Nice nostalgic sharing my friend. Almost everything you described was my world growing up in the late 50s early 60s on the island of Dominica. In spite of the hardship we were abundantly happy, fulfilled and creative children making toys from scraps. Tin, wire, bobbin, rubber, paper etc.. and inventing new games. Yes my friend, we are testament to the changing value of times. Lol, I remember how powdered milk had to be handled with caution for fear of chocking. Digging out the congealed clumpes stuck in your mouth with your finger. I wouldn't change these treasured memories for anything. Thank you for sharing your world. We have more in common than we think regardless of distance and culture. Peace my brother.
I greatly appreciate your effort in trying to preserve our Jamaican culture. All you’ve stated have been our history, and yes, even though we didn’t have much, we were well rounded, happy kids. I’ve been using social media as well, imploring the Jamaicans I’m acquainted with to teach their children and grandchildren/offsprings about our culture, because in doing so, they are helping to preserve it. What we fail to understand, is that a people who fail to preserve their history/culture, is a people soon erased from history. I once read an article, still have the article, “Lord Macaulay’s address to the British Parliament on February 2nd, 1835. He spoke of his travel through the length and breadth of Africa, the wealth he discovered there, the high moral values and people with great caliber. He went on to say, “ that the only way we can conquer this country is by breaking the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, replacing her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if they believe that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will loose their self esteem, their native culture, and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.” This is my biggest fear, that we are headed in that direction, because the younger Jamaicans have become so modernized, that they are not familiar with our past.
Those were great days for me when I use to spend every summer with my grandparents. They thought me so much just by watching and listening to their stories. Wouldn't change a thing!!!
I went to Jamaica this year and most of the women were half naked on the street, it seems important to the women for the men to see what they have and the size of what they have and still want respect. I once love their lifestyle so much and I was heart broken. The most beautiful country in its own way I would love to live there one day just need it to get better close to what it was.
So true, I was saying the same things recently to a friend remembering the good old days. Now there's way more money cars house and things are so bad, just sad.
Would you consider traveling the island and recording similar conversations with the older generation. I know this life because of my grandparents, and it brought me joy and to this day I reflect on these days of visiting there home when I get sad. My parents rejected this life because " we did poor", as you said they strived for more. I do believe that these are conversation that should be archived somewhere. My grandparents have passed away, and now I wish I had documented their stories to pass on to my children. Because they have no clue about this Life, and I often wonder if hard life should come how would they survive
So much truth in what you said…the culture has become very “North Americanized” …most of the current generation (especially if the have no grand or great grand parents) have no idea of the life you speak about…they can’t even imagine a life with no cell phone, cable or 2 radio stations and 1 TV channel that turns off at 11 pm 😁…my children have grown up fully in the culture, even though they were not born in Jamaica. I wouldn’t chastise our generation for give our children what we didn’t have,😊because that is a natural reaction as a parent…and we know those days were hard; but I do blame us for not telling the full authentic truth of how we overcame and give thanks to our parent for doing the best they could. Plus, we need to teach them the lessons of giving, sharing an being good persons who take care of each other. Continue documenting and sharing this kind of content…Thank you 🇯🇲🇯🇲
Truly appreciate your presentation because, although every everything I might not have that particular experience, I remember many things you talked about. One of the things I remember was 'giving & sharing, respecting your elders as well as helping them. Thanks I truly such pleasant memories! Will always be watching!!!
Me as a young youth can tell yuh bredda seh me GLAD seh ya deal wid dis ! Fi years now me a tell people seh my age group nuh care bout dem ting ya again! Everything weh dem see pan Instagram a weh dem wah live and dem nuh have my respect fi nobody. Everybody wah tun choppa, gun man and bad gyal. No bredda, me nuh deh pan dat. Foundations me thing deh, straight. Me just subscribe ya now
It is Sunday 11th of June. Me relaxing in beautiful island of st.kitts sunshine. just loving and enjoying listening to you and life in Jamaica. I grew up in the 60s So i can relate to a lot of your life style growing up. My husband is a Jamaican. He also tell me stories.. You mek me laugh. Interesting program. I salute you big time....😊
Let me take a few minutes to give you a big shout out, and say thanks for bring much laughter to my living room in Atlanta, GA. I sat back and watch your new video with my Antiguan born wife, and it was sweet. I grew up in the Darliston area of Westmoreland, mid 50's 60's, and your video HIT HOME for us. my wife could relate to some things, as a Caribbean lady as well, with similar up bringing's. I am now trying to re-create my childhood days from Bigwood's, Darliston, by all kind of old pictures. I have no baby pictures, my first picture was taken at 17 for my passport. LOL, so am trying to rebuild and create from scratch of the way we lived, going to school, doing chores, lived without no modern conveniences. future
You are so refreshing to watch and you are right. you just got a new subscriber. America has taken over the world, no Sunday school anymore no morals, they now see right as wrong and wrong as right. They ar even forcing their children to have our dialect instead of just English itself. Ever slangs, every phrase even hand signals they copy. I am an American with Jamaican parents and I remember Jamaica for what it was although I'm not old. It wasn't all about dancehall sex and guns but now because they turned away from the creator and turn to fame, social media and money, the country is going downhill without the protection from God they have no covering except the few who still believe. We need the culture back, they can't follow other cultures it won't work for them because it's not original or genuine to them, so that's the break down of the society. The parents are the reason why crimes are so high 100%
Train up a child in the way that he should go and when he's old, he will not depart from it. It's human nature to want to be like others, to their own hurt. God had the same problems with Israel. They wanted to have kings because the other nations around them had. Even though they were warned that kings would oppress them, they were still bent on 'keeping up with the Jones'. Jamaica has such a rich culture that the world can't have enough of, yet we take it for granted and want to be like everyone else. Maybe what you can do is form a movement with other men by going into communities, meeting and talking with young men, especially, who need proper guidance. Poverty is no excuse to be a criminal. A lot of those who are now criminals have so much more than you had. They need new and positive mindset. They need help.
To an extent we have spoiled the children. I think a lot of us have gone thru divorce and we over compensate these kids. Me memba lunch time . Home was too far . We went to miss Edna shop, chus the lunch and it pay fa monthend. Never forget the syrup in the little rum glass! Man you drain the glass , syrup nice!!!! Lok
Those were the best days I'm from the city but thank God my mom did her best wit what she had these kids are too entitled some days not even lunch but you suck it up and go to school
Even though I partly grew up in England, as a child if you pass an elder from the Jamaican community and do not acknowledge them by saying good morning / good evening you better not go home. People tend to forget them old time Jamaican values and morals travelled with us and in some cases stand the test of time…
The major reason for the colossal breakdown among youths all over this planet today are the failure of parents not allowing their children to experience and properly manage the adversities of life. Wisdom is lost when the most valuable lessons of life are lost. Idleness is the worst curse to mankind. Smooth seas never make good sailors.
Ben Johnson day means the day before pay day. This view that the younger generation didn't experience some of the things you mentioned is false. Some of the older Generation was bad as this generation as well. Can't keep painting the younger ones as bad all the time.
