Jamaican Diaspora: Destination by Jamaican Diaspora

JAMAICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA

WHAT MAKES FOOD VEGAN, OR NOT? MUSICAL NOTES: PROTOJE

Destination: Accompong

Daena Soares is Miss Jamaica Universe. Deana hails from Junction, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica and is a graduate of the University of West Indies. She represents the island proudly.

Jamaican Diaspora

Large sign of ‘Jamaica’ letters in the Jamaican flag, with beach and palm tree background

What we are about

Our product is unique because this magazine targets Jamaican culture on the island and worldwide. This publication affirms identity and builds community self-esteem. We will not only bring entertainment, but also provide information in areas of health, education, entrepreneur and environment.

How to place an ad

If you would like to advertise, please contact us. We will promote your product or special event. By letting us know who or when your special day is, it prevents dual scheduling. The intention is to complement not compete; remember unity is strength.

Writing for Jamaican Diaspora Magazine

Our publication contains articles from our advertisers and contribution writers. The goal is to share positive information. If you are interested in giving out your expertise or knowledge, let us know. Community involvement is the objective. To contact us, visit www.JamaicanDiaspora.com Published by JK Productions

Jamaican Diaspora

To contact us, visit www.JamaicanDiaspora.com Published by JK Productions

Jamaican Diaspora

Contents Departments 9

Book Club

Destination: Accompong

Cinema Scene

Musical Notes: Protoje

Limonade

Recipe Corner – What makes food vegan, or not?

Feature 21

Jamaica’s relationship with China

Dusky Darkness

24 30

30 Pieces of Silver Why Me

Autism

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Editor’s Note

Jamaican love couple’s guidelines Yes, my love is true but we have to have some ground rules before we proceed. What is not official and beneficial, I will let it go. I want to live as long as I want and not want for as long as I live. I will not ride on a battleship in order to have a relationship.

Follow these guidelines and all will be well with the world: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Make three true “we” statements each. For instance, “We are both in this room feeling ... “ Complete this sentence: “I wish I had someone with whom I could share ... “

If you were going to become a close friend with your partner, please share what would be important for him or her to know.

Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time, saying things that you might not say to someone you’ve just met. Share with your partner an embarrassing moment in your life.

your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item. What would it be? Why?

11. Of all the people in your family, whose death would you find most disturbing? Why?

12. Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how he or she might handle it. Also, ask your partner to reflect back to you how you seem to be feeling about the problem you have chosen.

Think on these gems to have a great life, perfect partner and in building the most important institution for Jamaica’s future – the family. Janice K. Maxwell Editor in chief

When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?

Tell your partner something that you like about them already.

What, if anything, is too serious to be joked about?

If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven’t you told them yet?

10. Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving

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Contributors

Michele Ho Lung

Hope Robinson

David Ritter

Nathan Robinson

Kirly Sue

Janice Maxwell

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Book Club Selections:

Cinema Scene Jamaican Flix Our images our culture

www.JamaicanFlix.com

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Destination: Accompong

This is a semi-independent town featuring a museum and the Peace Cave, which is where a treaty was signed by the community’s founder; the site of the annual Maroon Festival, which honors the founders. You won’t regret a visit to Accompong Town, an authentic Maroon village in the hills of Cockpit Country. The Maroons, descendants of enslaved West Africans first brought to Jamaica by the Spanish, fought British slaveholders—by cleverly using the nearly impenetrable hills and hollows as a base from which to strike—and eventually won their independence. Since 1738, they’ve mostly lived in their own communities, largely autonomous and separate from other Jamaicans.

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The best time to visit is the first Monday in January, for the annual Maroon Day Festival, when hundreds of Maroons from around Jamaica and abroad, as well as a few thousand tourists, descend on Accompong Town for a day of drumming ceremonies, food, and celebration. You can tour the village by appointment; make arrangements to visit with a driver. A museum, near the entrance to the village, displays historic artifacts, photos, and memorabilia. The Peace Cave, a short hike from town, is where Captain Cudjoe, the warrior and leader, signed a treaty with the British that recognized the Maroons as an independent nation and granted them 1,500 acres of land in the region. Walk around and take in the gorgeous, serene mountainous views, and learn the extraordinary history of a free people.

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Musical Notes: Protoje Oje Ken Ollivierre popularly known as Protoje, is a contemporary reggae singer and songwriter. He was born in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. There is an exciting resurgence of conscious, organic music in Jamaica, and industry experts and observers agree that Protoje, is a forefront figurehead in what has become known as “The Reggae Revival.”

Leading the militant band - The Indiggnation - this Grammy-nominated songwriter and philosophical thinker articulates the righteous anger of an emerging generation. Protoje reports for duty, re-establishing the standard for the decaying art of socially responsible, mentally stimulating lyricism. Jamaican Diaspora

Re cip e Corne r

What makes food vegan, or not?

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Hello, I am Kirly-Sue (aka Susanne Kirlew) and I am a award winning published author, vegan social media influencer, TV presenter & speaker. I was named as one of the Top 100 in the Lift Effects Star Awards. I have a total of 40,000+ followers on social media. I get asked a lot of questions about vegan food and lifestyle, so I have answered some of the most popular ones below What makes food vegan, or not?

In order for food to be strictly vegan, it needs to adhere to certain criteria. It is important to note that there are a lot of hidden ingredients in foods. It is especially important to watch out for these if you are going to strive for a vegan diet. • Vegans don’t eat animal products or by-products of animal products. • They also don’t consume things like milk and eggs. • Vegans also don’t eat fish.

• Don’t forget that bees are an animal so vegans also don’t eat honey, royal jelly, and bee pollen supplements.

• There are also plenty of hidden ingredients to look out for that tend to make their way into food including gelatin, lard, and whey.

If you are a new vegan, making all of these changes may seem overwhelming. But, after you’ve been eating and cooking the vegan way for a while you will become an old pro.

Common Ingredients Used in Vegan Cooking Vegan cooking is certainly an art, ingredients such as milk, buttermilk, eggs, and butter are almost essential for certain recipes. But, as we explored, the substitutions are more than adequate. With that said, there are a lot of ingredients that a lot of vegan chefs find essential. Here’s a rundown of some of the most common.

Soya Products Soya is probably the most versatile plant out there, especially when it comes to creating healthy and protein rich vegan meals. Here is a list of some of the soy products that are out there:

• Soya milk

This is readily available and can be found in several different flavors, such as vanilla and chocolate.

• Tofu

Tofu comes in different levels of firmness such as extra firm, or soft.

• Tempeh Tempeh is a fermented product with a hearty, meaty texture that can be used in stir fries and other meals.

• Ground Meat replacement

This soya food is a staple to some, because you can make meals such as spaghetti bolognese and vegan chili.

• Soya yogurt

Contains the active cultures just like regular yogurt and comes in a variety of flavors.

• Miso

Miso is a fermented salty paste that is made from soy and is used as a popular, enzyme rich soup base.

• Tamari and Soy Sauce

Both condiments are made from soy.

• Edamame

These are the fresh soy beans and are excellent by themselves or in stir fries.

• Vegan Cheese

Vegan cheese even melts and has a similar texture to real cheese.

• Soya sausage, hot dogs, and hamburger patties Vegans can enjoy breakfast sausage, hot dogs, and even hamburger patties

I hope that has given you more information about vegan food, I am now inviting you to follow me on social media

Kirly Sue kirlysueskitchen.co.uk

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Limonade Ingredients 1/4 cup lime juice (the juice of about 10 limes) 1 1/4 cups brown sugar 5 1/2 cups water

Instructions: • Squeeze the juice from the limes into a large jug.

• Add the sugar to the lime juice, stirring to dissolve • When the sugar is dissolved, add the water. Continue to stir until all sugar crystals are dissolved.

• Pour over ice in tall glasses and serve to thirsty friends and family.

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Tip 1: Add a sliced lime or lemon to the jug before serving. This mixture also makes a great mix for cocktails. Just add some rum to the jug or to the glass, and you’ve got a quick punch beverage.

Tip 2: Some cooks add 1-2 tablespoons of molasses to the mix for a stronger flavor.

Jamaica’s relationship with China As many Jamaicans celebrate the severing of connections with the British crown, and demand reparations and apologies from England for its colonial past, Jamaicans are happily giving away their sovereignty and national interests to Chinese governmental and economic powers daily. The same people, demanding an apology from the royal family and British people for all transgressions, past and present, seem to be

blissfully unaware of the current threat before them. The Jamaican government has been granting contracts and leasing massive amounts of land to Chinese government interests, who are undisputedly proxies of the Chinese government. The Chinese government continues to throw bones to the Jamaican people, so it can further its economic and political goals by using Jamaica, its resources and people.

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Many Jamaicans predicate their disgust over the England and the Crown, based on the transgressions of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the perceived inequality that British rule brought to Jamaica, but how do you think the Chinese will treat Jamaicans as their influence and power grow in the west? There are death camps in China where millions of Chinese ethnic minorities have been dragged into at gun point. Ethnic Uyghurs are in captivity, facing forced sterilization, torture, forced slave labor and murder. Numerous accounts of sexual abuse and rape of women have been reported in the Xinjiang “ re-education camps” — but we see no protests or demonstrations from the Jamaican public. Why is that? Does the average Jamaican really want a government like China creating infrastructure on its island? Could it be that Jamaican academia and media are corrupt, along with the Jamaican political class, relaying little to no information to the Jamaican public on these facts? Jamaica is losing its natural resources and land — to a nation state that has proven itself hostile and violent to demographics it deems unworthy of human rights, life and liberty. Who are the organizations that promote and plan these demonstrations against England, but conveniently ignore the daily growing presence of Chinese governmental power taking over Jamaica, and controlling the nation more and more? Beautiful natural reserves have been destroyed to accommodate Chinese port facilities, and Chinese investment firms are buying up Jamaican land at a massive rate.

Land that should be in the hands of Jamaican nationals. This is not a new problem, as Canadian and US firms have taken over Jamaican resources throughout recent history, but the hypocrisy and apathy we see from the Jamaican public is what is so alarming. People are quick to celebrate the disconnection of all remaining British institutions, but sit by apathetically as the Chinese government makes power grabs across the nation. Jamaicans pose as nationalistic patriots, with this bravado and indignation pointed at England and all of its past and present institutions, and feel a need to disconnect itself with its perceived oppressive European connections. But China buying up real estate, indebting the nation, and taking over ports so that it can further economically dominate the world, and place its military in strategic points using 22

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Jamaica as a proxy? No big deal, right? This should worry Jamaicans. There are intelligent, true Jamaican nationalists worried about this, but far too few, and few willing to speak out.

Yes, the Chinese government has built massive infrastructure in Jamaica — roads, telecommunications etc. — but why? Do you think it’s because the Chinese government just loves Jamaicans, and thinks “Jamaica nice?” Yeah, that must be it, Xi Jinping just loves Bob Marley and Reggae music, and thinks Jamaica is Ire! Nobody should worry about a government that has perpetrated mass violence and the murder of university students, for demanding free speech and democracy, and destroyed the national sovereignty and rights of the Tibetan people. I would venture to say that numerous Jamaicans have never heard of Tiananmen Square, or know anything of the horrors that the Tibetan people have faced, but maybe that’s why so much of the Jamaican public can be easily distracted with outrage and indignation directed towards Europe, but apathy towards a new regime actively taking over Jamaican society. People can attack this article and me all they like. They can scream racism, bigotry and every unfounded ad hominem all they want, but the truth is this: I am someone who believes Jamaica should be ruled by Jamaican people, and Jamaica should serve Jamaican interests first and foremost. I believe that should be the case with all nations all over the world.

England should serve the interests of British people, Ireland should serve the interests of Irish people, China should be ruled by Chinese people, and so on and so fourth, but not at the expense of others or through mass murder, or corruption. All nations should be held to this standard ideally, but the Chinese government answers to nobody. They hold the upper hand, and they have more power than ever. Jamaicans should worry. Either way, it’s boring and predictable to see the constant poppy show of false indignation directed towards England and European heritage. Britain has been gone since 1963, and with it the majority of its people. Much of the beautiful colonial architecture lay in decay, vandalized in many cases, and Jamaican institutions are being ruled by Jamaicans, as they should be. There is no reason the infrastructure being built by the Chinese could not have been built by Jamaicans, if modern Jamaican society was

focused and prioritizing its economy and resources appropriately. But hey, if protesting England, colonialism, European heritage or the crown makes you happy, then fill your boots.

Honestly, this song and dance is old, played out, and obviously a contrived distraction engineered by oligarchs, who are playing you like a fiddle. I have had Jamaican academics tell me that all white people are guilty of slavery, and reparations should be rendered to all people of African decent, because all white people have benefited from the trans-Atlantic slave trade. I pose this question to every one of those academics and afro-centric/ Marxist ideologues, who make such statements: Will you render reparations to the victims of Chinese communist oppression? The numerous Christian communities that have suffered at the hands of communist Chinese regimes? The Falun gong adherents who are being abused and killed? The Buddhists? The families of the students of Tiananmen Square? The ethnic Uyghurs and their families that have been brutalized by the Chinese People’s Republic government? If

reparations ever come to Jamaica, and the Jamaican people wish to have moral high ground, then please send all of the money you gain to the victims of the communist oppression that Jamaica is now aiding and abetting.

The entire world should, as we are all living off the production of China’s horrific slave labor. If you are not willing to turn over your reparations to those suffering under Chinese communist oppression, then you are not on a moral crusade, you are simply a hustler playing on English white guilt... period. This article is not a statement against Chinese people or Chinese Jamaicans; it is an objective observation that should concern everyone. Frustrations should not be taken out on Jamaican Chinese people or Chinese immigrants. The facts are staring us all in the face. This article is not in support of the Queen or the current royal family as an institution or a whole but redundant demonstration directed towards an institution that has been well removed from the country for ages is not impressive or brave.

Written by David Ritter

Photo taken by Gasper Haffner

Website www.germantownjamaica.com

facebook page https://www.facebook.com/DavidRitterfilmmaker-photographerwriter-436438457195726

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30 Pieces of Silver In the bible, Judas took 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus. When he realized what he did, he killed himself. Recently, Prime Minister Holness took 30 million dollars from the US government in exchange for Jamaica being “open for business”. When Prime Minister Holness realizes what he did, will he do the honorable thing?

How does Jamaica benefit from this chump change “gift”? Was the grant used

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to counteract China’s interest in Jamaica? Meanwhile, Jamaica’s entrepreneurs are marginalized and production (which is the real wealth of any country) has been reduced to idle status. The only thing that is not standing still is the value of the Jamaican dollar. Should Jamaica not comply with the rules of the IMF or the World Bank, the Zimbabwean money value awaits the nation. This is the real reason why African countries and Jamaica accept such exploitation. There is an Arab saying: “the dogs keep barking and the caravan keeps moving”.

Jamaica’s sovereignty keeps moving and slips away from independence towards neocolonialism. It exchanges one colonial master (the British) to embrace another (the Chinese).

The island moves into the abyss of debt. The Chinese now own the Kingston Harbor, Montego Bay airport and many more key landmarks. This means Asians increase their wealth, while the Chinese caravan continues to move forward. 30 million dollars is not a shot in the arm to stimulate the economy; it is a heroin overdose for the junky.

Written by Janice Maxwell

Jamaican Diaspora

DUSKY DARKNESS I hear the joyful chirping of the birds in the dusky light, As the day’s blanket of heat slowly lifts and The evening’s coolness shrouds the earth as a welcome relief. It’s so peaceful … so quiet, Oh, that each day of each year could come to an end with such a calm… no violence, no noise, just peace, with the birds singing in their resounding voices in joint harmony. Yes…another day has come to an end, the crickets have welcomed the night with their high pitched fiddling, the birds have said, good night.

This poem reminds me of Jamaica as I wrote it when I was 14 years old reflecting back to 26

Jamaican Diaspora

the day I sat with my uncle on the veranda. We sat in silence, looking into the distance as the dusk was descending onto the outline of the Blue Mountains, sensing everything beautiful. It was the day my father passed away. I knew then, at 12 years old that our life would change. But little did I guess that a couple years later my mother would move us all to Canada, bravely facing life in a strange country leaving all behind - family, friends, home and life as we knew it. Had my father not left us, I think we would still be living in Jamaica. How he loved Jamaica!

My dad epitomized Jamaica’s Moto “Out of Many One People” written on Jamaica’s Coat of Arms. He treated everyone with respect and care. He appreciated and valued those who put their hearts and minds into what they were doing. Even as young as I was, I saw him laugh and then instruct and then correct kindly with a passion that was almost scary if you didn’t know him, all

in the same interaction. He loved teaching – he seemed happiest then. It didn’t matter who it was he was teaching. This might be contagious as I think I have this affliction.

It was a beautiful night, and I remember sitting there thinking about the birds chirping and the dusk settling it seemed onto the mountain top as the sun sank behind it. I remember thinking how peaceful it was and feeling that we would be okay, that I would be strong for my mother and six younger siblings and that I would make my dad proud.

I left Jamaica a teenager. Although Canada is my home now, I am still very proud of being Chinese Jamaican. I love Jamaica, I am grateful for all that Jamaica gave me, and like many Jamaicans living abroad, I have a special place in my heart for all things good that’s Jamaican.

My formative years were spent in Jamaica. What I learned in Jamaica was discipline. My dad taught me to respect myself and others I from when I was very young. I too loved the Jamaican Coat of Arms with the Motto “Out of Many One People.” It touched my heart even as a child, to see that no matter what color you were, being of Chinese descent with parents both born in Jamaica, that you were accepted as just you. I learned how to love each person for who they are, not according to the colour of their skin, their religion, their gender or their nationality. I am grateful for my many teachers who were all strict disciplinarians, but who strived to elicit excellence from all their students. I loved that for the majority of the years I lived in Jamaica, it didn’t matter what colour you were - you could have been red, orange or purple that is how it felt up to then, and you’d still be welcomed and accepted as you. I still recall the day a Canadian girl joined our class. She had an endearing French accent as she spoke English hesitantly. Everyone loved her waist length beautiful blond wavy hair and what was delightful was before the first school recess, she was surrounded by new friends. I loved Jamaica, the land of wood and water, and I still have many

places I have not yet been that I’d love to see.

It was a joyful trip in 2014, when I took my mother back to Jamaica once she agreed to return. I think for decades she had reservations about doing so as when she left, she had to overcome so many challenges, the most difficult one being told, “Go back to weh yuh come fram.” (Jamaican patois is now a recognized language – “Yuh can tek a class to learn Jamaican Patois at Harvard University yuh nuh!) Her reservations about returning to Jamaica quickly dissolved. There were many changes since we had left decades before. However, there were many things that were still familiar. Happily, we were met and greeted with the down to earth and gentle nature of the Jamaican people that I remembered from so long ago. I was very thankful for this as it was so much different than decades ago, when we departed Jamaica’s shore.

To be different and unique – isn’t that what we all wish to feel? Unique and special? We totally enjoyed our vacation in Jamaica at our family reunion that year. Everywhere we went, even to Coronation Market in the heart of Kingston, we were greeted with friendly smiles and helping hands. We felt safe as I have family members who took us everywhere, except when I drove myself keeping to the wrong side of the road. (Jamaicans drive on the left side of the road). I knew I have a Jamaican accent but I found out at the big craft market in “Ochi”, Ocho Rios, that I had, a “Kingston” accent. “Yuh soun like yuh come fram Kingston nuh?” asked the street vendor. Who knew?! I didn’t realize accents were different depending on which part of the island you came from. I have gone back to Jamaica a few times since then and happy to say I have enjoyed everyone one of those trips. I hope to return again, soon. In my travels, I have found that fellow Jamaicans are the most fun and engaging people to run into. As Jamaicans, we get excited when we meet another Jamaican. It is one of the most endearing things because we just seem to connect and it is a wonderful meeting. It feels almost like meeting a family member, in an unexpected place – a Jamaican Diaspora

nice surprize! I had this happen to me last month going through airport security in Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. I got introduced to Ricardo because of the “Jamaican” in me, who was called over to meet me. Fun!

One of the things that calls out to many Jamaicans is a love of reggae music and dancing to it. Bob Marley with his vision and message of One Love, put Jamaica on the map. One Love to me is that Universal Love that binds us all together with Love Unconditional. Bob Marley as well as other heartcentered reggae artists still carry on this torch of One Love, as I do too, in hopes that this Universal Love will enable us all, to see the beauty in, about and around us, and have the care for one another. So, what do we have in common as upstanding Jamaicans? I feel we in general have a love of music and rhythm, reggae and Bob Marley as an Icon, a love of good wholesome food, like Usain Bolt’s yam. And a love of good food e.g. fried fish, bammy, ackee and salt fish (the national fruit and dish of Jamaica) and of course, Jerk pork and Jerk chicken with rice and peas. Jamaicans have a saying “A hungry man is an angry man!” We also have a love of Jamaica’s beautiful beaches, Appleton rum and the world famous Blue Mountain Coffee, second to no other coffee in the world in Jamaicans’ and many coffee connoisseurs’ opinions.

Let’s not forget the Jamaican pace of life, easy going and slower. Where being relaxed about inviting people into our hearts and into our homes and helping others where we can, comes as second nature. I think that is the beauty of meeting “real” Jamaicans. “Make yu self at home” kind of hospitality is what I remember. Nothing more endearing than gathering to eat crab, dance or just have a drink and a chat to share stories, lend an ear, laugh and relax.

As Jamaican Diaspora, we can make a difference. Any positive difference is good. In November 2015 at a 40 year high school reunion, I found out that one

Jamaican Diaspora

of my classmates had started over a decade before in Dallas, JamaicaYes.org. This she did with a bunch of friends there after she identified a need for school children in Jamaica’s countryside who didn’t know when their next meal was going to be. This past June, I organized a Sparkle and Shine Book Launch and JamaicaYes Benefit Gala. Through the efforts of beautiful amazing people who participated in the 9 hour Zoom on-line event, we raised funds for 5000 meals for the children. We learnt quite a few lessons as my hope was to raise much more. However, the words, “Nothing tried, Nothing gained” and “Where there is a Will, there is a Way”, phrases I grew up with in Jamaica, come to mind. Let’s find the Will within us to, as Jamaican Diaspora, do a little bit more to help the island that is in our hearts as the home away from home. It feels good giving back a little bit to the island that in my heart was home for me for a while and still is home for some of my family. I am really grateful. Jamaica and Jamaicans hold a special place in my heart.

I have two hopes: My first hope is that no matter where we live in the world, that people will somehow find a way to get past biases and judgments, becoming more tolerant and kind towards one another. • I hold a vision for people welcoming people who are different from them, able to see them and accept them for who they are, and go a step further to treasure others for their uniqueness. • Let’s not demand that others be the same as ourselves.

• We are all different, and it’s great when we have things in common. However, • Let us remember that It’s our uniqueness that afford each of us the ability to share and teach

and enrich each others’ lives and the lives of everyone else in the world.

My second hope is that Love, and love of self, respect for self and then same for others, will become stronger and stronger in the world. • We all want to be loved unconditionally. • We all want to be accepted and appreciated for who we are.

• We all want to be valued for just being authentically ourselves.

Is it possible to put aside the judgments, the differences as long as we’re not hurting each other? One thing, I’d like to set the record straight on being Chinese Jamaican. My father came from a very poor family. He worked hard to make ends meet and yes, we did have a roof over our heads but only through his determination to work and provide for us. And another thing, it was only by the grace of God that my mother got through to move us all to Canada because, the person who was to do the financial review of her bank statements

cancelled the appointment because he was sick and they never did check that! What I learned from growing up in Jamaica and what I’ll always treasure is the dedication, the knowledge transferred by my teachers, my family and the spirit of togetherness of Jamaicans sharing a love for reggae, good food, care, consideration, goodwill and love of ALL peoples.

I wish all Jamaicans the best, to keep safe in these times and to love and respect each other, because through love, we will make this world a better place. Let’s come together and share our knowledge, skills, expertise - help each other, help Jamaica. Lend a helping hand if we can.

Let’s continue to meet and greet each other with love, expanding this to all peoples.

Written by Michele Ho Lung Jamaican Diaspora

WHY ME

She selected me, and gave me the key The key to the teacher’s cottage to get her lunch Part of me felt free because I’m outside the school gate, What a nice breeze from the tree Oh but freedom comes with responsibility and at a price, I must make haste to get back inside the gate, I don’t want to be late…punishment can be no lunch or a punch. Why me, why didn’t she ask someone else I’m out here on the streets and my parents think I’m in history class Careful don’t walk on her grass Yes in times like these I talk to God and myself Why me Lord, I suppose since she trusts me and know my family But she knows my family work so hard to send me to school So why have me out here breaking the rule Teacher’s favorite is over rated, what a calamity I could get hit by a car or worse, I should have politely said no Who am I kidding, you don’t say no to a teacher’s request If something bad happens I can tell my parents it was at her behest Oh no Lord, woe…. Hold a minute the dogs tried to bite me I didn’t go to school to fight off dogs, what is this lesson Hurry up grab the sandwich from the fridge and head back Oh my Lord her adult son is home, and on the attack I am a small girl with no one but you Lord, help me I pray When I left home this morning, this was not how I planned my day Run pickney gal, run and don’t tumble down Forget the sandwich and go back to school, tell the teacher her son is not in Town Why me Lord, why me, you know she going to punish me Set me free Lord, set me free Miss, miss, the dogs attacked me and I couldn’t find your sandwich But I saw your son eating something, I have to sell her this pitch I can’t even tell her what really happened because she would not believe me Oh my goodness she is elated that her prodigal son is home from Town, what about what happened to me We have been given a longer lunch so she can go home and visit with her son Meanwhile I have to eat my lunch and copy notes off the board…..fun, fun, fun Everyone thinks I’m lucky….she selected me Everyone saw her smile, saw her happy No one knows I’m feeling crappy What lesson did I learn, I’m not lucky…I am simply blessed by the best. Written by Nathan Robinson

Jamaican Diaspora

AUTISM Autism is characterized as a condition that is related to brain development that affects socialization and perception.The autistic spectrum is very broad, differs with range and severity, and includes Aspergers Syndrome ( a developmental disorder that affects communication and socialization, however is high functioning); Rett Syndrome ( a genetic condition that primarily affects girls and all aspects of life) ; Childhood Disintegrative Disorder( a condition marked by normal development in the �irst few years with loss of motor, language and social skills after 3 or 4 years of age); Kanner’s Syndrome ( also known as early infantile autism, is characterized by severe abnormal non-verbal, verbal and social abilities) and Pervasive Development Disorder(which represents conditions associated with delays in communication and socialization). Researchers say autism affects one in �ifty nine births which translates to about 1.5 million people being autistic. Autism is usually diagnosed by the age of three, with symptoms appearing between 12 and 18 months. Accurate diagnosis is critical to be able to determine treatment/therapy. Autism is considered to be chronic and lifelong. Early detection and behavioral interventions, are crucial; and the FDA has approved some anti-psychotic drugs. Related issues associated with autism are often treated with medications such as anxiety, aggression and hyperactivity. Some signs and symptoms on the autistic spectrum includes learning disabilities, dif�iculty with social interactions, repetitive and compulsive behaviors, poor eye contact, self harm, unawareness of other’s

emotions, speech delay, sensitivity to sounds, tics, problems paying attention, among others. Resources exist such as therapy, counseling, support groups, advocacy, information and testing facilities. Studies have not shown a link between autism development and vaccines as a cause. No single factor has been de�ined as responsible for autism, however, researchers have identi�ied genetic, non-genetic and environmental in�luences. It is important to note that the in�luences identi�ied are considered as increasing the risk but not an established cause for onset of the disorder. Many persons on the autistic spectrum experience food aversions or sensitivities, and it has been recommended to reduce or eliminate dairy, soy, gluten, sugar, and corn in the diet. In addition, researchers have found that administration of probiotics is helpful in relieving GI distress in autistic patients. Persons suffering with autism are not doomed; with love, early detection and intervention they can be helped to lead happier and healthier lives. Parents are encouraged to watch for signs in young children and communicate with pediatric staff as well as educators to ensure early diagnosis. It is imperative to get speci�ic diagnosis such that symptoms can be addressed directly in therapies or with medications to aid the child in being functional early on in development of the condition. Autism is no longer labeled as ‘untreatable’; there is hope for a future that is functional and independent.

Written by Hope Robinson

Jamaican Diaspora

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