“There is a Wealth of Talented Singers in the Diaspora, But no Platform to Showcase Their Talent” – Gary McCook, founder of the Jamaica International Independence Festival Song Competition
Garfield “Gary G” McCook is the Founder of the Jamaica International Independence Festival Song Competition (JIIFSC) which is bringing a traditional Jamaican cultural event overseas. McCook left Jamaica 34 years ago to seek opportunities in the USA. He has resided in Georgia for 20 years. He & his wife own a business and they have […]
Jamaican-American, Kristen Clarke, Becomes The First Woman & The First Black Woman To Be Confirmed To Lead The Civil Rights Division
The US Senate voted to confirm Kristen Clarke as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Justice Department. Clarke becomes the first woman and the first Black woman to be confirmed to lead the Civil Rights Division. Clarke’s parents immigrated to New York from Jamaica a few years before her birth. She talked […]
What’s it Like Being a Jamaican Living in Uganda?
Have you ever wondered what’s it like being a Jamaican living in Uganda? On our “Jamaicans to the World” Facebook Live show, Jamaicans.com founder Xavier Murphy spoke with Lysandra Idusso. She is a Jamaican who has lived in Uganda for 15 years. Xavier: What is it like being a Jamaican living in Uganda? Hi, I’m Xavier […]
Jamaican-Born Professor Dr. Kerrie Wilkins-Yel of University of Boston Receives National Science Foundation Grant to Advance Women of Color in STEM
Dr. Kerrie Wilkins-Yel, a Jamaican from Old Harbor Bay in St Catherine, has been awarded a CAREER Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for her research entitled “Advancing STEM Persistence among Graduate Women of Color through an Examination of Institutional Contributors and Deterrents to Mental Health.” Dr. Wilkins-Yel will use the prestigious five-year grant […]
Carnival Cruise to Resume Operations with 15 Jamaican Port Visits Scheduled for July 2021
After the COVID-19 pandemic caused a virtual shutdown of the Caribbean cruise industry in 2020, the Carnival Corporation has now announced its plans to resume operation in the summer of 2021. According to the Cruise Jamaica website, 15 port visits in Jamaica have been scheduled between July 1 and July 29, 2021. Cruise Jamaica is […]
Olivia Morina, 10, Hopes to Compete for Jamaica in Figure-Skating at Olympics
Olivia Morina, who was born of Jamaican descent in the United States and is currently based in North Carolina, is hoping to represent Jamaica at the Olympics as a figure-skater. As she is only 10 years old, she must wait until she is 13 to become eligible for international competitions, and her attempt to complete […]
British Jamaican, First Black Mayor of Bristol, Re-Elected to Second Term
Marvin Rees, who became the first Black mayor of Bristol in the United Kingdom in 2016, has been re-elected for a second term. Rees, the candidate of the Labor Party whose father is Jamaican, defeated his Green Party opponent Sandy Hore-Ruthven, after the second stage of counting votes, as no candidate received enough votes to […]
The Marriage Seesaw
As a kid growing up I can remember my friends getting water guns and fire engines for Christmas, while my brother and I would have to become creative by making our own toys. This was much more fun for us as it would bring a great sense of accomplishment while showing off our hand-made toy […]
Jamaican-Born Children’s Author, Kereen Getten, Shortlisted for 2021 Branford Boase Award
Kereen Getten’s debut novel “When Life Gives You Mangos” has been shortlisted for the prestigious Branford Boase Award. The award is presented yearly to the outstanding first novel of a first-time author of a book for young people and represents an important contribution of the editor in finding and nurturing new and talented writers. “When […]
Did You Know There Are 3 Cities in The USA With The Name Jamaica?
Jamaica is a popular destination for tourists and that’s particularly true for people in the U.S. However, there are also three cities in the U.S. that bear the name Jamaica, each with its own unique history. Jamaica, Vermont The Vermont city wasn’t actually named after the Caribbean island. The word Jamaica is from the Natick […]