Category: Spirit

Wattle and Red Earth Collective kicks up its heels for National Heritage Week

October 2, 2022

October is always the month when Jamaicans turn their attention to their cultural heritage. National Heroes Day is Monday, October 17, 2022, at the end of Heritage Week, which begins on October 8 with an Interfaith Service at the University of the West Indies Chapel (I like this). President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, … More Wattle and Red Earth Collective kicks up its heels for National Heritage Week

Growing Out: Black Hair and Black Pride in the Swinging Sixties, by Barbara Blake Hannah

September 11, 2022

If you would like to hear Barbara talk about her book and more, tune in to Radio Jamaica tomorrow (Sunday, September 11) at 1:30 p.m. on Gerry McDaniel’s show “Palav,” where she will be special guest. A young, middle-class Jamaican woman, tired of the limitations of island life, arrives in London, England, to seek her … More Growing Out: Black Hair and Black Pride in the Swinging Sixties, by Barbara Blake Hannah

Justice matters in Jamaica

September 9, 2022

One of our favourite American political podcasters, who focuses largely on the ex-President’s interminable legal manouevrings, intones at the end of each podcast: “Because Justice. Matters.” Emphasis on the final word. Well, so it does in Jamaica, too. Our Police Commissioner is looking increasingly haggard at each quarterly press conference, and our Prime Minister seemed … More Justice matters in Jamaica

We all have rights, says Stand Up for Jamaica. Who are you to tell us otherwise?

September 1, 2022

Is there something that we humans don’t understand about “human rights for all?” I wonder sometimes. Here is commentary from Stand Up for Jamaica, which makes perfect sense to me. J-FLAG, which used to represent the LGBTQ community, apparently had nothing to say on the matter. I also had concerns about the recent public opinion … More We all have rights, says Stand Up for Jamaica. Who are you to tell us otherwise?

A fire at the historic Hunts Bay Jewish Cemetery highlights negligence for Jamaica’s cultural heritage

August 9, 2022

There are some Jamaican habits and attitudes that make me very sad. I am very late in reporting this* First of all, let me tell you about the fire at Hunts Bay Cemetery, which exemplifies two aspects of Jamaican life that I find depressing. *(This summer has turned my life a little upside down, or … More A fire at the historic Hunts Bay Jewish Cemetery highlights negligence for Jamaica’s cultural heritage

“I am NOT my breasts”: A Jamaican woman’s breast cancer journey

July 5, 2022

My dear friend Petre Williams Raynor has been cancer-free for a year now, and she looks really great, with her usual warm smile. It was a pleasure to meet up with her recently; it meant a lot to me personally, and I thought I would share something of our rather long conversation here. Petre has … More “I am NOT my breasts”: A Jamaican woman’s breast cancer journey

The Caribbean Tree Planting Project forges a spiritual connection with Jamaica’s diaspora

July 4, 2022

It was a hot, dry Saturday morning in Kingston, and the polished pews gleamed at the New Testament Church of God on Eastwood Park Road. There was an air of calm. The Saharan dust blurred the sky. The traffic hustled on outside, but it was quiet inside. The people quietly moving around the edges of … More The Caribbean Tree Planting Project forges a spiritual connection with Jamaica’s diaspora

Only One Earth: World Environment Day 2022 is full of mixed emotions

June 6, 2022

I confess, I have been preoccupied by family matters and rather low key. This World Environment Day I found it hard to focus; the issues are crowding in. In particular, climate change weighs heavily. I looked up the hashtag on Twitter, finding more and more semi-hopeful messages, “we’re doing something” videos, and “let’s do something!” … More Only One Earth: World Environment Day 2022 is full of mixed emotions

Stand Up for Jamaica writes about the power of reintegration

April 24, 2022

Being a human rights activist in Jamaica is not an easy life. There is a persistent narrative that these dedicated and decent human beings “defend criminals.” In fact, certain categories of Jamaicans are deemed hardly eligible to apply, or be considered for such a thing as human rights. It’s different if one’s own rights have … More Stand Up for Jamaica writes about the power of reintegration