I have read this thread with some interest and some confusion but also wanting to respond but not until now knowing what to say....

Dawta has some very good reasons for how she feels given her experience and her connection as an original member of the Jamaican society...however, it is a mistake to think that others do not experience such discrimination in their home countries, your right Dawta, most don't but....Native Aboriginals from North America, Mexico, Australia, and other Native inhabitants have and continue to be discriminated against on a daily basis, sometimes being denied the most basic of human needs because of where they live (ie isolated communities, mostly "white" communities). As a member of the Aboriginal community, I have experienced discrimination in my "home" country, Canada. I have watched other Aboriginals experience denial of service or receive substandard service (which I have received) based on their skin colour, the very fact that they are Aboriginal and listened to the "majority" complain and not understand the history of our culture, our treatment, and our current struggle. And yes, even within my own Native community there is discrimination....especially if you are of mixed race, and not seen as "Native enough". The Canadian Government even has their very own definition of what constitutes a "Native" (perentage of blood passed down) or else a person can not be a registered indian!

A friend said, "One trip to Jamaica will open your eyes and too many trips will shut them"

This statement is so true for so many things and places....many people all over North America visit Pow Wows and Reservations only at times of celebration and see the food and joy and dancing and do not see the daily struggles and oppression that faces the original peoples of North America. Or, they have only watched movies and believe that they now have an understanding based on Dances With Wolves! Or they do not understand the history of oppression, which continues into today and choose to believe that we should just assimulate into mainstream society. A person's experience of a country, including their own home country, is just that, their experience.

Nothing in this world is as it seems, but we can be open enough to continue to explore, understand, accept, and at times challenge, which to me includes other people's experiences.

It is shocking and saddening for Dawta to experience this discrimination that she feels in her "home" country, expecially if she has worked hard for what she has accomplished in her life. But please understand, discrimination is all around us, in every country, faced by many different people, including within our own communities.
Rant over...hope I didn't just hijack this thread onto a different topic...
T