Stories about Jamaica from January, 2012
Jamaica: Bleached
Annie Paul posts an article she wrote about Vybz Kartel and the skin bleaching phenomenon.
Jamaica: Types of Racism
“Racists in Jamaica come in at least two varieties: upfront and down-low”: Jamaica Woman Tongue explains.
Jamaica: Gully versus Gaza
Jamaica Salt considers “how Jamaican music superstars, Vybz Kartel and Mavado have taken their different paths”, suggesting: “Kartel [is] more real in a way but when it comes to survival in this life, he maybe has something to learn from the Gully God.”
Caribbean: TEDx Shows “Ideas Worth Spreading”
“Ideas worth spreading.” With this simple slogan, TED.com, which began in 1984 as an annual conference devoted to technology, entertainment and design, has infiltrated the Internet and empowered people in various countries to spark discussions in local, self-organised TED-branded events, dubbed TEDx. This sharing of ideas has found its way to the Caribbean - in 2011, five TEDx events were held: two in Jamaica, two in Trinidad and one in Puerto Rico. Here's a look back on the events that helped change the region...
Jamaica: Bogle, Rastas & Dons
“It may be unseemly to some folks to see a commonality between Jamaica’s national hero Paul Bogle, the Rastafari and the dons who rule the island’s so called politically defined ‘garrison communities’”: Abeng News Magazine makes the link.
Caribbean: Thank You, Dr. King
Today, the United States marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day - a floating holiday which celebrates the birthday of the late civil right leader. The occasion resonates with Caribbean bloggers, both at home and throughout the diaspora and a few of them share their thoughts…
Jamaica: Blog Awards
“This award didn’t depend on electoral machinery…and for that I’m proud to accept it”: Active Voice wins a Jamaica Blog Award and thanks the organizers for “doing what’s necessary to popularize and publicize what we all do online…”
Jamaica: Tribute to Nembhard
National Gallery of Jamaica Blog pays tribute to the artist Hylton Nembhard, who recently passed away, calling him “a significant figure in the context of Jamaican art.”
Jamaica: Playing Dead
Active Voice takes notice of a story in which a man, after being shot by police, “declined to allow himself to be pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital”, saying: “I sincerely hope the media will monitor the progress of this case. Otherwise no prize for guessing what happens next....
Jamaica: “Official” Languages
Under the Saltire Flag is proud of the job his uncle has done as Chairman of Jamaica’s electoral committee, following the country's recent general elections, noting that he “made one unfortunate comment leading up to the elections. He said that all electoral officers should speak ONLY in English”. The blogger...
Jamaica: Portia in Power
Jamaica Salt says of the outcome of the recent national elections: “It’s not surprising she won after the debacle of the one term Bruce Golding JLP government”, while B.C. Pires quips that God is the new Jamaican Prime Minister.
Jamaica: Portia's Driving the Bus
“It’s an obvious thing but one that only a leader who inspires and moves the people can achieve. If anyone is capable of doing this it’s Portia Simpson-Miller”: Active Voice republishes the account she wrote of the new Prime Minister's swearing-in.
Caribbean: Looking Back on 2011
The regional blogosphere in 2011 saw a few territories, most notably Cuba, taking front and centre - especially when it came to digital activism. The rest of the Caribbean meanwhile, grappled with everything from homophobia to states of emergency, weathered hurricanes and questioned the boundaries of online privacy.
