Video not really safe for work, or in the presence of decent company
On many a cold, miserable and blustering English morning, watching this video brought a little smile to my face, and warmed the cockles of my heart. It literally set the tempo for the day; I listened to Mad Jamaican Woman and I was ready to tackle the big bad city. And like any good movie, or that favourite song, I pretty much now know the script word for word.
More than anything, this video reaffirmed in me, that intrinsic quality, often imitated but never duplicated quite right; that je ne sais quois that seems to be a part of our Jamaican makeup. Yes, it's nice seeing that brief flash of Usain 's victorious image up there in the ITV's news intro, and the constant small "positive" reminders of how we are excelling on the world's stage and ccertainly, some people might argue that she does not represent the best of Jamaica, Jamaican society and Jamaicans as a whole, and certainly not decent and polite society (sic), but you know what, she is Jamaican through and through, loud brash and unapologetic, and truth be told, we are as a people loud, brash and unapologetic in revelling in our Jamaicanness.
It does get lonely being in a big city, more so if one's living in a community where there is a certain lack of diversity, and you are more or less cut off from your larger family and your own community. There is no more reassuring, no more comforting feeling than hearing than hearing that faint hint of a Jamaican accent. Suddenly all urgency departs, the previously sterilized or non existent accent emerges full blast and the conversation starts. And what's the first thing every Jamaican wants to know; "which pawt a Jamaica u cum from?". And in seeking affinity with our newly found country man, we then try to find if circles do indeed connect and if there is any link as weak as it might be, between the new busom buddies. Bless our hearts, but the back and forth of questions that follows, that would be considered "faassing" back home becomes heightened as you seek to make that instant connection to your fellow countryman. All social divisions that would have existed back in Jamaica; me from up so and u from down so, town versus country, Labour versus PNP, and so on, no longer exist, because as insular as your life becomes once u step off that plane we really all want to feel that we belong, that we matter, and that we just aren't easily replaceable cogs in the never resting industrial cogs.
More than anything, this video reaffirmed in me, that intrinsic quality, often imitated but never duplicated quite right; that je ne sais quois that seems to be a part of our Jamaican makeup. Yes, it's nice seeing that brief flash of Usain 's victorious image up there in the ITV's news intro, and the constant small "positive" reminders of how we are excelling on the world's stage and ccertainly, some people might argue that she does not represent the best of Jamaica, Jamaican society and Jamaicans as a whole, and certainly not decent and polite society (sic), but you know what, she is Jamaican through and through, loud brash and unapologetic, and truth be told, we are as a people loud, brash and unapologetic in revelling in our Jamaicanness.
It does get lonely being in a big city, more so if one's living in a community where there is a certain lack of diversity, and you are more or less cut off from your larger family and your own community. There is no more reassuring, no more comforting feeling than hearing than hearing that faint hint of a Jamaican accent. Suddenly all urgency departs, the previously sterilized or non existent accent emerges full blast and the conversation starts. And what's the first thing every Jamaican wants to know; "which pawt a Jamaica u cum from?". And in seeking affinity with our newly found country man, we then try to find if circles do indeed connect and if there is any link as weak as it might be, between the new busom buddies. Bless our hearts, but the back and forth of questions that follows, that would be considered "faassing" back home becomes heightened as you seek to make that instant connection to your fellow countryman. All social divisions that would have existed back in Jamaica; me from up so and u from down so, town versus country, Labour versus PNP, and so on, no longer exist, because as insular as your life becomes once u step off that plane we really all want to feel that we belong, that we matter, and that we just aren't easily replaceable cogs in the never resting industrial cogs.
But back to Mad Jamaican Woman. We have as a people developed a strong sense of self, a distinctly vibrant and buzzing national identity. We are known for our colourful and lively personalities. Mad Jamaican Woman was only letting the offending man know that there still has to be respect for the law of the land, that she wasn't going to tolerate him breaking the law, at the expense of her comfort. Having had to hassle with public transport in London, and have met some of these offending characters, I have felt Mad Jamaican Woman's grief and ire tho i certainly didn't have the cajones to let off a few claats, and let them have it in said colourful manner.
Mad Jamaican Woman reminded me of the colourful, buzzing, slightly dangerous vibe u feel now where else on the globe but Kingston and you know what, I think we need to track her down and give her an O.J.
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