As we celebrate this year’s Jamaica Independence, 62 years, and the 12th year of Jamaican American Power 100, organized by Carib News; we have much to celebrate we are living in a historic time when Kamala Harris, with Jamaican heritage, is leading the presidential ticket for the Democratic Party and could in short order be president of the United States of America.
This gives us additional reason to be proud and the excitement and energy that Kamala Harris’ candidacy brings light, not just on Jamaica but indeed the world. The Jamaican American Power 100 recognition and designation was to highlight and appreciate Jamaican Americans making a difference in The United States and their contribution to the advancement of humanity in the world. Kamala Harris is the latest representation of that mission and the mission of Carib News over the past 42 years to do exactly that bring us out of the shadow into full realization and appreciation for what we as a people and community have done and continue to do, and this is no new phenomenon.
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The historical precedence goes way back and is exemplified from Marcus Garvey to Colin Powell, Claude McKay to Harry Belafonte, Sheryl Lee Ralph to Kerry Washington just to mention a few. There has been a strong partnership for progress with Jamaican Americans and others in the continued struggle for freedom and advancement of our people throughout the years.
Currently, the Jamaican American contribution to the United States starts at the very top with the Biden administration of course Kamala Harris is his vice president but there was Susan Rice, Chief Domestic Policy Adviser, and three members of Congress with Caribbean roots. One governor Wes Moore and two Lieutenant governors who are of Jamaican roots.
There is Christine Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Renee Bowen Council of Economic Advisers, Nick Perry America’s Ambassador to Jamaica and so the list goes on significant achievements in the legal field, medical field, and certainly so many climbing the corporate ladder and so many are doing great work as entrepreneurs within our community.
There are a lot of examples and role models in the Jamaican American community
that we can look to with pride and admiration and point to the 100 persons featured in this week’s newspaper as just a sampling of the greatness of Jamaican Americas and what they have done and to be used as an inspiration and encouragement to our young and blooming people.
We have achieved so much and we need to take these examples as proof that we can achieve even more there’s no reason for us not to be striving for the best and the Power 100 is indeed some of the best.
With Jamaica celebrating the significant 62ndAnniversary of its Independence Prime Minister Holness in his theme has laid out what he refers to as, Jamaica to the World 62 years of Records and Achievement, and indeed the Prime Minister is right a small country like Jamaica is punching well above its weight in so many areas of achievement, Jamaica is an established brand in so many categories.
The Prime Minister went on to recognize in a special way the athletes who are representing Jamaica at the Olympics and how proud he is of their accomplishments. This small island country has generated so much attention excitement love and admiration throughout the world he pays tribute to the artists who have brought Jamaica recognition and also to the achievers both in Jamaica and in the diaspora who have contributed so much in so many areas.
Mentioning that our diaspora has been active along with the international and multinational community in supporting Jamaica in its many efforts including the recent disaster of Hurricane Beryl. The Prime Minister while celebrating the good achievement of Jamaica, the country and its people also wants to remind us in his words, that while we celebrate our freedom as a people and independence as a nation we must consider the meaning of freedom and independence as they are not without obligation and responsibility, we must also consider the global political environmental context in which we exercise our freedom and independence. We are a small country developing state with an open economy and a highly connected world where economic shocks such as supply chain disruption, political shocks, war, and COVID as a pandemic and any technical interruption and of course climate change are all conditions that impact Jamaica and all that we must be mindful of, and all that we should be prepared for and certainly must be addressed even in times of celebration.
The Prime Minister was clear on the hope and potential of the country but also on the obstacles and challenges that a small country like Jamaica will face. In the words of the folklore ‘we little but we tallawah’ and we see that over and over in Jamaican’s performance and Jamaican American’s achievements, we celebrate Jamaica’s 62nd with possibility, purpose and perseverance as evidenced in the Jamaican American Power 100.
Happy Independence Day, Jamaica!
