The Unheard Words of new writers...

2^nd Apr 2006

Remembering Jamaica in Spring
It sure is cold, even though it’s officially Spring. The predictions of a cold harsh winter were wrong…maybe what they meant was a cold, harsh Spring and just didn’t have the courage to say it!

I begin in the time-honoured British tradition of talking about the weather. The fact that I happen to be Black British, according to the census, does not exclude me from this activity. There’s something about the culture that just seeps into the skin and permeates one’s whole outlook.

The formalities over, my story begins with sunshine and lots of it and people - mostly black. I made my second trip in 20 years to Jamaica in December; you could call it a fantasy because it’s a real contrast to the life I live in the UK. Here in Britain, I can never be just "British" without being "Black", there’s always something reminding me that the closest I can get to belonging is being "honorary".

Think Jamaica: I am instantly transported to sunshine, Montego Bay, Dunns River; ripe mangos and oranges straight from the tree- call it paradise. There is something wondrous about the sunshine and sunny climates that northern European countries can’t compete with. The sun, bringer of light, life, warmth and happiness, has the ability to change the mood and lift the spirit.

I could really wax lyrical about the place, "home" to my parents and "holiday home" to me. I did enjoy the "holiday" aspect of it but feel I couldn’t quite call Jamaica "home", not yet anyway. You see sunshine has other qualities that mask the truth.

It is a country of paradoxes: on the one hand we have year-long warmth, beautiful beaches, sun and nature-kissed fruit; drama on every street corner; the resilience and resourcefulness of a people with an unshakeable spirit, not to be beaten. That’s how we’ve survived centuries of brutality and mean-spiritedness.

On the other hand, we see desperation, unspeakable poverty and a disregard for humanity and even life itself. Jamaica has one of the highest death rates per population in the world (though this violence is mainly confined to parts of the Capital Kingston).

Jamaica is rich in so many ways: culture, drama, spirit, strength…and at the same time it is poor -I forgot to tell you about the shanties and the tin roof shacks, the bare feet and the rags.

For Jamaica, read Zimbabwe or Alabama; you could even include Hackney, Peckham and Handsworth. That’s the sad part. Is it poverty of opportunity or of humanity that deals us black folk such difficult cards? As people of colour, we offer much more than sports and entertainment or engendering hatred and fear. How to solve the problem is our biggest challenge. How do we build on our strengths and transform our misfortune into opportunity? How can we instil in our children and nations a sense of pride in our heritage and hope for the future?

And so, as Spring brings hope of brighter warmer weather, my hope is that I can play a part in society that helps to create a space without judgement, for people who are British and happen to be Black.