Staff Writer - Latoya Wakefield
It always makes me somber when I hear my fellow Jamaicans or any native of our Caribbean countries bring down our cultures. It’s saddening when people turn their noses up at who we are. It gets me frustrated when people stamp all our elements of our way of life. I’m not saying we’re perfect; there will always be room for improvement. However, we can’t deny the fact that we are unique.
Everywhere in the world, you can find a little piece of Caribbean, be it our dances, our food, our music, our hilarity, our language, almost everyone wants to be Caribbean or associated with someone who’s Caribbean. Why then do we disregard ourselves? Yes, the crime is depressing, the politicians might be tricksters, our economy might be in shambles but don’t we still have a lot to give thanks for?
Recently I was watching some YouTube videos and all the way in Russia, they had a Reggae dance class. It was taught by Russians, made by Russians but the music and the dances were all Jamaican. The song they used was Vybz Kartel’s ‘Love You Baby’. They incorporated many of our dances in savvy dancehall choreography and the leader was even singing along. Females from all over the world are always going crazy over our waist movement dance known as the ‘wine’. Many females want to move their waist like ours. Just like Salsa and Belly Dancing, our dances are of a provocative style, however, just like these dances, it is harmless fun and just another way of expressing our culture. Yet why are our own people offended by our waist movements but applaud the others?
A beautiful Caribbean scene
English, our standard language in most Caribbean countries, has great emphasis on it to be learnt and that’s fully understandable. We should know and master English for the sake of our careers and communicating with the larger world. However, when I’m home with my family, all I want to speak is my first language, Patois. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a colourful and beautiful language. Yet children are being disciplined at homes if they dare say a word that’s not English.
Our food is mouth watering, full of spices and a one of a kind taste. There’s nothing like a good ole’ Sunday dinner of Rice and Peas with Brown stew chicken or Escoveitch Fish. Our jerk chicken and pork are to die for. So why do we encourage our children to eat fast food continuously? Why don’t we want to learn how to cook our own dishes?
Where’s the patriotism for our country? How are we standing up and preserving our cultures? How are we defending our identities? There are so many facets of our culture that we should appreciate. Don’t be thankful for it because some other foreign country is. Recognize who you are and salute it. Before we can go where we want to, we have to remember where we’re coming from. So say it with me if you believe it. I’m Caribbean and I’m proud!!!
