Kingston continues to amaze me. The streets are alive. Culture bursts from every corner.
Everton, a son of Jamaica has noticed the many many changes in Kingston in the last year. Due to the recent political upheaval in May, 2010, there has been an increase of police presence, though the country only has 10,000 police officers and 3 million people. Plus there are 150,000 at-risk youth!
One of the major changes in the streets of Kingston is in the curfews that have been instituted in places like Tivoli Gardens, where people must be indoors from 6 am to 6 pm. In case you forgot? It's HOT HOT HOT here, and people need to be outside. In a place that is so densely populated, peopled need to socialize and interact.
A major part of the culture here is Passa Passa, night parties on the street that used to go all through the night, until the morning. Now, the parties end at 2 am.
Why is this important?
Many Jamaicans make a living at Passa Passa as vendors selling things like jerk chicken. Families prepare for days to sell the product during these parties, but because the parties are shorter, people are spending and making less, in an already depressed economy.
Passa Passa is a big part of the culture, of the country's identity and for some peoples' economy. This is being shut down by a police state that is forcing people indoors, off the streets, off the radar to make them, or at least try to make them more invisible.
Again, Kingston does not have a good reputation and people are discouraged from going. Who is promoting this message? We are to focus on the tourist spots like Mo'bay and Negril and ignore Kingston?
What happens to a people when you ignore them?
1. Their streets and neighborhoods are broken
2. Their children are deprived of basic services like schooling, feeding programs and SAFETY
3. The adults cannot continue to work to support their families
4. Violence increases
BUT...
5. People step up to make a difference
We came to Kingston to learn about the many many people who have stepped up to fill the void that the government left/created to care for its people. People all over the communities are getting out there, in a pure grassroots fashion to do SOMETHING! To feed, to educate, to empower, to save lives! It seems like this generation of young people are super committed and dedicated to improving their lives, and the future generation.
Tonight, I met a girl who was raised in one of the ghettos and her sister is now a part of the police force, focusing on youth crime. This young woman's sister, who was also raised in the ghetto used to go out on the streets to educate people about sexual health and took her little sister with her. Now she is working with the youth, taking them into retreats to train them to do similar work.
This is what happens when a people are pushed aside time and time again, they rise to take care of themselves, and each other. Spirit and survival are a part of the Jamaican identity. In case you did not know, the people here have strong unbreakable spirits...many are descendants of rebellious slaves that were sent here to be 'broken.'
Speaking of community leaders...we went to visit the home of the late Bob Marley, Jamaica's son, a prophet from the streets of Kingston, a voice that was once silenced by his leaders, a neighbor that was once shunned.
It was incredible. Years after his death, the Marley magic continues and grows.
The Bob Marley Museum is a beautiful, simple space dedicated to Bob's beautiful and simple ways. It is a shrine to his music, his contributions, and his legend.
No comments:
Post a Comment