WhereItzAt June 2015

The B.I.G. Awards Just Got Bigger

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PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 3

Vol #13 6th edition

JUNE

Articles

Feature Articles

8 B IG West Indian Crowd Welcomes Usain Bolt

28 K alief Browder’s Death was a Homicide

12 Solidarity

32 The Caribbean Comes Alive

Cambria School of Excellence Celebrates the 35th Anniversary

Contents pg 10

Is Prayer the Answer?

35 Delaware Valley Voice

16 Chronixx & The ZincFence Redemption Capture Land Tour

BIG Awards Photos

22 Oracabessa Festival 2015

pg 18

24 The Razor’s Edge 26 R eggae Singer Judy Mowatt Invited to Perform at Groovin in the Park

CHAIRMAN & PUBLISHER

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PHOTO JOURNALIST

LEGAL COUNSELOR

PHOTOGRAPHERS

DELAWARE VALLEY

CLIVE WILLIAMS

ADIKA BUTLER

MARJORIE FLASH

GARNETT H. SULLIVAN, ESQ

MARJORIE FLASH OF MY FLASH KEN/UNIVERSAL

PRESIDENT & ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ART DIRECTOR

NEW MEDIA INITIATIVES

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

MEDIA

(PHILADELPHIA, SOUTH JERSEY, DELAWARE)

CHRISTOPHER C. WILLIAMS

VICTOR STOUTE JR

ROCKSTONE MEDIA GROUP

ADIKA BUTLER - DR. CLIVE WILLIAMS - MARJORIE ON THE COVER IMAGE BY MARJORIE FLASH

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

MANAGING EDITOR OF ONLINE CONTROLLER MAGAZINE MICHELLE WILLIAMS

ANNETTE GORDON

FLASH - CHRIS GODFREY SHERON P. - REUBEN

TREVOR DIXON, DAVU STEWART, PAULA SHAW,

JAMES - BEN CASSELMAN

REV. CANON CALVIN MCINTYRE, CHRIS DYER, REV.

NAKISHA DUNCAN

SHAWN BARTLEY

INQUIRIIES

(917) 749-7613 editors@whereitzatmag.com clive@whereitzatlive.com

VICE PRES., MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION ANDRE PORTER DIRECTOR OF PUBLICITY AND PROMOTIONS LAVERNE ANDRIES

www.gowhereitzat.com fame@gowhereitzat.com www.facebook.com/whereitzatmagazine twitter.com/gowhereitzat

WhereItzAt Magazine is published monthly by WhereItzAt Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved. WhereItzAt Magazine is a registered trademark of WhereItzAt Media Group Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without written consent is prohibited. Views of editorial content do not necessarily reflect the views of WhereItzAt Magazine, WhereItzAt Media Group Inc. or its advertisers. For questoins, comments and concerns address your letters to: WhereItzAt Magazine • 219-10 S. Conduit Avenue • Springfield Gardens, NY 11413 or email:editors@whereitzatmag.com WhereItzAt Media Group Inc. 461 Elmont Rd. Elmont,NY 11003 Phone: (917) 749-7613 4 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

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PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 5

PUBLISHER’S VIBE

Clive Williams, CEO/ Publisher _________________________

THE B.I.G AWARDS JUST GOT BIGGER!

As Publisher and C E O of WhereItzAt Magazine, gowhereitzat.com and the Business Innovators & Game Changers Awards Gala, (B I G AWARDS GALA) I extend our warmest and most heartfelt congratulations to the honorees for the recognition they received on June 13th at the Adria Hotel.

The event had all the hallmarks of Garvey’s manifesto of black empowerment and enterprise - business ownership, community building, and collaboration; the honorees represented a cross-section of young Caribbean and American Business and Community leaders, Legal and Medical professionals as well as the Clergy. The audience consisted of family and friends of the honorees, who were not to be outdone in their personal and professional achievements and sartorial elegance; I personally received no less than ten separate comments about the outstanding content and quality of the evening’s proceedings.

The success of this event would not have been possible without the sponsorship of Feurtado Shipping and New York Life, who were Premier sponsors, Supporting sponsors, Bartenura (beverage sponsor) Brucee’s Patties and Mango’s Restaurant. We are grateful for the support and confidence you invested in this year’s event and we trust that the support you receive from our community will increase dramatically. I must 6 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

admit that I don’t blow my own trumpet very well, but I don’t shy away from success either, so I am really delighted to report that the B I G AWARDS just got BIGGER – and BETTER! In three years, the B I G AWARDS GALA has taken it’s place as one of the premier annual events to attend, not just for the social benefits, but more so to connect, collaborate and capitalize on opportunities being shared by confident, successful business owners, entrepreneurs and community leaders. I overheard people collaborating on ideas and potential deals, I introduced individuals and small groups to form strategic business relationships and was overawed by the exchange of valuable ideas floating around the room. Patrick Sterling and Sherman Bell are enthusiastically encouraging other restaurant owners to form a restaurant association – that’s the type of collaboration and organization that our community needs in order to protect huge investments of money and time. We can all learn valuable lessons if we choose to be students of life - if we keep our minds open and continually search for solutions, if that is your mind – set your success is assured. Caribbean-American business owners need to develop a better sense of community and relinquish the notion that you can do it all on your own, that time is past.

You need to co-operate and collaborate for collective success, that message was made very clear by a number of business owners at the B I G AWARDS GALA. I am still receiving calls from people who missed the event and are now expressing regrets after hearing reports from family and friends who attended. To those folks, I will pose this question, “do you have any idea what it means to any individual who has made painful personal

sacrifices in pursuit of uplifting others, to be ultimately recognized and honored? Allow me to ask another question, “do you comprehend the positive impact and influence these individuals have on our communities when recognized and honored by their peers? Through the B I G AWARDS we are motivating leaders to continue their mission of addressing the problems that plague our communities, we are facilitating the processes of mentorship, collaboration, organization relationship building and giving back; we are honing human spears and arrows in order to defeat the apathy and negativity that seems to dominate our daily lives.

If you identify a business owner in your community that’s making a difference – not only running a successful business but giving back to the community in a tangible way, email us the name of that business at bigawards@gowhereitzat. com

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SPORTS/CULTURE

Big West Indian Crowd Welcomes Usain Bolt To Adidas Grand Prix

By Marjorie Flash

Yes he showed up! A huge West Indian crowd came to welcome Usain Bolt to another Adidas Grand Prix at Icahn Stadium Randall’s Island. The last time he was there, seven years ago, he set a new world record and ran the 100 meters in 9.72 sec only to break it again in Berlin at 9.58 sec. The stadium was filled to capacity as West Indians came to support Jamaica’s favorite son running in the 200 meters.

against Gatlin in the 200 meters in Paris and Lausanne Switzerland. He told the BBC before competing “When I get to Beijing, I’ll be ready to go and that’s when the showdown will be.”

Gay put on a showing, winning the 100m clocking a time of 10.12 sec, a slower time for him also, although he commented “anytime you get a victory it builds your confidence, and it doesn’t matter what the time is. You Although Bolt won the race it was his slowest time at want to come out and win the race.”

20.29 sec with Anguillan Zharnel Hughes a close second at 20.32. Bolt was extremely disappointed with his In the warmup area, Bolt look relaxed with headphones performance and explains at a press conference after the on listening to music as his trainer gave him leg massages. race “I’m not happy with it, it was horrible coming off He paid little attention to the crowd of photographers the turn. I really don’t know what happened. It was and media around him trying to get pictures and/or probably one of the worst turns I’ve ever run in my life.” statements out of him (although I managed to get a shot of him smiling at me). However, after his race, he took Bolt who plans to compete at the 2016 Olympics in pictures with spectators and fans as he signed autographs Rio de Janiero said “I have to figure out what I’m doing and took selfies. wrong, what I need to do to be better, so right now I have go back to the drawing board, figure out what’s It seems Bolt realizes he needs to focus on his job and is prepared to compete in more meets to bring himself going on and get it done.” up to his usual standard. However, he still is the man to Although he didn’t run the 100 meters, he plans to do beat even running at “not his best.” so in Beijing where he will meet up with Tyson Gay and

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RELIGION/PHILOSOPHY

Is Prayer the Answer?

By Chris Williams Associate Publisher

Black people universally are no strangers to religion.

Whether you are driving through a Queens, Brooklyn or Bronx neighborhood in New York or visiting the Caribbean, finding a church will never be a problem.

I remember as a child hearing adults talking about their various challenges and how in spite of everything prayer and God got them through it. I remember thinking to myself “wow, so whatever I want all I have to do is ask for it in prayer and I will get it?” Of course I was a child so I didn’t truly understand how this worked.

Fast forward to present day and we are bombarded with images past and present of Black people killed, murdered, beaten, victims of racial profiling and systemic racism leaving one to wonder what happened to the power of prayer? I mean one look at the images of nine Black worshippers at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston, South Carolina murdered by a hate filled Dylann Roof and one could very easily wonder “Why?” They were praying and not just anywhere, but praying in a church. Surely God would protect them. I mean many of us have been told of God’s omnipotence and omnipresence, so the question why is not so unreasonable, especially considering the fact that in today’s America, Black lives don’t seem to have much value in the greater society.

However, during the Civil Rights period, it was religious leaders that worked diligently to fight for change, leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy Sr. There were murders, lynching, beatings, attacks by police of innocent and peaceful

protesters, church bombings and the list goes on, yet still we prayed and we marched and sang and we forgave.

Now in June 2015 not much has changed. Sure the “Civil Rights Act” was passed on July 2nd 1964 and supposedly discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin was outlawed, but did that mean anything? Did it change anything? Wait, what am I saying, we have the first Black President of the United States of America. Huge accomplishment right? Our prayers have been answered. Everything has changed. Racism? What racism? If you work hard, have a strong belief in God then anything is possible. Right?

If you ask the families of the nine victims whose lives were stolen on June 17, 2015, you might hear that they still believe in the power of prayer and you might hear them say, (as some of them did) at Dylann Roof ’s initial hearing, quote, “we forgive him.”

Now is something wrong here? Have we forgotten ourselves as a people? Have we forgotten our struggle?

Have we forgotten our greatness? Do we not recall that Emanuel AME (African Methodist Episcopal) church was co-founded by Denmark Vesey? A man, a former slave, who fought and died to make a better place for us, his people.

Frankly, I am sick and tired of seeing so called religious leaders, standing in front of their congregation and saying things like “God is the answer”, “We have to pray and we will be delivered” instead of giving people the tools they need to live in this world.

I am not disputing the power of our Creator, nor am I disputing the power of prayer. I have seen with my own eyes what faith and prayer can do. I watched a life; that of my younger sister, totally transformed as a result of faith and prayer. After doctors said she would never again walk or talk and would remain in a vegetated state for the rest of her life, I saw what prayer and faith did when she was healed and recovered. However, I also saw my parents working tirelessly to make her well. They gave her physical therapy, speech therapy, love and care and then when they were done, they did it all over again. They put in the required work.

Today I think we are prayed out. Yes, I said it. Just praying is not enough. With all that we face as a people of African heritage, we have to work hard and work together to effect change. That means making sure that there are laws to protect our rights, that means fighting to reform a judicial system that has systematically torn apart the Black family. That means knowing our rights in this country we call home and understanding our true power. That means doing everything in our power to educate ourselves, our youth and ensuring that the system doesn’t destroy them. That means Black pride. That means self-love. That means unity, and that means putting in the required work. No more “I’m Jamaican and he’s Black American” or “I’m Haitian so that doesn’t include me”. There may be differences in where we hail from, but there is a greater bond and connection in our African ancestry.

We didn’t get to where we are overnight. We have been emotionally and psychologically ravaged over a long period of time and so it will take some time to effect change, however, don’t delay working towards that change.

Prayer is not the sole answer to solve our problems.

We have to work together to do that. That means African Americans, Jamaicans, Trinidadians, Haitians, Africans all Black people. We are all in this together.

United by ancestry, by culture, by pain, by suffering, by victories, by kings and queens. All of us working together, fighting together for a better tomorrow, that is prayer in action and - that is the answer.

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EDITORIAL PAGE

Solidarity

Blach Uhuru told us over three decades ago that what we need is Solidarity. It’s always a beautiful thing when we achieve it. WhereItzAt Magazine’s 2015 B.I.G. Awards was a BIG success. Several Black business owners and community leaders gathered under one roof to network and dispel the “Crabs in a Barrel” myth that The Enemy promotes to destroy Black businesses by demoralizing the Black entrepreneur.

I would be lying to you if I said that WhereItzAt gets all of the economic support from the community (in the form of advertising businesses) that it has earned. It does not. It’s been an uphill battle for us since our inception 12 years ago.

we have in store. To everyone who purchased a Voices of the Dawn T-shirt, I give my humble thanks. For those who want more details, you Then I think about the successful Black can email me at adika@whereitzatlive.com. businesses we’ve helped to promote, and artists we’ve helped to introduce to the general public BEFORE they were famous. In some ways, Adika Butler I’ve become a patron of cultures that I’ve loved Editor-In-Chief and admired going as far back as my earliest memories will carry me. Personally, this means a lot to me. in, the workload can be very taxing. The road less traveled can be a daunting one.

It’s been a powerful learning experience riddled with mistakes and filled with victories. As I look forward to newer, richer, and greater opportunities for expansion I will do my best to think “B.I.G.” Thank you in advance for your But the brighter side of the coin is that kind support.

WhereItzAt Magazine has survived and remains 100 percent Black owned because of the support In this issue of WhereIzAt I will continue with that it has gotten from the Black community in my historical chronicle of dancehall music. It is particular. There are many times when I feel like an exciting history that isn’t often told. I hope giving up. With everything that I have a hand that you enjoy it along with the other treats that

CAMBRIA SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE CELEBRATES THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF CAMBRIA CENTER FOR THE GIFTED CHILD June 11, 2015 (New York, NY) - Cambria School of Excellence (CSE), a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit middle school founded in 2009, will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of its founding school, Cambria Center for the Gifted Child (CCGC), with a gala event “Cambria Then and Now”. This event will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2015 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Coral House, 70 Milburn Avenue, Baldwin, N.Y. 11510. The guest speaker for the evening will be David Paterson, Former Governor of New York, Master of Ceremonies, Conroy Allison, veteran broadcaster and music by Road International with DJ Roy. This gala event will serve as the annual fundraiser for CSE (grades 6 to 8), which

12 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

continues the rigorous accelerated academic program that is Cambria school’s trademark.

All the proceeds from this event will benefit CSE’s mission, which include scholarships.

Sheree Palmer, the founder of Cambria Center for the Gifted Child, has been instrumental in building an educational edifice in the heart of Cambria Heights, Queens. Today, the school is a major part of Cambria Heights and the surrounding communities, educating over 300 students annually from grades pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The success of the graduates reflects the rigor of the curriculum and the dedication of the teaching staff, the administrators and parents. “Over the past 35 years, CCGC has touched the lives of more

than 5,000 students and continues to provide a foundation for positive self-image and love of learning”, said Dr. Basil Wilson, Provost Emeritus, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and past parent of CCGC. Ticket prices are $115 per person or $1000 per table of 10. Send enquiries to cse35th@ gmail.com. For further information on CSE, please visit our website at www.cseschool.org. or contact: Gillian Chung, Cambria School of Excellence (718-341-1991 ext. 231)

PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 13

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PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 15

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Chronixx & The ZincFence Redemption Capture Land Tour & the Power of Reggae

By Grace Vanriel

Lining every available crook and cranny of the spacious multilevel Irving Plaza concert hall located in downtown Manhattan, it was elbow room only for fans out to see Chronixx and his band ZincFence Redemption on their 2015 “Capture Land Tour.”

The concert was jam-packed and only the VIP areas offered slightly more breathing room and seating options and even there, it was an unprecedented crush. It’s hard to imagine that as a Reggae act, Chronixx only started touring outside of Jamaica W.I. in 2013, and that by the following year he was already seeing exponential growth of his fan base and receiving a flurry of bookings as he grew in international acclaim but, it’s true. With record sales also steadily growing, everything required for a successful music career is in place and pointing towards a prosperous professional future. It’s also now impossible to deny that this young, high pitched, lyrically motivated Rastafarian sing-jay calling himself Chronixx and his extraordinarily talented band mates with an unmistakable sound are much more than just fly-by-night one (or two) hit wonders.

Creating and singing great Reggae music is one thing.

But actually winning the unwavering loyalty of fans is another. Chronixx (born Jamar McNaughton) has been very successful at doing both. While the firstever EP released by Chronixx in 2010 consisting of seven tracks called Hooked on Chronixx earned him industry respect, the EP did not make him an overnight celebrity. His rise to fame was short but incremental receiving its first incredible boost when he performed on NBC’s ‘Tonight Show’ as a special invited guest of show host Jimmy Fallon.

The song he chose was already a popular hit single from his second EP Dread and Terrible (2014) called Here Comes Trouble (Rootsman Rhythm). The performance broadcast live on US national television certainly helped catapult Chronixx into a number two spot on the Billboard Digital Reggae Singles chart, and brought him to the attention of American audiences. However, that performance alone does not explain the sheer speed in which he has continued to rise in popularity since that time which is a dream

come true for the artist, and Reggae history in the making.

Following the Dread and Terrible Tour, the Capture Land Tour is the second major tour undertaken by Chronixx and is so-named after another song on his Dread and Terrible EP. Capture Land continues to build around a theme of unification through increased social consciousness and takes this interesting new celebrity to twenty-one shows across the United States that kicked off on May 23rd at the California Roots Festival and ends on June 20th at the Fillmore in Miami. Enthusiastic New York fans attending the Irving Plaza show, as part of the 2015 Governors Ball After Dark series, arrived early and in full force, waved Ethiopian flags signifying their understanding and unity with the lyrical messages by holding up lighters and singing along with Chronixx as he performed Rastafari inspired Reggae. Chronixx kicked off his generous two hour concert with the song Alpha & Omega and included a number of other outstanding well performed selections namely: Start a Fire, Eternal Fire, Never Give Up, They Don’t Know, Most I, Thanks and Praise, Access Granted, Somewhere, Smile Jamaica, and a popular remake of the Inner Circle song featuring Jacob Miller called Tenement Yard (News Carrying Dread). Tastefully sprinkled throughout the set were short thanks and praises to Jah and brief social commentary on subjects that impact our daily lives, making the entire evening a true Roots & Culture Reggae styled presentation.

has come. It was a sight to behold - Reggae lovers attentively watching Chronixx’s every movement on stage, absorbing his message, and swaying where they stood clearly transformed by what they saw and heard. The evening was a totally uplifting experience that fed the mind and moved the body.

Band Members Jamar “Chronixx” McNaughton, Joshua “Flubz” Jones, Nnamdi Robinson, Elisha Ellis, Hector Lewis, Evan “Yello” Mason, Stephen Coore Grace Vanriel is the founder and CEO of the Live Reggae NYC network and co-founder of The Reggaeholics Movement; she is a freelance writer for Where Itz At Magazine, Senior Correspondent for ReggaeReflection.com, CatchTheVybe.com, TheReggaeVibe.com and the Assistant Caribbean Editor for CitiLyfe.com (online and print).

Marjorie Flash is the CEO of MyFlash Photography; she is a Staff photojournalist for WhereItzAt Magazine.

Chronixx and the ZincFence Redemption’s obvious love of Reggae music was apparent in their overall presentation at Irving Plaza. Their generous set never faltered in energy characterized by lyrics that created a storyline and most importantly, a seamless ability to move artfully between the traditional Reggae beat to the modernization of the sound that successfully blended older styled presentations with a newer one. Without going into a lengthy debate on the existence of a “Reggae Revival,” at this point I would interject that if by definition the term is narrowed to mean the “popularization of traditional Reggae music” then I would have to agree, a change

Photography done by Marjorie Flash 16 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

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PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 17

BIG AWARDS

Photography done by Champion Hamilton, Marjorie Flash and Roland Hyde 18 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

BIG AWARDS

Photography done by Champion Hamilton, Marjorie Flash and Roland Hyde PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 19

BIG AWARDS

Photography done by Champion Hamilton, Marjorie Flash and Roland Hyde 20 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

BIG AWARDS

Photography done by Champion Hamilton, Marjorie Flash and Roland Hyde PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 21

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Oracabessa Festival 2015 Another Huge Success At Roy Wilkins Park!

By Marjorie Flash & Grace Vanriel

Irie Jam Media Group’s 2nd Annual Oracabessa Festival staged on Memorial Day Monday, May 25, 2015 in Roy Wilkins Park, Queens NY was met with a beautiful sunny but windy day that brought out thousands of spectators for a fun filled family day of live music and DJ sets in between. Characteristic of this budding new Festival were vendors offering a wide variety of delicious Caribbean foods, drinks and a main stage show bubbling with sweet Reggae music performed by a top-notch lineup of artists. Irie Jam put together an eclectic mix of performers that ran the gamut from classic Reggae and conscious Dancehall to Gospel music that treated attendees from young to the old with music that satisfied every musical palate.

The Oracabessa lineup included Dancehall legend Colonel Josey Wales whose body of classic hits took us back to the 80’s, received a welcomed response from the crowd when he sang “No Way No Better Than Yard” and visibly bubbled in humorous enthusiasm loudly parroting the line in another song that said “Jamaican Gyal Smooth & Boasty!” Always delivering a super-great set, Sean Paul came ready and pumped up the audience with a highly charged set based on his popular neopop/dancehall selections surrounded by a bevy of beautiful energetic dancers who by the way, never took a solitary pause in their well synchronized gyrations. Crooners Christopher Martin, Dexta Daps and K-Coneil all had the ladies melting under the afternoon sun from appealing lyrics and rhythms as well as bare chests and swiveling hips...what a treat those three artists were! In the “early warm” portion of the festival, notable mention goes out to emerging artist DanJah (pronounced Danger) and all the other artists who graced the stage and whose future performances we’ll be looking forward to seeing.

It was great to experience the full representation of women in Reggae appearing on stage with artists like newcomer Shuga who has a great performance style backed by “tell it like it is” lyrics. Also known for hard-hitting lyrics you won’t forget, Dancehall deejay Stacious did a great job entertaining the audience. On the side of classic elegance, the multi-talented singer, songwriter and actress Alaine wowed us with her smelting and smooth vocals leaving everyone wanting for more. A refreshing segment of the festival was devoted to Gospel music with memorable performances by the Grace Thrillers who are unquestionably one, if not the most, influential acts in Reggae Gospel. A special mention goes to Shirley Willis one of the original voices of the Thrillers whose close out song “Holding My Hand”was simply outstanding.

Also featured in the segment were Kukudoo and the Natalie Evans Minsitry who also contributed greatly in transforming the energy of attendees into a congregation at a Sunday revival session. The highlight performances of the day began with Tarrus Riley who halfway through his set brought his father, the legendary Jimmy Riley who is wheelchair bound, on stage.

Jimmy Riley, although looking somewhat frail, successfully put his heart and soul into all the songs he performed with Tarrus and backed by the saxophone virtuoso Dean Fraser and the Blak Soil Band – we could have listened all night and the crowd loved their performance and showed it by giving thunderous cheers and applause throughout their set. The evening closed out with Freddie McGregor, one of Reggae’s greatest artists whose smooth melodic vocals still sound as fresh as his recordings of thirty years past. To the audiences delight, Freddie sang all of his classic hits and festival goers sang along to every single one.

Although at times throughout the day the park became pretty windy blowing up pockets of dust, the Oracabessa Festival was itself a huge success. Bobby Clarke and the Irie Jam Group are to be commended for not only producing a great festival of high-quality and diverse acts but for also providing a professional platform for strong upcoming artists, and a day of genuinely “affordable” entertainment suitable for entire families to come out to and enjoy. From beginning to end it was fun and we can hardly wait to see what they have in store for 2016!

Marjorie Flash is the CEO of MyFlash Photography; and she is a Staff photojournalist for WhereItzAt Magazine.

Grace Vanriel is the founder and CEO of the Live Reggae NYC network and co-founder of The Reggaeholics Movement; she is a freelance writer for WhereItzAt Magazine, Senior Correspondent for ReggaeReflection.com, CatchTheVybe.com, TheReggaeVibe.com and the Assistant Caribbean Editor for CitiLyfe. com (online and print).

Photography done by Marjorie Flash 22 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

Yum, yum, yum – the food from Mango’s is simply delicious. You get to enjoy the tropical flavors of mango, tamarind, pineapple and the most unique blend of Jamaican spices in an array of dishes you have not experienced before. Try the food at Mango’s – these people have, and they are loving it!

Mango’s Summer Specials Breakfast dishes: Buy One Meal get the Second Half Price (good until 11AM) Lunch Special: Buy One Meal get a Complimentary Meal Free ( good until 3PM) Mango Mondays Happens Every Monday Buy One Meal get the Second Meal Half Price

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Razor’s Edge

Christopher Martin is a Stepping Razor on new EP By Marcus Bogle I had a chance to sit-down and talk with Christopher Martin who has just recently released his debut EP entitled Stepping Razor which is also the tittle track of the album. The release delivers the charismatic and confident Martin to fans on a whole new level with deep empowering messages in the form of seductive lyrics for the ladies. The album oozes with Martin’s unshakable confidence from beginning to end which you may mistake for conceitedness.

However, as Christopher martin explains, he is delivering a message to the people to believe in themselves.

I have so much belief in my self that what ever I do is going to be different.

Stepping Razor is Peter Tosh motto and a song that he did so did you take any influence or did he inspire you in anyway in adopting the motto or producing that song?

I loved that song growing up, and I still listen to it a lot, so I always said that I wanted to interpret the song my way because Peter Tosh in his version would say he is a stepping razor in the militant sense and if you are a bully treat me good because I am a stepping razor and I can fix you. But thats not how I wanted to do it.

What makes you a stepping razor?

I wanna say I am a stepping razor, don’t watch I feel I’m different from everyone else. For me my size I’m dangerous because girls get addicted “stepping razor” means that you’re a cut above to my vibe. I make them feel so good inside, so the rest or your sharp in your own way. My core I’m like a stepping razor, a lady’s man. That’s fan base are females. The songs that I sing are a how I geared my self towards the stepping razor. majority of the time geared toward girls, so the way I style my self or my songs, I want to be a Have you always considered yourself a cut above the rest. That’s what I feel makes me stepping razor? a steeping razor. The mere fact that in my head I have always had this amount of confidence growing up. My mother always told me I was a king, so having that in my head from a very tender age you grow up with such confidence a lot of people might mistake it for being conceited which is the total opposite.

of confidence. At then end of the day its not even trying to balance cockiness and confidence because I think the person I am is as far away from cocky as possible, but I am very very confident. Based on the fact that i am confident a lot of people mistake it for cockiness but it all boils down to the fact that you can’t please everybody, you understand? Being a confident person means that you are going to step out of the line at some point in time.

You are not always going to do what is popular.

You are confident enough to go away from the tide, and for me, I don’t really care what way the pendulum is swinging. I don’t really swim with the crowd. I have my own path my own lane and I believe in what I am doing. So at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me what is hot right now or what’s not. I just believe in the movement which is Christopher Martin and that is what I feel life is worth working towards.

What I bring forth from my energy into my music is straight confidence. When I am approaching a beat or instrumental I am approaching it with the thoughts of killing it.

We want to put our best foot forward at all times. There is no slacking off, there are no two ways about it. I feel like with everything you get in life there is only one chance. When you get that one chance you have to hit the nail on the head.

How do you balance confidence and cockiness and stay in between ?

I think you have to have confidence, a lot a lot

Photography done by Zev Schmitz 24 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

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Reggae Singer Judy Mowatt Invited To Perform At Groovin’ In The Park For Second Consecutive Year Veteran reggae singer Judy Mowatt, who thrilled fans as part of the Marcia Griffiths & friends package at last summer’s Groovin’ In The Park concert in New York, has been invited to perform at the festival for the second consecutive year. Beres Hammond is the only artiste who has performed at the annual festival twice.

“Based on Sister Judy’s outstanding performance last year when she was a guest of Marcia Griffiths and numerous fan requests, we were compelled to extend an invitation to her to return to the Groovin’ stage to deliver a full length performance” said Christopher Roberts, founder and CEO of Groovin’ In The Park.

Mowatt will join Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Michael Bolton, Billy Ocean, Morgan Heritage, Stitchie, Carleton Luciano and Cocoa Tea as confirmed acts at Groovin’ in The Park 2015 which unfolds at Roy Wilkins Park in Queens, NY on Sunday June 28.

26 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

The revered singer rose to prominence in the 70’s as a member of the I-Threes (which included original members Marcia Griffiths and Rita Marley) the backing vocalist for Bob Marley and The Wailers. She is the first female singer nominated for a Grammy Award in the reggae category for her ‘Working Wonders’ album which was nominated in 1985. Her Black Woman album which was released in 1980 is considered one of the best reggae albums by a female artiste.

As a solo act she is best known for songs like “Many Are Called”, “Black Woman” and “I Shall Sing”.

In 1999 the Jamaican government awarded her the Order of Distinction for her contribution to Jamaica’s music industry.

Presenting sponsor of Groovin’ In The Park is the Door Restaurant. Supporting sponsors include The Smoke House, TD Bank, SQPA,

Nutrament, Caribbean Foods Delight Inc, BullZii Marketing, Groovin’ Radio, Laparkan Shipping, Tower Isle Patties and VP Records.

Log on to www.groovininthepark.com or www. groovinradiony.com for concert information.

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PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 27 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL

CULTURE

Kalief Browder’s Death Was a Homicide... and We Are All Guilty [Opinion] Activist Marlon Peterson Says We’ve Ignored The Conditions That Left An Innocent Teen In Jail For 3 Years Without Trial For Far Too Long country. He was living my life.

Kalief Browder This is prom season for high school students.

Just last week, my neighbor’s son stood outside my Bed-Stuy apartment building in his all white suit waiting for his ride to take him and his date to their prom. His mom laid out a red rug as her homemade version of a red carpet for her little prince. Kalief Browder did not get to wear a white suit. Kalief Browder did not get to attend his high school prom. Instead, Kalief Browder suffered on Rikers Island for three years for a crime he did not commit.

While his peers were getting ready for their big night, officers on Rikers were starving Kalief day after day. Officers on Rikers were beating him. Other incarcerated peers were jumping him on Rikers. He was being held in solitary confinement. He was recovering from one of his failed attempts at suicide. He was living the life that more than 60,000 young people live in this

Only five years after serving my 10-year sentence that began when I was nineteen, Kalief ’s story reminded of what I chose to forget. Hearing Kalief tell his story again reminded me that I, too, was starved by correction officers; but unlike, Kalief, my first experiences with this sort of abuse did not happen while in solitary confinement. I was in the general population in Green Haven Correctional Facility. I went to sleep hungry and woke up hungry, and I knew that if I complained, I would only be starved longer. Worse off, this practice was normal.

A cell mate who was 18-years into a 25-year sentence calmed me by saying, “Marlon, don’t stress it. It’s part of the bid. We all go through it.” That was my orientation to state prison. So I became creative with no eating to a fault. I now have diabetic issues, mainly because I do not maintain proper blood-sugar levels. I go too long without food, doctors tell me.

By Marlon Peterson

his tragic death. His suicide in his Bronx, New York, home awakened some to the atrocity that a 16-year old boy, who maintained his innocence, could be held in custody for 33 months on an island-jail for allegedly stealing a backpack. It sickened us that he had to wallow in the abyss of Rikers because his family could not afford a $10,000 bail. Some of us had our day interrupted by the news that he was beaten by correction officers, even punished for attempting suicide, and starved.

Then we were devastated to learn that not too long after Kalief ’s eventual release and the dismissal of the charges, he was gone—having hung himself from his apartment window— just one month after he wrote his college research paper titled, “A Closer Look at Solitary Confinement in the United States.”

Politicians, pundits and community leaders responded with saying that Rikers Island should be closed. Glenn Martin, founder of JustLeadershipUSA, offered that “removal of all youth from Rikers Island would be a conservative step in the right direction.” New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio inserted that this “case was an eye-opener to New Yorkers across the board.” His solution: “We need some type of bail reform.”

Abuse became a part of my sentence. Being refused showers was part of the bid. But, as I look at my sentencing papers, nowhere do I see abuse attached to the sentence. Beyond that, what does it say about me who was able to forget that I was abused by a system that is euphemistically called a correctional facility? I normalized the abuse. Kalief refused to normalize it, and for All of the above is true and correct, but why was that he paid with his life. this particular tragedy an eye opener? Which Kalief Browder’s story, resurrected since his parts of the case actually surprised us? The suicide on June 6, has struck a raw nerve in the wrongful arrest? The high bail? The family’s consciousness of some in this nation. Rand Paul, inability to afford the bail? The abuse by the Marc Lamont Hill, Rosie O’Donnell, Jay-Z, guards? Kalief ’s several attempts at suicide? His and other notables have been speaking about eventual suicide? What about this case were we continues on pg 30

28 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

Mark

James PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 29

CULTURE continues from pg 28 unaware of? Or in convenient denial of? Did we to policies and rhetoric that have imprisoned think that abuse in jail and prison was specific more than 60,000 young people. We neglected just to Rikers Island? that New York and North Carolina are the only two states that prosecute minors as adults. We A simple Google search will elicit hundreds ignored reports that exposed longtime abuses on of articles, academic research, personal blogs, Rikers Island. We removed formerly incarcerated Vimeo and YouTube videos about abuse in people from our ballots and juries—people who prison, about indigent defendants, about could best inform public debate about problems malicious prosecution, about Kalief Browders of with the criminal justice system. We “lock up” different names. Kalief even wrote about it. rather than support individuals who may have psychological challenges, who plead—as Kalief We knew. We did not care. says he did—to speak with professionals for help.

We did not care to check in with our humanity, even if the person arrested was guilty. We Instead of searching for the one officer, or one jail rationalized abuse by being empathetic for people that should be reformed, we need to admit that arrested and convicted for non-violent offenses his nation’s collective blood thirst for vengeance and dismissing those incarcerated for violent and punishment is the real culprit. Kalief ’s death offenses. We voted for 2,000,000 million people was not a suicide, but a homicide by committee. to be prison by incentivizing tough on crime You are on that committee. Your silence is your rhetoric with our votes. We pledged allegiance vote. What should be the conditions of your confinement? Are you ready to miss your prom?

Marlon Peterson is a writer and activist and founder of the Precedential Group, a social justice consulting firm. Follow him on Twitter @marlon_79.

Kalief Browder

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Invites You to Celebrate and Honor theMemory of

JUMAANE OMAR STEWART The Jumaane Omar Stewart Foundation invites you to celebrate and honor the memory of Jumaane whose beautiful, effervescent life was cut short on July 30, 2013. The tribute will take place at our celebration on Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 4:00 P.M. Beulah Church of the Nazarene 1250 St John's Place Brooklyn, NY 11213

The Jumaane Omar Stewart Foundation is a living legacy that will allow us to continue his work. As an architect, Jumaane was committed to his profession and it was his lifelong desire to see more individuals of African Heritage become registered architects. The Foundation awarded scholarships in 2014 and will continue to grant scholarships to high school graduates pursuing a career in architecture.

Your financial support will help us achieve this goal. Visit www.jumaane.org to donate, or you may do so in person at our celebration.

Jumaane was first and foremost a family man, a loving husband, a proud father, a devoted friend, caring son and a loyal and supportive brother. Join us in this celebration as we continue to keep the memory of Jumaane alive in our lives.

Please indicate your attendance at our email: info@jumaane.org.

A light supper will be served

PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 31

CULTURE & EDUCATION

The Caribbean Comes Alive at 17th Annual Harlem Book Fair On Saturday, July 18, 2015, the Caribbean comes alive at the 17th annual Harlem Book Fair. The Harlem Book Fair is the largest of its kind focused on promoting the literary works of authors of African descent. Beginning at 11 am we invite you to visit the Bazba Caribbean themed booth at The Schomburg Centre for Research in Black Culture 515 Malcom X Boulevard (Lennox Avenue) at West 135th Street in Harlem.

• Eulalie Spence, Nevis, British West Indies • Eric Walrond, Georgetown, British Guiana • Bert Williams, Nassau, Bahamas At this it’s inaugural year, Bazba invites you to support our Caribbean authors at the Harlem Book fair. Representatives from Barbados, Haiti, Jamaica and St. Thomas Virgin Islands will be at the fair.

Bazba is a Jamaican company committed to Bazba’s authors being featured at this year’s developing and promoting literary works of Harlem Book Fair are: Caribbean authors. Bazba distributes books and a heritage line t-shirt brand through traditional marketing and online platforms and is an active member of the Book Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ).

Managing Director for Bazba, Yashika Lopez, believes that “we’re all influential in contributing to forming the African American identity and by a larger extension, our African identity”. She believes Bazba’s participation in Harlem Book Fair is a continuation of our tradition to share our thoughts, our ideas, our vision of where we are as a people and our development into who we are to become. It is therefore fitting that Bazba continues to honour our ancestry in Harlem; a place where the migration of Caribbean peoples contributed to the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s. Such contributions Name: Leslie Saint Julien Country: Haiti were made by notable authors including: Latest Book: More Than Me • • • • • •

As an author, poet and inspirational speaker, Leslie uses her poetic writings to teach different ways to build self-confidence, practice humility, and believe in oneself. She engages her audience through the performance of spoken word poetry then provides tools for successfully discovering one’s path. Leslie is a trained and gifted leader where she currently serves the United States Federal Government as a civil employee. Overall, she has led in this capacity for over 13 years. Over the past 14 years, Leslie has held various other leadership roles, bringing aiding success to the likes of The Sasha Bruce Youthwork, The Baltimore Women’s Classic and Federally Employed Women (FEW), a non-profit organization founded in 1968 that advocates for the improvement of the status of women in the federal workforce.

A born Leo, Leslie’s gifts are limitless. She freelances in modelling and acting. She was an extra for the HBO television series The Wire, the film XXX: State of the Union featuring Samuel Jackson and Ice Cube and has advertised commercially for Virtually There Wedding Invitations ™. Leslie is also a trained dancer in the genres of ballet, modern and WestAfrican dance and continues to perform. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland and published her first collection of poetry in 2013 in her book “More Than Me” (AuthorHouse).

She has also written her first fiction novel called “Blue Rose” and a collection of children’s poems called “Adventures in Kazowt”, both to Leslie Saint-Julien is a published author and be available in bookstores everywhere in August Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., Jamaica writer, spoken word poet, and inspirational 2015. Leslie believes that with God, anything speaker. Born and raised in the East Flatbush is possible!

Cyril Valentine Briggs, Nevis town of Brooklyn, NY to Haitian parents, Leslie Social Media Claude McKay, Jamaica is very passionate about positively cultivating Facebook:www.facebook.com/ the lives of young women, specifically from Hubert Henry Harrison, Danish West Indies underrepresented communities. Her grassroots AlwaysMoreThanMe Leslie Saint-Julien, Author & Poet (now U.S. Virgin Islands) movement, Lily’s House, is her way of Website: www.lesliesaintjulien.com accomplishing her mission. Through Christian Joel Augustus Rogers, Jamaican principles, Leslie wants to help these young Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, also Arthur women write a story about their lives of which Schomburg , Puerto Rico they will be proud of.

32 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

CULTURE & EDUCATION power of written words.”

Book: Only as the Wind Blows Basil ‘Ku-Soonogo’ Lopez – poet playwright, actor, dancer - was born in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. He was educated at St. Jago High School, the University of the West Indies, New York University, University of Montpelier (France), and York University (Toronto).

Name: Denecia Green Country: Jamaica Latest Book: Lies, Sex and Betrayal

Name: Tiphanie Yanique Country: St. Thomas Virgin Islands Latest Book: Land of Wood and Drowning

Denecia Green is a 25 year old self-taught author and pharmacist living in Jamaica. She leads a double life exploring creative writing by night and pharmacist by day. She completed her pharmacy degree at The University of Technology Jamaica and has worked in a wide variety of professional capacities in both private and public sectors.

Tiphanie Yanique is from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. The author of the story collection “How to Escape from a Leper Colony”, she is a 2010 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award winner and was named by the National Book Foundation as one of 2011’s “5 Under 35.”

She was awarded the 2015 Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize and the Rosenthal Family Foundation Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters for her debut novel, “Land Of Love And Drowning”. Tiphanie teaches at the New School and lives in Brooklyn and St. Thomas.

Denecia developed a love for reading at a very tender age and out of her love for reading grew a natural love for writing. At age fourteen, she became a part time journalist for a weekly teen publication. Her mission during that period was to inspire, encourage and educate young people about how to deal with the doldrums of life. From this philosophy stemmed her first novel, “Life: Through A Teen’s Eyes”, which was published in 2012.

Denecia has worked with various print media houses where she published many articles on subjects ranging from business, sports and entertainment. In 2010, she was responsible for publishing articles in the sex & relationship column in the Buzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine. This new column opened her appetite to further explore risqué topics and it was no surprise when she released her second novel, “Lies, Sex & Betrayal” in August 2014. This novel is available in book stores across Curacao and worldwide through Amazon and iTunes.

The philosophy behind her writing is “Everyone should be able to benefit somehow from the

Social Media http://tiphanieyanique.com/ Twitter: @tiphanieyanique

Name: Basil ‘Kusoonogu’ Lopez, B.A., Dip. Ed., M.F.A. Country: Jamaica

His formal education has been greatly enriched by his travels in the West Indies, Africa, Europe and North America. His main goal has always been to identify himself, thereby help to identify a peculiarly West Indian culture and through its expression make a contribution to world civilization. On his way, he has written twelve plays, three volumes of poetry, two novels, one volume of short stories and two children’s books.

Some of these works have won him literary awards.

“In Another’s House” won the playwriting award in the festival Jamaica in 1967. “Below Zero” was one of the winners of the Tisch School of the Arts (New York University) drama festival in 1983.

“The Infinity of Love,” a play, won an award from Black Theatre Canada in 1987. “Easy Street,” a short story in the collection “Only as the Wind Blows”, was an award from UNESCO in 1976.

This constant urge to give himself shape has manifested itself also in the performing arts. As a dancer and actor he has appeared on several stages in many parts of the world. In Toronto he has produced, directed and acted in, “Man A Yard,” “5,000 lbs. of Fish,” and “Mek Sumting Happ’n.”

He also produced “The Infinity of Love” and one dance concert. He was the lead actor in Lennox Farrel’s “Soul Brother Job.” He is also credited with being the writer, producer and director of the first Jamaican-style pantomime in Miami, Florida. He has also taught for many years, the last place being The Mico University College in Kingston, Jamaica. He brought awareness of Nakumbuka to Jamaica where the Nakumbuka Ceremony and Celebration was held in February of 2003, 2005 and 2011 and 2015.

In 2012, he presented a Poster Knowledge and Technology Transfer at the 5th International Conference on Appropriate Technology, in Pretoria, South Africa. He is married and has four children. He presently lives in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Courtesy of Bazba PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 33

34 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

The Pulse of the Caribbean People

Presents...

The Delaware Valley Voice

PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 35

CULTURE & EDUCATION

Anton Marks Anton Marks is a Jamaican author of action packed thrillers with a difference.

He states that writing calls on his creativity every day and he regards himself as lucky to be part of a world filled with inspiration that can fuel it. According to him, the stories born from inspiration are those that really make a difference.

Anton was greatly inspired by Akon’s massive philanthropic gesture and the groundbreaking contribution his organization has made. According to Mr. Marks, what impressed him the most was that Akon chose to improve people’s lives through technology. This philanthropic gesture resonated with his current project a very profound way.

Anton’s work on his Young Adult novel The Last Prince of Alkebulahn has given him the opportunity to really dig deep into researching the history, language, cultures and mythology of the African continent and the Diaspora. There are many science and fantasy elements throughout the book, because Anton dedicated some time to look into the contribution Africa made in science and technology throughout the ages. He hopes that the research will give his work the kind of relevance it would never get without it.

Mr. Marks has been fascinated by the findings of his research so far but, most importantly, the stories of innovation and entrepreneurship coming out of Africa has captured his attention more profoundly. These stories bear great relevance to the setting of his novel which is on a stage, not dissimilar to the world we inhabit now. The main character, Joshua, lives in London and he has given Africa a wart/mark and injected the whole proceeding with elements of Science Fiction and fantasy. Moreover, the research gives his work a degree of verisimilitude - the willing suspension of disbelief takes little effort with young people today. He hopes that his adult readers know that he is about entertainment first and yet he believes that these kinds of tales can have far reaching effect on how young adults view the world. For example, perhaps seeing the many riches possessed by Africa not just in terms of its natural resources but also its human resources as well.

There are so many magnificent stories - African Student Solved 30 Year Old Math Problem - or Teen Nigerian Brothers Build Web Browser to Compete with Google Chrome. These are but a few examples of successes that excite him for the future. Anton sees it as a privilege to be able to use these real life events to fuel his fiction in a way which has enriched his work.

Apart from the novel sited above, Anton has authored other books including Dance Hall and Bad ll the Bone, both are available on Amazon Written by: Anton Marks Edited by: Callista Regis

CULTURE

Making Sense of the BLACK Racial Divide in America Today For years America has been hailed as a ‘melting pot,’ a meritocracy in which people of all races and ethnicities get along, what a utopia! Those of us who were beguiled by this ideal have awoken to the realities of police brutality, especially directed toward Blacks; the recent slayings in Charleston, SC and many other events which demonstrates the depth of racism rampant among so many in modern America.

Where does racism come from?

Social Scientists generally agree that all forms of prejudice are learned through the process of socialization. Many families teach their children to be racist from an early age either covertly or overtly. These prejudices are further reinforced through other agencies of socialization including education, religion, peer group, workplace and the media. You may ask, but how it this possible? In many text books, the history and or contributions of the Black Community are marginalized. Also, the ratio of Black leaders in education compared to their White counterparts show a great disparity in many school districts. Prominent among these is the actual interaction which takes place in the classroom. Sociological evidence suggests that many teachers have low expectations of Black students and label them negatively, for some Black students, this impedes performance in school. These realities are internalized by children who may begin to define themselves in terms of superior or inferior complexes. These are the models which they see and may later come to accept as normal and natural.

In many work places, Blacks still encounter the glass ceiling and therefore never gain an opportunity into the top positions of White owned companies.

Let’s not forget the underfunding of inner-city schools which retard the progress of Blacks in terms of opportunities for further education and employment. This means the many Blacks are resigned to a life of systematic struggle and

poverty because the social structure of American society has dictated it to be so, or should I borrow from Marxist analysis to suggest that the capitalist (White) have ensured social closure through policies and the opportunity structure to fortify the alienation of the Black minority.

Within the family, negative attitudes towards Blacks are transmitted through unsavory comments, whether verbally or through nonverbal gestures. These ideas are internalized by children until it becomes part of their personality structure.

Such a view is support by a famous American theorist called Talcott Parsons who asserted that behavior is learned through values which are transmitted during socialization.

Given the above discussion, when we see the police ill-treatment of Blacks, it should be understood that their behavior stem from what they have learned and internalized through one or more agencies of socialization, I dare say, that it may not be from the home, but people can become re - socialized through other agencies such as the workplace, media etc.

Since we have established that racism is learned, it stands to reason that it can be unlearned.

The implication of this is that the agencies of socialization need to practice a far more robust anti-discriminatory culture. It would mean that Blacks and other minority groups would have to be favorably represented in the media and have equal access to education and other opportunities to help facilitate more equitable life chances.

With greater access there is likely to be some level of increased wealth and power for minority groups. Perhaps this may not sit well with some groups because it does not support the status quo of White dominance.

WHITE

By Callista Regis

can become internalized as well and eventually lead to more favorable responses towards Blacks.

A very honest reflection on how Blacks came to America may also deter negative attitudes. When Blacks were forcefully removed from Africa to come to the American and other Western societies, they were stripped of their wealth and identity. Given that they were stripped of wealth, riches and possessions there was no economic legacy to leave to their children and children’s children. Thus we see that for many Blacks, there is an early inheritance of the poverty trap.

Conversely, many Whites have wealth passed on to them from several generations ago. Some of this wealth was built from the hard earned labor of Black slaves. Could it be then, that the fight to maintain the oppression of Blacks is to prevent the cultivation of a different legacy? One is which Blacks, like their White counterparts can leave a legacy of wealth for their children’s children.

From this analysis, it is the White community which is indebted to the Black minority; thus, there should be greater levels of equality to enable more comfortable living standards for Blacks.

The fact is deeply held racist attitudes will take time to be corrected; therefore, as a community we must continue to demand and insist on equal treatment. We have gained some measure of success through protests and other forms of advocacy so we must continue our fight.

It would be grossly unfair for me to end this discussion without saying hats off to the many Whites who continue to advocate for an end to racism and other forms of discrimination. After all, it is through joint effort will racism be brought to its knees and eventually eliminated.

Another practice may be allowing people to acknowledge racists or discriminatory attitudes and train them on how to avoid actually practicing deeply held prejudice. With time, this behavior PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE | 37

Puzzles Geography of Jamaica ...

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Innovative Jamaican Spirit 1. Jamaica was the first Caribbean country to build a

railroad. They built their railroad a mere 18 years after Britain built theirs.

2. AT&T copied Jamaica’s telephone system because it was so well developed.

3. In 1994, Jamaica became the first Caribbean nation

to launch its own website.

38 | PULSE OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE

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