Winter 2004

S P E C I A L ‘ N U F F R E G G A E I S S U E ! T H R E E B I G I N T E RV I E W S !

Winter 2004

Sister Carol . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Shinehead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Third World . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2003 Carifete . . . . . . . . . . 2 Mi Luv Patios . . . . . . . . . . 2

Dispelling Myths . . . . . . . .3 Author Interview . . . . . . . . 4 Make a Difference . . . . . . .5 TRB Awards . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Yardie Deh ‘Bout . . . . . . . 6

Recipe Corner . . . . . . . . . . .6 Back a Yard . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Community Remembers . . 8 Community Organizations 8

AN INTERVIEW WITH SISTER CAROL Sister Carol is a Kingston native, who has succeeded in a musical genre that is wildly dominated my male performers. Such paths lead her to a Grammy nomination for the 1996 release Lyrical Potent. This multi-talented artist has also appeared in two of Jonathan Demme movies Something Wild and Married to the mob.

She has toured the world several times over and was the familiar voice behind Night Music with David Sandborn as the mc. In 1999, Tuff Gong, The label started by Jamaica’s very own Bob Marley released Isis-the Original Womb-man.

JD: In a lot of your songs, you talk about female empowerment. Who are some of your musical influences?

SC: I’m influenced by a lot of artist but I really like Nina Simone, I-trees and Artan Ellis.

JD: Jamaica is the birthplace of reggae but it is now an international phenomena. How do you feel about

being an ambassador for the music?

SC: I am very proud of my heritage.

JD: The style of reggae has made numerous transitions i.e. 70’s classic to modern dancehall.

How do you feel about these transitions?

SC: Change is a must. I don’t mind dancehall as long as the lyrics are conscious, uplift and educate not denigrate. Dancehall is more popular among the youth, so it’s is very important to promote positive vibes, while entertaining.

JD: Many people wear dreads but do not practice the Rastafarian faith, are you a Rasta?

SC: I am a true Rasta to the bone; Rasta is about peace and love.

JD: What style of reggae do you prefer?

SC: Roots music Sister Carol’s latest release is Empressive. Visit her web site at www.sistacarol.com. Add this release to her eight albums, dozens of singles and it is clear that this Sista is an artist to contend with now and for the future.

AN INTERVIEW WITH SHINEHEAD Shinehead began his artistic career via dance hall sound systems of New York.

Whether Shinehead is toasting, crooning or flat-out rapping, he always balanced his material between the positive and socially conscious with more lighthearted sentiments. His songs and live performances are generously seasoned with high energy, humor, common sense, harsh reality, socioeconomic commentary and matters of the heart.

Add in Shinehead’s stage presence and this is a memorable act to watch.

JD: In what way do you feel that you have made an impact in your profession?

SH: When an entire family can tell me they drove from Chicago IL to Tallahassee FL looking for Shinehead material that says it all.

JD: Where do you find inspiration fro your lyrics?

SH: I find them from my own life, other people’s life.

JD: In the documentary “The history of reggae”, you stated that your style was a fusion of hip-hop and reggae. Do you find that to be the trend for Jamaican artist living outside “yard”?

SH: Not necessarily. Yuh fin seh yardies been doing it before meh born. Meh jus duh it betta ...

Ha Ha JD: Why do you feel Jamaican culture is so popular at this particular time?

SH: Well, the only thing can come mind is the reggae music. It’s like the music of King David, which is like songs of Psalms.

The Jamaican Diaspora is a publication of JK Productions – Chicago, Illinois

di•as•po•ra: n. 1. Dispersion of people from their original homeland 2. The community formed by such a people

INTERVIEW WITH THIRD WORLD Third World is more than a reggae band it is an institution. This institution stands for producing and performing music that, while holding firm to the cultural and ancestral roots of its’ members, still pushes forward the cutting edge of reggae. It is a group whose themes are positive, progressive and internationally relevant.

Jamaican Diaspora had a chance to speak to Bunny Rugs, who is the lead vocal for the group.

JD: One of the group’s trademark songs is “Reggae ambassador”.

Being a reggae artist, what do you think should be your responsibility?

BR: To take Jamaican music and its message of peace, love, harmony around the world.

JD: Reggae had made many changes in style. I.e. 70’s classic to current Dancehall How would you categorize the Third World’s music?

BR: We have the Third World style. Every group has their own way of sending out their message. Our music is a fusion of African and Caribbean sounds.

JD: How long have you been with the band?

BR: 28 of the 30 years JD: Who are your musical influences?

BR: Nat King Cole Gregory Isaacs and many more JD: How many albums have the group produced?

BR: 20 albums and our latest is “Ain’t Giving Up” To learn more about the band, visit their web page at www.thirdworldband.com

MI LUV DE PATIOS YUH SI Things my mother taught me that only a yardy can understand: • My mother taught the VALUE OF EDUCATION. “If yuh no go a school, yuh a go tun tief or walk an’ pick up bottle”.

• My mother taught me HUMOR. “If yuh nuh eat food, breeze a go blow yuh wa” • My mother taught me JUSTICE. “One day when yuh have pickney an dem treat yuh same way.

Why Jamaican people are different ...

Mi deh yah ah tink and realize seh, dere are sometings yuh woulda neva see we a do, hear we ah seh or even attempt fi try. Tek fir instance...

• Yuh eva see Jamaicans a climb mountain wid flag and claim victory when dem reach di top? Yuh ever see weh ah hang out inna di miggle of di Amazon jungle? Fi wa reason?

• Yuh ever see weh a jump outta plane wid one parachute or a boast seh we going bungee jumping next Sunday?

• Yuh eva see weh inna sea bout we looking fi di great white sharks? No sah, we wi watch it pon TV. • Yuh eva hear weh in ah search & rescue pan mountain? A mi sen dem up mountain? If dem find dem way up, dem fe find dem way dung again. Idiat dem! A nature way fe feed de weak and any hungry animal up deh!

• Yuh eva see a Jamaican man acting pon big screen going inna haunted house and asking..."Trevah yuh in deh?" If him foolish enuf fi go ina di haunted house him an di duppy dem caang fight it out in deh.

• Yuh eva hear a Jamaican man seh.."no honey...no need fe cook rice and peas wid oxtail and a little chicken pon a Sunday ... mek we order in a pizza nuh?" Try yu best ... not pon yuh life.

CHICAGO CAR FETE 2003 On behalf of the Jamaican car fête group, I would like to thank everybody for their support, donations and time to make our endeavor a success.

We look forward to the year 2004 when the Car Fête group will do this again in a better and bigger way. We truly appreciate your continued support.

To contact us, please send correspondence to: Jamaican Car Fête Group, P.O. Box 283, Dolton, IL 60419, USA Errol Willock, President of the Jamaican car fête Group Special thanks to the following: Beulah Henry Bill Harvey Blossom Calvin Boswell Desmond and Joy Pompi Donna 1 and Donna 2

Fred Baker Jamaica Tourist Board Musicians Solomon Flowers Valerie Richards

The Jamaican Diaspora is a publication of JK Productions – Chicago, Illinois

di•as•po•ra: n. 1. Dispersion of people from their original homeland 2. The community formed by such a people

RASTAFARI: FULFILLING THE MISSION, DISPELLING THE MYTHS Are you one among many who have biased opinions about Rastafarians? Do you think they are a are a “drug cult” or a group of ganja smoking dreadlocks without a theology who either love to listen to reggae music or who are reggae musicians. If you feel that Rastafarians are a cultural rather than a spiritual group, you’re not alone, many people who see us through the eyes of European or western media along with members from the world’s established religions are biased towards Rastafarians, because we embrace an African-centered, rather than Eurocentered view of spirituality or religion.

Many people are unaware of Rastafarian history; they know about Bob Marley, but nothing about the God that Marley embraced as his religious way of life and worshiped in his music.

Just as many are unaware that in the beginning of the Rastafarian Movement (early 1930’s), Rastafarians were brutally persecuted and imprisoned and many also lost their lives for daring to proclaim the Divinity of His Imperial Majesty, not for farming, selling or smoking ganja.

In all due respect, true-to-form- Rastafarians are to be considered the same as other spiritually enlighten traditional people throughout the world, such as the Yogi’s, Rabbi’s, Imam’s, Priests and Ministers…to say anything about us (Rastafarians) is nothing less but religious discrimination -- the only difference between African-centered Rastafarians and Euro-centric Christians, is that Rastafarians embrace the Black Ethiopian Messiah, while they embrace the European Messiah. While Europe and the west are waiting for their Messiah to return, we say “He came, but you missed H.I.M.” We know that if Emperor Haile Selassie I was born in England with blond hair and blue eyes, and had he inherited the Throne of David and the Divine Titles (King of Kings, Lord of Lords) and was from the Solomonic bloodline, there would have been no doubt who He Is. Those Who Wear the Crown We wear our Crown (locks) embrace the doctrine of the Ethiopian Monophysite (God-Manifest-in-flesh) because we know that His Majesty was the spiritual embodiment of the man they call Christ in this time. We know this because His Majesty fulfilled Revelations from 1935-1941 (Rev 19:11), and he is a descent of King David, King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and the man they call Christ, all are in His Majesty’s family tree. His Majesty also inherited the throne of King David on November 2, 1930, along with the divine titles “King of King, Lord of Lords,” in accordance with bible prophecy (Acts 2:13; and Rev19:11)..these are facts, not mere conjecture by Rastafarians.

Locks were worn by Ethiopian-Egyptian God-Kings and PriestKings thousands of years before the bible was written. In biblical times, locks were worn by those who had taken the Oath of the Nazarite (Hebrews 7). Today this timeless tradition is maintained

by Ethiopian monks and Rastafarians.

The Light in Marley’s Eyes Emperor Haile Selassie I, the 225th King of Kings and Lord of Lords was the Light in Marley’s eyes and the heartbeat in Marley’s music. Though millions in the world love and admired Marley, they knew nothing about the God-King that Marley worshiped. As a musical prophet, Marley an instrument used by JAH (God) to plant the Seed of Rastafari in the hearts and minds of millions of people throughout the world.

The Mystic Path of Rastafari As for our spiritual way of life: We affirm (know) that the Messiah’s Home is in Judah (Ethiopia), and that Ethiopia/JudahKush is the geographical location of the Garden of Eden in the Bible. We affirm that there is Only One God and One Truth Spoken in Many Different Languages … and that God Lives and Life is Eternal In My Father’s House There are Many Mansions Lastly, there are many Houses/Mansions of Rastafari…though each House differs slightly in ritual, all Houses embrace the Monophysite Doctrine (God-Manifest-in-flesh). The main Houses are Nyabinghi, Twelve Tribes and Bubba Dread -- and of course there are many of us who do not belong to any House, but we respect Nyabinghi, which is the strict Orthodox Order of Rastafari. Due to the spiritual work of musical prophet Bob Nesta Marley, members of the Spiritual Movement of Rastafari are found in every corner of the globe, from Africa to Europe and from the Americas to the Caribbean and the South Pacific Islands.

Rastafari – The African-centered Religion/Way of Life The seed was planted long ago and today, the people are ripe for what of knowledge. Today, educational television programs, such as Discovery Channel and PBS are reporting how Christ and Eve of the Bible were Black. If we take away the issue of ganja from the Rastafarian Movement, one can see that the only issue that Europe and the west have with Rastafarians is that we embrace the Black Ethiopian Messiah, rather than the white European Messiah, in accordance with the Bible that states that the Messiah had hair like lambs wool and feet the color of brass, which point to a man of African, rather than European descent..

Hopefully, the above information will at the very least help to dispel some of the myths and misconceptions associated to Rastafari, and in so doing, foster a greater appreciation and respect for knowledge and our Spiritual Way of Life.

Imani Kali-Nyah is a writer, author, investigative-researcher, historian, lecturer and television produce; she is recognized internationally for resurrecting the issue of The Ethiopian Holocaust 1935-1941. She has a BA in Mass Communications from Chicago State University and is Chair & CEO of ROOTS International Arts Alliance, The Ethiopian Holocaust Remembrance Committee and the Association of Rastafarian Theologians. For more information call 312-225-6000.

The Jamaican Diaspora is a publication of JK Productions

di•as•po•ra: n. 1. Dispersion of people from their original homeland 2. The community formed by such a people

BOOKS – A REFLECTION Anthony Winkler has captured the essence of Jamaican culture in his books and films. “Going Home To Teach” is an autobiographical body of work, which flashes back to the Jamaica of the authors childhood, recounts incidents and vignettes that sheds light on the ever changing political climate of the island.

What inspired you to write, "Going Home to Teach"?

There was no particular moment of inspiration. I began the book sometime after I had finished The Lunatic. At that time rather than an inspiration I was driven by an ambition—to tell the story of the year 1975-1976 I had spent in Jamaica teaching at Moneague Teachers College during a tumultuous time in Jamaican history. I thought I knew something about us and the forces that had made us what we had become, and I wanted to share my vision with other Jamaicans. I also wanted to explain what I was and how I had gotten to be that way. As a white Jamaican I felt I had a unique perspective to contribute to a discussion of our identity, and I started out to unravel the separate strands of history—family, personal, and national—and show how together they entwined to create the individual soul that I am. This explanation sounds terribly anthropological and makes me seem more calculating than I really am. But in fact when I begin a book what I have in mind is little more than a smudge, a vague speck on the horizon, and the finished product is more due to my blundering back-and-forth rather than to any preconceived idea of where I'm going. I almost never know that. Often, I'm as surprised as the reader by the twists and turns a book might take, especially fiction; in Going Home to Teach, because it is a true story, I was surprised not by its outcome, but by the sociological and historical explanations I stumbled upon as I wrote it. Writing is for me an exercise of the subconscious, and I always write better if I don't know what I'm trying to say until I've actually said it.

Maya Angelou has written several autobiographical books. In each book, it depicts a significant era that changed her life as well as what was happening at that period in time. Should your fans anticipate other autobiographical pieces? Was writing this particular piece cathartic for you?

My editor has always encouraged me to write my autobiography, particularly the story of my family, which has more than its share of eccentrics. An autobiography presumes that one has led an interesting life that people want to hear about, and every now and again I'm dogged by the feeling that that does not apply to me. Interestingly enough, when I wrote Going Home to Teach I had same squeamishness that I was presuming and had no authentic reason for writing that book. I do not know whether the act of writing Going Home to Teach was cathartic. If it was, the catharsis probably arrived via a dripping faucet rather than

in a climactic cloudburst. Every book I've written, I believe, is based on my love for Jamaica and Jamaicans, and if there was a departure from this principle in Going Home to Teach, it was a result of the bitter anger I felt then about the racial chauvinism of the 1970s that rejected me because I'm white.

Now that I am older (but no wiser), I no longer feel that bitterness: I say to myself, I am white and Jamaican, and he (or she) who doesn't like that can stick it where the monkey stuck the ...

By the end of the book, we learn how the headmaster’s gatekeeper attitude impacted you and the students in a brash manner. People want to help their fellow man but bad minded souls are often a road block to progress. Do you think that’s why individuals who are altruistic are hard to find?

I don't know. I've always had the feeling that the philosopher who said, "No man does evil knowingly"—I believe it was Plato—might actually be right. I do not believe anyone consciously starts out to commit wickedness without having some self-justifying motive. What is much more probable is that the evil -doer thinks his wickedness is a good even if his reasons are selfish. It is also my conviction that selfishness is the one primal sin in the world and that all other sins are tributaries of it. As for being altruistic, one man's altruism is another man's egotism. After 61 years of life, what I've learned about this world is that things are seldom as simple as they seem.

In your book, we learned that because of the political climate of the 70’s, the landowner Mr. Jameson decided to sell out and leave Jamaica but eventually he wanted to come back. You left and came back as well. What is the magic about Jamaica that creates this bond to the island?

It's home—that's all the magic there is. It is where we drew our first breath, spoke our first word, felt the first pin prick of love. Old-time Jamaicans say you always yearn to go back to the place where your navel string is buried. They may well be right.

Do you have any upcoming works?

Sometime this fall MacMillan of England is releasing The Annihilation of Fish and Other Short Stories. I also have two completed novels that are scheduled to go into production soon. What is most wonderful about what I do for living is that it is what I would be doing anyway even if I were not being paid for doing it.

Anthony Winkler’s Lunatic can be purchased at: Roadmaster International Records 629 1/2 Howard Street Evanston, IL • Jamaican movies in VHS and DVD format • Caribbean, R&B and Hip-Hop music Small enough to know you and large enough to serve you.

The Jamaican Diaspora is a publication of JK Productions – Chicago, Illinois

di•as•po•ra: n. 1. Dispersion of people from their original homeland 2. The community formed by such a people

MAKE A DIFFERENCE American African Caribbean Foundation The American African Caribbean Foundation (AACF) was founded by President Nicole Peden. Marlin E. Kirby is on the Board of Directors and acts as legal counsel for the charitable corporation. AACF is a charitable, patriotic, educational and civic corporation and its mission is to encourage and bring awareness to Caribbean and Americans on issues that affect citizenship for Black Caribbeans. AACF's mission is to offer educational and financial assistance to Black Caribbeans who seek United States Citizenship. AACF will work with corporations and sponsors to find recipients job placement in the United States of America. AACF will assist in the college scholarship process for Caribbeans who have acquired their citizenship or who are hindered from gaining citizenship because of their lack of education. For information call: 708-717-5498.

Linnette's Jamaican Kitchen The best of Jamaican home style cooking right here in Chicago!

11a.m-9p.m. M-T 11a.m-10p.m. Fri-Sun (773) 761-4823 • 7366 N Clark St, Chicago

TROPICAL RHYTHM & BEATS WINS AWARD The 2003 recipient of the Chicago Music Award for “Best Music Video Show” is Tropical Riddims and Beats. It airs every Tuesday at 11:00 pm on channel 19, CAN-TV, Chicago’s cable access station. TRB brings you the best in reggae, soca, calypso, compa, zoukous and other “tropical rhythms” from around the globe. It includes a mix of music videos, live performance, and interviews.

TRB CREW Charif Hachim, TRB Producer M.B.A Finance | Co-Producer Caribbean Soul TV Randolph Coleman, TRB Host B.A.Communications| Host/Producer of Reggae & World Groove (WKKC) Dahtah, TRB Host B.A. in Liberal Studies | Event Coordinator for Martin’s Interculture Petina Dixon, TRB Host B.S. in Journalism | Producer/DJ of Reggae Vibrations (WNUR) Halcyone Hoagland, TRB Host B.A. Arts Administration | Performing Artist/Dancer (W.I. Folk Dance Co.)

Tropical Riddims and Beats features artists from different parts of the tropical world including Sean Paul, (Jamaica), Beenie Man (Jamaica), Capleton (Jamaica), Burning Spear (Jamaica), Hugh Masekala (South Africa), Fantcha (Cape Verde), Zenglen (Haiti), Adina (Comoros Islands) Byron Lee (Jamaica). TRB has also featured Grammy award winners Shaggy and Damian Marley.

The show also highlights local Chicago artists including Rasta Kelly, Dub Dis featuring Devon Brown, George from Yard, and Aswah Greggori. Tropical Riddims and Beats is led by producer Charif Hachim, and hosted by personalities Randolph Coleman, Dahtah, Petina Dixon and Halcyone Hoagland. All of the hosts have roots in West Indian music and culture. TRB takes you on a one-hour trip to the tropics every Tuesday night. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

MORE INFO Tropical Riddims and Beats: www.trbtv.com Chicago Music Awards: www.chicagomusicawards.com/cma Photos and biographies: http://www.trbtv.com/crew.html

Caribbean American Baking Company 1539 W. Howard St., Chicago, Il 60626 PH: 773-761-0700 | FX: 773-761-0764 / 0710 • Jerk Pork & Chicken • Hardough Bread • Jamaican-style Beef Patties • Assorted Pastries • Spice Buns • Jamaican-style Veggie Patties

The Jamaican Diaspora is a publication of JK Productions

di•as•po•ra: n. 1. Dispersion of people from their original homeland 2. The community formed by such a people

YARDIE DEH 'BOUT

RECIPE CORNER

Someone You Should Know

Mango Nectar (Sunsplash)

Marlin Kirby is a lawyer specializing in Bankruptcy and Immigration. His grandfather migrated from Ghana (then called the Gold Coast) to Kingston, Jamaica and it was in Kingston Marlin Kirby was born. After receiving this law degree from the University of Iowa, he practiced law in Tennessee and is currently practicing in Oak Park IL. Marlin also taught law at the John Marshal Law School in Chicago IL. About 70 percent of Marlin’s cases are bankruptcy filings.

However, one of the more interesting aspects of his practice is the immigration law portion. In addition to helping those wanting to bring their family members into this country, he often recruits health care workers into the United States. He integrates his knowledge of the law to assist in bringing skilled health care workers into this country. About one-third of Mr. Kirby's clients are from Jamaica or other parts of the Caribbean. He delights in representing the Caribbean community and remembering that special island where it all began. We salute Marlin Kirby for his entrepreneurship, charitable donations and for being a positive role model for the community. For more information, you may call 708-848-9279 or email mkirbyesq1@aol.com.

3 ripe medium-sized mangos Juice of 1 lime 1 1/2 pt (550 ml) water Raw cane sugar Method Peel the mangos, cut the flesh from the central stone and either rub through a fine sieve or liquidize in an electric blender. Add to the mango puree, the lime juice and water. Add sufficient raw cane sugar to sweeten, stirring the mixture until the sugar has dissolved. Chill and serve.

Serves 3-4 A tropical flavored drink, fresh orange or pineapple can be added for a more exotic blend of flavors.

Marlin E. Kirby

Spice Garden Cafe

Attorney at Law

Authentic Jamaican Cooking

1100 West Lake Street Suite LL 38 Oak Park, IL 60601 PH: 708-848-9279 • 708-275-4111 FX: 708 848 0613 • e-mail: mkirbyesq1@aol.com

2053-55 W. Howard Street Chicago, IL 60645 773 262 7096 Menu varies daily

Softw are Solutions

• Showers

• Banquet Hall

• Parties

Robert Jackson Microsoft Certified Programmer • MIS trainer • PC instructor • Author of The Talking Bible 7516 Ridge Blvd #3e, Chicago, IL 60645 • PH: 773-412-4102 e-mail: Webmaster@HearJesus.com • www.HearJesus.com

The Jamaican Diaspora is a publication of JK Productions – Chicago, Illinois

di•as•po•ra: n. 1. Dispersion of people from their original homeland 2. The community formed by such a people

BACK A YARD Congratulations to Kerri Ann Palmer and Markland Taylor. Both are students at the University of West Indies in Kingston Jamaica, who entered the Jamaican American Club’s essay contest entitled “My major at the university benefits the Jamaican community by…” They both got prize money, a Jamaican American Club’s t-shirt and Robert Jackson’s Talking Bible CD. Here are the winning essays:

KERRI –ANN PALMER’S ESSAY All academic pursuits are important and vital to the development of the individual studying and benefit the Jamaican society, if what is learn is applied effectively in relevant forms to the Jamaican community. In my quest for knowledge, I was lead to read for a degree in my major, English. This major is sometimes regarded as being not so challenging-as not really being scholarly. In spite of this perception, the positive impact it will have on the nation are numerous. My major benefits the Jamaican community by promoting social cooperation.

It gives allowances for creative expression, critical analysis and enables the impartation of positive values and attitudes. Some of the professional arenas open to me by pursuing English are Human Resource, Advertising and Teaching. Literary works are representative of the society in which we live. Through books, we travel globally and enter the minds and lives of the characters.

Such intimacy with these personalities helps in giving me a better understanding of human nature. I can enter the Human Resource field where I would respect the diversity of people with whom I associate and try to come up with strategies where we better work with each other, thereby improving worker productivity and the competitiveness of the organization. Whose success will impact positively on the social and economic life of the Jamaican community. Such insight on human behavior would help me as a teacher to mediate and effectively manage classroom conflicts, and help each child to be the best s/he can be based on their unique strengths. Also, studying English can create distinctly Jamaican imaginative and critical works that reflect the Jamaican experience, giving the people scope to express their concerns, and educate each other about their situations rather than resort to violent means. Through the advertising medium, positive messages can be transmitted to impact on the populace to change negative behaviors and show alternatives to such. Indeed, my major is vitally important to the Jamaican community.

Simeon Kerr, CPA • Accounting • Personal Financial Planning • Taxes 4556 Oakton St. Suite 203, Skokie, IL 60076 (847) 676-8686 phone • (847) 676-8691 fax Email: cpa@sjkltd.com

MARKLAND TAYLOR’S ESSAY Physics has always been an import and part of science from the early centuries. Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein are just a few of the great minds that have contributed help to carve the pathway for modern science and its applications. Electronics, which is a branch of this field, has clearly transformed our lives in every area. These two branches of science are the gateway I have chosen; hence, they now constitute my major.

All training that I have received towards my major can be passed to my fellow Jamaicans. I could become a teacher I my field, thereby aiding the development of the science inclined minds on the island or partake in various research projects. My contribution along with others in this area will foster the development of a Jamaican Albert Einstein. Someday, this can happen. My major is in the field of electronics, which has contributed significantly in the communication sector. For example, mobile communication has increased exponentially the island.

Electronics has brought everyone closer in the world. We can be in our homes and network with Jamaicans worldwide.

Information technology plays an important role in every country because a significant amount of foreign exchange can be obtained utilizing this medium. Jamaica is now making provisions to branch out in this sector and reap the benefits.

Physics and electronics knowledge are beneficial to the community.

Electronics has no boundaries. How could one forget the conveniences this major has brought to our homes? It is constantly evolving and producing new ideas; therefore, new and improved gadgets will be developed and introduced for public consumption, hence making our lives easier. Overall, my major plays an important role in every sector of a modern and progressive Jamaica.

INSURANCE BROKERS INC. AUTO • MOTORCYCLE • HOME • RENTERS HEALTH • DISABILITY • LIFE • BUSINESS

IBI

www.insurancebrokersinc.com 1516 W. Howard Street Chicago, IL Phone: (773) 338 2886 Fax: (773) 338-3155

119 E. 95th Street Chicago, IL 60619 Phone: (773) 291-0707 Fax: (773) 291-0892

Trivia!

Who is John Russwurm and why is he important to print media?

The Jamaican Diaspora is a publication of JK Productions

?

Out of many, one people.

Jamaican Diaspora is a free forum newsletter and is dedicated to Jamaicans, the Caribbean community and to all positive progressive people around the world. We cover issues concerning health, education, environment and cultural pride. Please contact us and say hello. We will advertise your affairs. Knowing who you are and what you are planning prevents us from scheduling events on the same date as yours.

Remember: unity is strength – knowledge is power. If you have a business, creative ideas or anything vital to the community well-being, please contact us. e-mail: jamaicandiaspora@yahoo.com Address: P.O. box 62 Elk Grove, Il 60009-0062 USA Phone: 847-663-1598 One love and may peace be with you always.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

THE COMMUNITY REMEMBERS June Jordan June Jordan was born in Harlem NY July 9, 1936 to Jamaican immigrants. She was a professor of African Studies at the University of California at Berkley campus, author of 28 books, numerous essays and a recipient of many literary awards.

Sadly, on June 14, 2002, this remarkable woman lost her 10 year battle to breast cancer. Through her literary works and positive contributions, we will remember her.

The Ethiopian Holocaust P.O. Box 6515 Chicago, IL 60680-6515 312 225 6000 www.rootsinternational.net America African Caribbean foundation 708 717 5498 708 403 5498 - fax Jamaican American Club P.O. Box 62 Elk Grove, IL 60009-0062 www.geocities.com/jamaicanamericanclub/island.html Please let us help you let people know about YOUR non-profit organization! To be listed in this column, send your contact information to: jamaicandiaspora@yahoo.com

Unfortunately this dreaded disease ranks second among the cause of caner deaths in Black women, according to ACS (American Cancer Society). For more information on breast cancer prevention, call toll free 800 ACS 2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Listings are free of charge. Some restrictions may apply.

Arnold Brackenridge and the Redemption Bandwagon Arnold Brackenridge has played with many of the legends such as Bob Marley and the wailers, Peter Tosh, Fred McGregor. He has formed a current band called Arnold Brackenridge and The Redemption Bandwagon. To learn more about this phenomenal artist, visit www.allmusic.com, email bracowagon@yahoo.com or call 773 262 7096. $2.00 of every CD purchased will go to Oakton Jr. High PTA in Evanston, IL

B r e a d f r u i t

P r o d u c t i o n s

Editor

Photography

Contributing Writers

Publisher

Janice K. Maxwell

Errol Willock Janice K. Maxwell

Cherif Hachim Imani Nyah Janice K. Maxwell

JK Productions

Creative Direction Breadfruit Productions

Answer to trivia question: John Brown Russwaurm was born a slave in Jamaica in 1799. After receiving a college degree from Bowdoin in the US in 1826, he and Samuel Cornish founded the 1st African American newspaper called Freedom’s Journal. The 1st issue appeared on March 16, 1827.

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Jamaican Diaspora: Editor: Janice Kaye Maxwell | Art Direction: Karen Straka, Breadfruit Productions

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F r e s h & a ff o r d a b l e d e s i g n f o r p r i n t , p r e s e n t a t i o n , w e b Phone: 312.420.1057 breadfruitproductions.com • design@breadfruitproductions.com

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