My Jamaica - Jamaica 50th

I wrote an essay for our 50th Celebrations as a country and I thought I would share it here and hope that it inspires as much as it did when I wrote it. We complain a lot about what we have not achieved as a country but we also need to reflect on what we love about our country and why we love being Jamaican. Writing this reminded me of that....

Stunning landscape, lush greenery and sparkling rivers, waterfalls and beaches- Jamaica is a picturesque example of beauty. It is our people however, proud and headstrong yet tender and playful, that will always make Jamaica mean love to me.

Jamaica is many things – sunshine and beauty and a people with raucous laughs ever ready for a joke, ever ready for the opportunity to spread some joy. We are a people of glowing skin, smiling lips and ‘wanga’ bellies basking in a land wood and water. Jamaica means home to me, it means joy and comfort and awe-inspiring beauty.  Small as we are, we can boast diverse experiences in our three counties. Travel to Cornwall and walk through the town of Montego Bay where strangers on the street greet you with a smile and a hello; in Middlesex, quaint towns amaze you with their greenery and old-time hospitality of grandmothers and grandfathers who know every home-made remedy for any ailment you could possibly have and; Surrey- where even the streets rock to and fro with the pulsating rhythms emanating from every corner.

We are fiercely proud of our heritage because it points directly to the strength of our people. We are headstrong because we know that if we work hard enough we will achieve. We cling lovingly to every story of success of our fellow Jamaicans both home and abroad for the opportunity to boast about how talented we are. Women boast of their children’s feats daily and we are quick to identify any connection we may have to someone who has worked hard and been successful – despite the fact that they may just be our neighbour’s cousin’s best friend’s brother.

Yes we are a proud people, but we are also a people who chase happiness and who can’t help but spread our joy. I love the fact that at any given moment if I listen hard enough I can hear someone somewhere laughing. We pride ourselves at deriving wisdom from the tales of Anancy’s mischief or misfortunes. We enjoy playing tricks on each other, teasing each other and sharing both our setbacks and our successes.

As Jamaicans we love each other’s company and we are always looking for a reason to get together to fellowship or to just lyme. Laughter and sunshine inspire music and dance and we are always singing, always skipping or dancing along to some beat. This is why even small children are quick to whistle a tune or clap or knock some wood to produce some sound. Music inspires and lifts our spirits. Our music invigorates us and unites us. Everyone who can remember when we qualified for the Fifa World Cup in 1998 how that single song meant so much to every Jamaican. It stood as a symbol of pride and motivation and a reminder that though small, we had a contribution and an impact to make on the world.

We know the struggles we face, and so as a people we are quick to share with each other. Everyone has a story to tell of a time when ‘boat did run’. Nothing is sweeter to a Jamaican than a home-cooked meal shared with friends and family. Indeed, ‘One one coco full basket’ and when the last plate is cleared, there can be no doubt that every belly present would have been filled. In Jamaica, giving back is a part of our success story, and we will often hear stories of persons who can, ‘sponsoring’ or assisting persons in need. Indeed, a person will not be lauded for their achievements until they use it to positively impact a fellow Jamaican.

As Jamaicans, passion is in our blood. We are expressive and emotive and demand attention. We insist on being heard and we know we have a right to express our opinions and we often do, even when we are not asked. We are proud of our right to free speech and when we believe something we fiercely defend it. We believe in promises made to us, we trust in those who have leadership over us, and we expect that systems put in place will work for us rather than against us. A chance to express oneself is golden and even from childhood we are seen scrambling for the opportunity to say our piece. Great orators are treasured because words mean so much to us in Jamaica. We pull strength from the words of our greatest leaders like our National Heroes and esteemed public figures, these words that have, and that will inspire Jamaicans for many years to come.

Most of all Jamaica means to me that I will always have someone who will care, no matter what. You can’t walk down the street anywhere in Jamaica with a frown without someone telling you to ‘fix yuh face’ or ‘smile nuh’. We want to see each other happy and we want to see each other thrive. Achieve an accomplishment and persons who you’ve maybe only said hello to in passing will congratulate you and perhaps even give you a hug. It hurts us to hear of the plight of our fellow Jamaicans, and a genuine cry for help is more often than not met with success. It is often joked that in Jamaica ‘everybody a lawya’ because even without asking someone will speak up on your behalf.

We are an island country, but a Jamaican will never stand alone. We love being a part of this nation, and this love manifests itself in the familiarity with which we treat each other when we are away from home, because we know that no matter where we go, no Jamaican stands alone. We are after all, ‘Out of Many, One People’.

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Thanks for reading!

Till later,

Jane