Island Pride

This past week I spent in Indianapolis, the state capital of Indiana at NABJ. The National association of Black Journalists convention. I met a young woman who was 21 but looked 30. Don't think she was living rough but she looked like ol' bruk. I am darking her off cah she really upset mi man.

I was talking to this guy born to Bahaimian parents and this chick pipes up...Where are your family from? I say Jamaica and in my head I'm thinking she must know something...Then the tough face gyal says authoritatively, where from?, Now I am thinking does this gyal know Jamaica -- then I say St. Mary. She says I am Jamaican too and smiles.

Okay so maybe my feelings about her are wrong. Anyway, I ask the same questions of her, she says some random name in Mandeville -- now I ain't a Jamaican scholar but I knew she weren't saying it right...And she weren't even that convinced if that was the place when I started to grill her. She retorted, "well I don't know I was born here."

I was riled by this point and I said SO!!!! "What are you gonna tell your kids about where they come from cos you ain't African American."

Then ensued the blank stare.

It really irks me that Caribbean descended people don't know about their heritage. It can be the fault of the parents for not instilling a pride. I don't understand why they don't know...I do think this a failing and a shameful one. Any African American can tell you their history going back 2 generations. American born Caribbeans don't know jack! Some British Caribbeans must share this affliction.

This chick tried to punk me, ME! strupse (kissing teeth)-- yuh done know dat was never gonna happen!!!

- gooders girl

"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots"...Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

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