'Jamaica Fi Real' - demystifying our history

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

While doing research for his book, Jamaica Fi Real: Beauty, Vibes and Culture, Kevin O'Brien Chang said he was determined to clear up some of the misconceptions that have sullied Jamaican history.

It took him five years to complete the 238-page glossy, which was recently released by Ian Randle Publishers. It is enhanced by contributions from a diverse cast that includes political scientist Trevor Munroe, dub poet Yasus Afari and journalist/theatre stalwart Barbara Gloudon.

According to Chang, their views made compiling the characters and events he believes makes Jamaica unique, worth it.

"I think Marcus Garvey had it right when he said if you don't know where you're coming from you won't know where you're going," Chang told The Sunday Gleaner.

get things straight

"What I tried to do is get things straight and that's why the history section is the largest."

Garvey, a Pan-African giant who is Jamaica's first national hero, has suffered from faulty reports especially when it comes to his relationship with his homeland. Chang looks at Garvey's time in Jamaica before he left for Central America and the United States in the mid-1900s, and the impact he made when he was deported from the latter in 1927.

Chang uses reports from The Gleaner to show the rapturous welcome Garvey received when he returned. His challenge of the status quo through his People's Political Party helps dispel myths about unpopularity among his countrymen.

Another National Hero Chang de-mystified was Sir Alexander Bustamante, who became Jamaica's first prime minister in 1962. Countless yarns have cast him as a buffoon, but Jamaica Fi Real portrays 'Busta' in a different light.

"He was a very prolific and effective writer, which can be seen in his countless letters to the editor in The Gleaner yet he was portrayed as an idiot," Chang said.

A couple of little-known Bustamante tidbits are included in Jamaica Fi Real. He could not marry his longtime partner, Gladys Longbridge, because he was a devout Catholic and did not believe in divorce.

They married when his first wife died. The first Mrs Bustamante was the aunt of Donald Sangster, Bustamante's deputy in the Jamaica Labour Party.

The book is not limited to politicians. There are detailed accounts of flamboyant early 20th century religious figures like Alexander Bedward and Leonard Howell, and their influence on the Rastafarian movement.

Athletes such as Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley and Usain Bolt underline the country's remarkable sports tradition. Chang also gives special attention to the far-reaching work of reggae legend Bob Marley, poet/activist Claude McKay and folklorist Louise 'Miss Lou' Bennett.

Chang made his literary debut in 1997 when he co-wrote Reggae Routes with childhood friend Wayne Chen. While music also plays a big role in Jamaica Fi Real, he says setting the record straight was the most satisfying aspect of working on the book.

"The reader will get a better understanding of Jamaica, especially since it's written by a Jamaican."

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Jacket ... or Full Suit?

Paternity Testing From a Jamaican Perspective will be launched on Tuesday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Undercroft, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. Sonia King, author of the book, is a retired medical technologist. For more than three decades, she was head of the Paternity Testing Laboratory at the University Hospital of the West Indies. In this entertaining and thought-provoking book, King reveals her most exciting paternity cases. Professor Carolyn Cooper will be the guest speaker at the launch which is co-hosted by the Institute of Gender and Development Studies and the Department of Literatures in English at UWI, Mona. The public is invited to attend and admission is free.