My Jamaican Experience
My Personal Experience of the Good Old Days, the Days of Wrath and a Look at Our Future Challenges
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About this time in Jamaica’s history, a new movement was gathering momentum – the Rastas (Rastafarians). They took their name from the Emperor of Ethiopia, Ras Tafari Makonnen, who they revere as their supreme deity. After his coronation as Emperor, Ras Tafari Makonnen took on the title: Haile Selassie I The Rastas were considered social outcasts, who were poor and did not see any reason why they should conform to the Jamaican social establishment. Unlike most Jamaicans, (or any other traditionally socialized group of people,) they did not subject themselves to the stress and rigor of aspiring for upward social mobility. They adopted a simple lifestyle as opposed to the pursuit of materialism. They did not see themselves as subjects of the Imperial ruler in London. They did not see why they should worship the white man's God. They are fervent believers in the teachings of Marcus Garvey who preached the empowerment of black people. Like Marcus Garvey, they could not envision black people being treated as equals anywhere in a Euro-centric world, therefore they advocated repatriation to Africa. They indulged in ritual smoking of ganja (marijuana) and only ate 'ital' food. And, of course, they did not cut their hair, they allowed it to grow into dreadlocks. Rastas in general are peaceful, but a faction of the movement led by Claudius Henry started to advocate violence and military style takeover of the government. In 1959, ammunition was found at the headquarters of this militant faction. Claudius Henry was tried and convicted for treason and was given a six-year prison sentence. The government was becoming wary of the growing number of Rastas and tried in various ways to suppress the movement. This attempted suppression did not deter the movement from growing. In addition to the traditional Rastas, were the ‘neo-Rastas’. They were a growing body of people who did not necessarily share the Rasta's religious belief, or practices such as smoking ganja or eating ital food. Nevertheless they empathized with the Rastaman's disdain for the neo-colonial system, they took pride in themselves as black people, and the rejection of traditional Euro-centric religion with its Caucasian bias. They believed that allowing their hair to grow naturally (in dreadlocks) gave them a sense of self, instead of using hot iron comb or chemicals to straighten their hair to look like Europeans. Back in those days, Rastas and everything associated with them were disparaged by the society. I remember the story of Roger, (not his real name,) a cousin of ours who was attending the University of the West Indies. One summer he came home fully imbued with the Rasta culture. He had dreadlocks and was bearded. His relatives were in shock and disbelief. This genteel young man who was brought up in the church was now a Rastaman. He no longer talked like the devout Christian he used to be. He was no longer proud of his Christian upbringing. He talked about the teachings of Marcus Garvey and black power. "Roger bring down disgrace pan de family," his relatives lamented. "Is dis wa 'im puppa spen' money pan 'im fa?" In essence they were saying that Roger disgraced the family, and questioned the wisdom of his father spending money to educate him. After his summer vacation, Roger went back to his studies at the university. We all went our separate ways and I did not hear anything from him since then. As for the Rasta movement, it has grown beyond the shores of Jamaica. The Rasta population worldwide is estimated to be about a million strong. (BloombergBusinessWeek, Nov. 23, 2012) and several million more ‘neo-rastas’ to be found on every continent and almost every country. Rasta groups can be found in almost every country in Africa, among Australian Aborigines, among people of African descent in Canada, USA and Europe. There are Rastas in Brazil, other South American countries and throughout the Caribbean. There are Rasta groups in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia. Reggae music and reggae artistes, especially Bob Marley, helped to promote the Rasta culture around the world.
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About the Book
“The fairest land ever eyes beheld . . . the mountains touch the sky.” This is what Christopher Columbus wrote in his log when he landed on the north coast of Jamaica on May 5, 1494. This statement has been affirmed over the years, resulting in up to two million tourists visiting Jamaica each year. Since then, Jamaica has gone on to become a record producer of sugar, banana, and bauxite (aluminum ore). Jamaica was the first country in the Western Hemisphere to have a postal system, a piped domestic water system, and a golf course. In the nineteen sixties and early seventies, Jamaica had one of the highest growth rates among the developing countries. Jamaica won more Olympic track-and-field medals, as a ratio of its population, than any other country in the world, and only the United States has a larger aggregate. In spite of this early sterling performance, Jamaica has been through a turbulent political uprising and is still trying to navigate through a crippling economic malaise. In the nineteen seventies and early eighties, Jamaica was ground zero for the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. The author will take you through the good old days of the natural simplicity of growing up in rural Jamaica. He will recount the past and present great achievements that have been accredited to Jamaica. You will also visit with him the days of wrath when Jamaica was the staging ground for the proxy war between the Soviet/Cuban axis versus the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
About the Author
Wilberforce Reid grew up in rural Jamaica and experienced the natural simplicity of rural community life. His work experience was mainly in the bauxite/alumina industry in Jamaica where he started as an instrument/electrical technician and was later promoted to a supervisory position. Later, he pursued his bachelor's degree in electronics and subsequently became an instrument/electrical engineer in the bauxite/alumina industry. During this time, he was very active in Jamaican politics and leadership roles in social and community work. Wilberforce also lived for a period of time in the United States, where he worked as an unlimited electrical contractor, licensed in the State of Connecticut. He also pursued the following occupations while there: journeyman electrician for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and electrician with the Long Island Rail Road. This comprehensive experience in Jamaican politics, Jamaican culture, and the experience of working across the labor spectrum in the United States has given Wilberforce the unique perspective to evaluate the Jamaican situation.