The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”. - Jeremiah 29:11 There are many traditions associated with the end of a year. One of the most important traditions in Christendom is that of attending Watch Night Service. Have you ever thought about the history behind Watch Night Service? According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Watch Night is also called Freedom Eve’s Service and is held on New Year’s Eve. The same source states, the tradition of Watch Night may be traced to the early 18th century in Moravian churches, when churchgoers began marking the occasion with a vigil to reflect upon the year past and to contemplate the one to come. John Wesley adopted the practice for his Methodist followers, who held similar vigils monthly with the full moon. It was given new significance among African Americans on December 31, 1862, when, according to tradition, slaves in the Confederate states gathered ...

“I would rather die on yonder gallows than live in slavery."- Sam Sharpe. One hundred and eighty eight years after his death Sam Sharpe Day is a reality. December 27 has been proclaimed Sam Sharpe Day by the Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen. It has certainly taken successive Jamaican governments long enough to realize and commemorate the significant role Sam Sharpe played in organizing the Christmas Rebellion of 1831 which was a catalyst for the abolition of slavery. The Sam Sharpe Rebellion or the Christmas Rebellion ushered in calls for Emancipation, both in Jamaica and in England where abolitionists worked on legislation to free the enslaved Africans. So great was Sharpe’s contribution to the abolition of slavery that it warrants more than a Sam Sharpe Day, indeed a national holiday would be most appropriate. Sharpe’s contribution to modern day Jamaica is incalculable. His worth has been underrepresented for years. To add insult to injury, the teaching of history educatio...

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”- St. Matthew 1:23. Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I am sure for many of you Christmas is also your favourite time of the year. There are numerous reasons why Christmas stands out above any other time of the year. The main reason rests with the birth of Jesus Christ. Let me quickly add that I do not entertain those who say Jesus was not born on December 25; the fact is He was born and his birth is celebrated. There tends to be a spirit of generosity during Christmas. Most folks go out of their way to be cordial and pleasant. Oh, I wish this spirit of Christmas could last all year. Living in a tropical country like Jamaica, Christmas brings cooler temperatures; a welcome relief from the all year humidity and heat which characterizes where we are located on the map. We oftentimes experience the Christmas breeze during and aroun...

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”- Marcus Garvey. Jamaica is a predominantly black society. More than ninety percent of the nearly 3 million inhabitants of the island have DNA associations to the motherland, Africa. Unfortunately, most Jamaicans do not know their historical context. A significant gap is in our education policy which relegates the teaching of history as optional. This omission of history from among the core subjects directly impacts how we see ourselves as a people. The ongoing bleaching of the skin is also related to the lack of knowledge of our rich historical past. The fact that history is optional in our schools speaks volumes about our cultural identity or lack thereof. Surprisingly, the movers and shakers with responsibility for curriculum development and testing; with a few exceptions, have done very little to right this colossal injustice. It can be argued that this is a deliberate and calcu...

“We can all fight against loneliness by engaging in random acts of kindness.”- Gail Honeyman. Oftentimes we confuse being alone and loneliness. It is not uncommon for an individual with family and friends around to complain about loneliness. Loneliness is a feeling, while aloneness is a state of being. Psychology Today defines loneliness as, the state of distress or discomfort that results when one perceives a gap between one’s desires for social interaction and actual experiences of it. The lack of genuineness in relationships can results in feelings of loneliness. Emerging research from McGill University in Toronto has concluded that lonely people were more likely to have increased activity in areas of the brain tied to reminiscing, thinking about others and future planning, according to a study published recently in the journal Nature Communications. This emerging development is both plausible and logical since many individuals who suffer from loneliness have had to use their im...

“Our bodies are not meant to deal with fake food.”- Tim Ryan. This year has been quite unusual. Who would have thought that we would be wearing face shields or masks in 2020; had someone told me last year that I would be wearing a face covering in 2020, I would have laughed at them. The year has been quite sobering as well due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The strangeness of the year has impacted all spheres of our lives. We were taught very early that animals provide the meat we consume. However, let us fast-forward to 2020. Where do we get meat? Sir, we get meat from a laboratory. Correct! The answer is not by any means misinformation. In many homes a slice of roasted beef, pork, chicken, mutton, maybe lamb will be served for Christmas dinner. Perhaps, we will go to our favourite meat shop or supermarket and order our favourite cut of meat. How can you be sure what will be on your plate in the future; given the rapid changing world in which we live? In addition to the changes we n...