Mico past student launches first book

Hasani Walters, Gleaner Writer

Long-time schoolmates, friends and family of Owen Everard James came out to celebrate the launch of his first book, Jamaican By Birth, American By Choice.

The launch, held at The Mico University College library, was well supported, as a number of persons attended to show their support for his effort.

The activities got under way with opening remarks from chairperson Shirley Carby. She welcomed all and thanked James for his 'homecoming gift', saying, "Owen has brought us a homecoming gift and there's no better setting in which to celebrate this homecoming than this wonderful institution which played a significant role in his education."

Attendants were able to purchase their copies of the book at the launch.

Jamaican By Birth, American By Choice tells the tale of a poor boy with a diverse heritage from the hills of rural Jamaica, who completes his local education through public institutions - from primary school through teachers' college. He embarks on a journey through university in America, marriage, professional training in Italy and an assignment as a manufacturing executive in an American multinational corporation for nearly 30 years.

Racism inpost-Obama America

He lives and works in the Caribbean, North America and Africa, without losing his Jamaican identity.

After his father's murder, confronting endemic bias in corporate America, work permit woes in Kenya and distressing social and economic dislocation in Zimbabwe, he chooses to permanently reside in America after retiring in 2000.

The book also touches on his experience of racism in post-Obama America.

Owen Everard James is a graduate of The Mico University in Jamaica and an honours graduate of Howard University in the United States.

He also holds a diploma in production management from the Institute for Advanced Technical and Vocational Training in Italy and has been a teacher, civil servant, banker and restaurateur, and has worked for nearly 30 years as a manufacturing executive with a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation.

He has lived and worked in the Caribbean, Canada, the United States and East and Southern Africa. He is now retired and resides in Florida.