Economically, I see a difference based on the person in office.”

Concluding, he added that from a business standpoint, “I would say that I am doing fairly well with the economy under the current president”.

Taylor’s view summarises the ‘bittersweet’ life in this new Trump-America. His views are shared by many the further one goes up the economic ladder.

Rising stock market prices led to increases in 401K, a retirement savings plan that is sponsored by employers. Many middle-income people, when asked, say that they do not like President Trump’s policies but “are satisfied with their 401ks” and other investments.

CROSSES AND TRIBULATION

 

 

On the ‘bitta side’, Jamaican nurses are among some employees who express dissatisfaction. Changes in some hospital policies led to situations where many transporters and ancillary and janitorial staff have been dismissed. Many nurses are now required to do these tasks.

Several nurses have complained that there is a tendency to increase their workload, and, most alarmingly, in a subtle way, to prevent them from taking mandatory breaks. This leads to forced overtime as nurses, after being given increased workloads, are forced to complete their tasks and then are penalised for ‘unplanned overtime’.

Those are some facts of life in this new Trump America.

The rising racism, ethnic discrimination, and workplace stress “bring pain to mi heart,” one worker said, but “wha fi do. mi nuh jus ha fi work.”

Norris McDonald is an economic journalist, social researcher and political analyst. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and miaminorris@yahoo.com