Memories Of Back A Yard – Part 1

A gentle wind sways the limb of a coconut tree against the window of the board house, where I lay in bed gazing through a missing pane at the moon lit sky. The chu-chu engine of a train passes along the railway track located about150 meters down the lane, sending a tremor all through the […]

Taken for Granted

I was born and raised partly in Jamaica. My childhood days were interesting. We were not rich people and sometimes it was difficult to make ends meet. My dad worked hard to support us, (mom was living abroad) and we hardly ever went hungry. I used to love attending primary school. My brother did not […]

Sleeping Dogs

Recently I was speaking to a friend who had gone through a humiliating experience and I have her permission to share it with you. Georgia had apparently accompanied her male companion to the doctor, after which they stopped off at the pharmacy to have the prescription filled. She was the one who got out of […]

Anancy And Bredda Lion

Bredda Lion had a new bad habit that he felt was his right an privilege, being the most feared in the village. He developed the biggest belch in the whole village. Every time he ate and went to sleep at night, he would belch really loud all night and wake up the rest of the […]

Love Of Food

My people love food really bad. I often wonder if our culture has an obsession with food. Almost everything in our culture is defined by food. There is some type of food to cure almost everything from impotence to arthritis. Babies must be fat and chubby or they look sick. Is true…memba when you see […]

The Christine Report "Adjusting"

I’m sitting here today wondering how things have changed so dramatically for me in the past 7 years. Back then, I would roll out of bed half an hour before class started on a warm day, or not at all if I could see that the weather was not conducive to waking up. Snuggled warm […]

Memories Of Back A Yard Part 2

People in the community were slowly beginning to gather as the news spread of Mass George’s death. The tarpaulin was already up and light bulbs beamed from it’s center pole, making the night as bright as a mid-day’s sun. Domino tables and stools were already in place. Several board benches borrowed from Breda Randal Pocco […]

Letter To My Jamaican Friend

My Dear Sonji, You know that my skin is white. I live in the Caribbean. Where else after Africa? You are my soul mate. You are Jamaican. Caribbean. You and the children live in London. To meet we have to travel. Colonial destiny? Bad economics? Your English is perfect. Your Jamaican comes out only when […]

Jamaica, The Colonel And Me – A Jamaican Short Story

I enjoy living in America. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t still be here after all these years. Among the things I like are the conveniences: the huge all-night supermarkets, the ninety-nine cents stores, the home-improvement emporiums, the availability of fast food for the times I’m too bushed to cook or simply want the Colonel to […]

Prejudice Against our Food

What is wrong with Jamaicans & their Prejudice against Jamaican food? I have to speak up now before it becomes a crisis. In recent years I have been observing a disturbing trend at private events hosted by Jamaicans. Types of food that no one recognizes or knows, being served to guests, all in the name […]