Social murder refers to the societal conditions that lead to the preventable suffering and deaths of disadvantaged groups, often through systemic neglect or policies that prioritize profit over people. In other words, social murder involves an element of deliberate disregard or awareness by authorities that their actions, or lack thereof, will result in harm to the vulnerable. It’s not just that policies have adverse effects; it’s that those effects are allowed to persist knowingly, often with the awareness that they will disproportionately affect the poor. Originating from 19th-century critiques of industrial capitalism, this term is relevant in Jamaica and globally, especially in the context of real estate and urban planning. In Jamaica, inadequate housing, poor infrastructure, and lack of access to essential services in impoverished areas can contribute to this phenomenon, as residents may suffer from preventable health and safety issues due to structural inequalities. Globally, so…
