Okay, so one of my biggest pet peeves this year was all stereotypes I heard about my beautiful home Jamaica. I sat back and watched how confused people were when our beautiful Tessanne and Anita represented us on the voice, two different examples of Jamaican women. FYI, there are many different types of people in Jamaica, hence the motto, Out of Many One People. Then there was the constant questioning about how is it that I speak English so eloquently (my word, they usually say so good lol) or do you know where to get some good weed? It was exasperating. I felt as though I had exhausted every possible explanation about patois simply being a social language or dialect but a very big part of our culture, that English was our native language, and NO we do not write patois formally. I had no explanation for the weed just an Are you really that dumb? stare. Then there was the idea that Jamaicans live in huts in the bushes. Yes folks, I have had acquaintances who believed this to be true at one point. I sometimes tell them about my favorite straw skirt and ankle wraps when the subject came up before they realize I am being sarcastic. But the biggest hogwash of all was when a church member told me she went to Jamaica and was surprised by all the homeless people she saw there (and get this, she went on a cruise and was only docked in Jamaica for 4hrs). I remember saying to her, Were there as many as all the homeless people here at skidrow in California? Yes my dear, there are homeless people everywhere. My hope is that in 2015 people will think before they speak, and if they are not sure about something just Google it. Happy New Year to all, and lets make it a smart one!
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 15:46:35 +0000
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