Aggrey Brown’s Color, Class, and Politics in Jamaica (1979) is a dissertation on an evolving Jamaican identity. The central theses revolves around the interplay of human relationships and their effect on identity. Specifically, race and class are examined along with their impact on the development of Jamaican politics. Brown addresses the incoherence that emerged among different classes in Jamaica as the result of both a colonial legacy and of slavery. This incoherence is created by internal tensions developed through relationships with those regarded as ‘other,’ yet recognized as human actors. This confusion lends itself to inner racial and cross class conflicts.

Brown discusses various Jamaican leaders, notably Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manly and their interactions with Jamaica’s labor movement and the genesis of domestic political power on the island. Bustamante and Manly’s own identities are given an overview as they engaged with race and class along with political identities. Of special interest is the short chapter on Marcus Garvey and the Rastafarians. Not knowing much about this group other than media generated stereotypes, I found Brown’s writing to be very interesting. With the Rastafarians a mirror to the incoherent Jamaican identity is held up. While, originally, not participating in society and claiming for themselves an identity of ‘other,’ race and class are again given close examination. Brown ends with the hope that a true Jamaican identity, not reliant on the ‘emanation’ of the other and the resultant incoherence of race and class aspirations and confusions, can be forged. ( )