It is possible for two people to observe the same phenomena but to come to different conclusions as to their cause because of the preconceptions each brings to the exercise.

Take, for example, the general observation that in Jamaica persons of diverse ethnic backgrounds (e.g., the Chinese, the Arabs, the Jews) came to Jamaica under adverse circumstances and yet have prospered economically, but not persons of African descent. One analyst might come to the conclusion that this is because black people are somehow inherently deficient and inferior (the so-called 'nature' argument).

Another might come to the conclusion that the difference in prosperity has to do with culture or learned behaviour (the so-called 'nurture' argument).

The 'nature' argument, popular in some circles, is really a racist one: beginning from the premise that persons of different race groups do not possess equal potentialities; there will always be notable exceptions, but black people are predisposed to be good at sports and things physical, but are generally intellectually inferior.

Taken to the ex-treme, the 'nature' argument would claim that black people are genetically predisposed to be good in certain things and poor in others. Each race, the argument might run, rises or falls to their 'natural' level, and cannot be blamed for where they end up in the prosperity hierarchy; for there is nothing that one can really do to elevate any race of people, since their 'nature' is the determining factor, and cannot be changed. But you will find exceptional persons in every race, even in 'inferior' races.

The 'nurture' argument, on the other hand, would say that economic success is based on the possession of particular skills (e.g., literacy, thrift) and particular values (e.g., frugality, deferred gratification) which are learned, and that not all races have equal access to these skills and values.

Different ethnic origins

Jamaica with its particular history would be a case in point. Persons of different ethnic origins have different access to the skills taught by Jamaica's education system; Jamaica's primary schools contain almost exclusively persons of African origin, while other ethnic groups populate private preparatory schools (along with some better-off persons of African origin). The relatively low performance of primary schools will affect the black population more than other ethnic groups, giving the impression that they are inferior, whereas really it is the education they are offered that is inferior. Prep school graduates, generally, will forge ahead to educational and economic success, while primary school graduates will, generally, fare less well.

Different ethnic groups in Jamaica possess different family values and practise different family types, and their role in fostering economic prosperity needs to be appreciated.

Informal education can often have more influence than formal schooling; children learn business skills and associated values directly from their parents or other family members, either by hanging around the shop or listening to family conversation. If family conversation is about 'kass-kass' and 'suss', that is mostly what will be learned.

Men first learn to be men by watching their fathers, and girls first learn to relate to men by relating to their fathers. When fathers are absent from the home, both boy-children and girl-children lack something. In addition, the economic welfare of families where only one parent is present is going to be more challenged than those where both parents are present.

Comparative family studies of different ethnic groups over the Caribbean are instructive. The relative prosperity of the Chinese, for example, who came to Jamaica as indentured labourers in the 19th century (often in family units), may in part be due to their close-knit, relatively strong family structure - and, yes, their powerful work ethic, which they learn in the family. The structure of the family in Africa is very strong, and provides clear personal identity and emotional support, but this did not travel well over the Middle Passage, and did not survive the crucible of slavery.

Strategies to strengthen the Jamaican family must be found. I am not sure that providing contraception and abortion services will do the job.

Peter Espeut is a sociologist and a Roman Catholic deacon. Feedback may sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.