Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(W.I./UK black teen) a phr. that denotes society’s ways, class consciousness, sub-systems and/or classifications; also attrib.

1973		Bob Marley ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ 🎵 on Burnin’ [album] We’re sick and tired of all your ism-skism game / Die and go to heaven in Jesus’ name, Lord.
1979		The Wailers ‘One Drop’ 🎵 on Survival [album] So feel this drumbeat / As it beats within playing a rhythm / Fighting against ism and skism, / Singing I know Jah would never let us down.
1997		‘Island Life Interview with Rita Marley’ BobMarley.com 🌐 Where reggae is concerned, its a little diverted from what Bob was aiming at. They refer to him though. We’re still living it – certain ism and schism still exist. Bob was a revolutionary with his music. He would never pull a gun, but he would stand there before the mic and fire shots – and some people didn’t like that.
2000		Reggae Vision ‘Role Model’ 🎵 on Lessons in Life [album] Living in this here modern time / You better know where you stand / You don’t need no –ism and schism / You don’t need no Babylonian system / To make you feel like you need someone / To look up to.
2002		Hatch ‘It’s What You Get’ 🎵 The crown that you wear is made of plastic jewels, / Sitting like a fool in a pool of your own drool. / You vision of living is you own decision, / but The isms and skisms are what you’re strictly hitting.
2015		Skepta ‘Shutdown’ 🎵 Everybody on the same mission / We don’t care about your -isms and schisms.