I got some really interesting feedback in the media to last week’s column which was published in the Gleaner as well as posted here on my blog. The first was from Theo Mitchell who talked about the roast breadfruit syndrome – black outside and white inside. His letter to the Editor was published in the Gleaner:
Brownings Think They’re Special
Published: Monday | January 9, 201217 Comments
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Many thanks to Professor Carolyn Cooper for her article, ‘Dying to be beautiful?’, published in The Sunday Gleaner of January 8.
I’ve always espoused the view that Jamaica is delineated along the line of two distinct social groups – the black majority and the ‘brown minority’.
Prior to reading your article, I was making a bowl of oatmeal and something just hit me. It is what I call the ‘brown people syndrome’, as persons of that hue think that everything should be fast-tracked and handed to them. They should not wait in lines at the bank or follow procedures to get documents and/or procure service at any entity, especially if it is a public-sector entity.
As per your ‘Page 2’ friend, I think she suffers from the classical ‘brain-bleaching syndrome’. Your peers in the Department of Sociology would have no objection if I called her a ‘roast breadfruit’!
On another note, she is often critical of people’s deportment, and to be honest with you, she is always poorly dressed! Well, that’s her business.
I encourage you, Professor Cooper, to continue to speak the truth, albeit controversial and unpalatable at times. There are persons who read your articles with open minds; look forward to hear your views on contemporary ‘Jamaican issues’, and take careful note of what you say. We may not digest all that you’ve conjectured, but it’s all right to be off the mark at times.
I’ve always admired you and your work. I bid you and your family all the best for the new year.
Many blessings to you, ‘mother of controversy’.
THEO MITCHELL
theo.a.mitchell@gmail.com
A rather peculiar response to the column/post came in another letter to the editor, published two days later, this time in the Jamaica Observer:
Dr Carolyn Cooper, end your misery — go ahead and bleach!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Dear Editor,
Professor Carolyn Cooper has a curious preoccupation with skin bleaching. I have formed the view that she doesn’t love her black skin and would secretly like to bleach, even while she pretends otherwise.
I started to believe that when she invited and elevated Vybz Kartel to guest lecture at the University of the West Indies, at the height of his controversial bleaching and desecration of his skin a la the Colouring Book.
My view was further strengthened by her article Dying to be beautiful published in The Sunday Gleaner, January 7, 2012, when she took on the Observer’s Page 2. The column smacked of unadulterated red eye and bad mind.
Dr Cooper must know, since she writes for that newspaper, that the winning formula in Page 2 was copied in what is being called “Something Extra” by The Gleaner. Her suggestion that the Page 2 is dominated by brown people could just as easily be said of “Something Extra” as the same people I see on one I also see on the other. Of course, Page 2 is far more creatively written and presented, which is further cause for more red eye and bad mind.
My suggestion to Dr Cooper is that she should just end her misery, go ahead and bleach her skin. Vybz Kartel might be in jail, but I’m sure he can arrange, even by phone, to give her the links to his source of cake soap and other bleaching chemicals.
Vanessa McFarlane
frenchie8593@hotmail.com
The most instructive response of all came from the editors of the Gleaner. On Wednesday, January 11, the Gleaner published the following statement:
Correction & Clarification
Professor Carolyn Cooper labelled the Jamaica Observer’s editorial policy relating to ‘Page 2’ social coverage as racist.
We wish to state that we have no evidence to suggest that this is [sic] basis of the newspaper’s decisions cocnerning [sic] its social coverage.
The Gleaner Company does not share Dr Cooper’s assessment of the Observer’s editorial policy.
We regret the publication of the offending words.
Jamaica Woman Tongue 
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But even from a culionary space, foods eaten in jamaica are just recently shown unison in participation. Up to the 1980’s and early 90’s , white Jaamica did not eat ground provisions. Ask those who had white friends what meal consist of – mostly rice or potatoes. Yams etc was seen as black people ,poor peope food.