This was a high week-end in Washington DC as we celebrated the achievements of folks of Caribbean heritage who are contributing to the richness of American life.
This is the 16th. year of this awards ceremony coordinated by the Institute of Caribbean Studies.
.
Usain Bolt was honored with the Vanguard Award for his phenomenal accomplishments in sports. Usain was in Mexico for a previously scheduled event with the IOC.
His main ambassadors represented his presence. Mom and Dad Bolt and his manger Mr. Norman Peart represented our hero.
Usain Bolt, the 2009 Vanguard Award Recipient.
.
I was privileged to spend a few hours in an intimate gathering with some track and field die-hard fans to relive Usain Bolt’s major achievements over the last few years. To sweeten the experience, the guest of honor were the Bolts and Mr. Peart!
.
The atmosphere was filled with joyful anticipation. The closest event I could think of to give you a sense of the mood of the occasion was meeting with Mary and Joseph after Jesus had fed the 5000. Even so, there was no trumpet blare when they arrived. If it was not for the give away resemblance of his dad, I would have missed their entrance.
.
Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt are graciously humble folks who are still trying to put context to the Cinderella-like life they have experienced since their famous son bolted unto the world scene. His dad shared that he still pinches himself when he is settling in in some swank hotel in his many travels. They are pretty determined to stay grounded and remain contented in the district of Sherwood Content, Trelawny. He runs a meat store but the increased travel disrupts the store’s routine.
.
Our kind host set the mood for a great afternoon. The food was delicious and the conversation was easy with these charming folks.
Both parents were athletes, thus explaining the multiplying DNA effect.
They shared his nickname, VJ, which he only answer from those he knows. His dad find himself calling Bolt, well Bolt as others usually address him.
.
His mom remembers the determined toddler of two wanting to go to school. She agreed and he was off and running. At age five his marvelous speed was discovered. They remember his only loss, his first visit to national champs. It was a case of country boy go to town, and getting used to the logistics of the bewildering event. He vowed that would never happen again, and so we have witnessed.
.
His folks were comfortable enough to share about his religious faith. His mom is a devout Seventh-day Adventist, but Usain had to make a decision about his athletics future given that most competitions are on Saturday.
His coach continues to support his faith development in the Baptist tradition. Along with this issue, the luring of the females is a major concern for mom. Mom remember being in Florida when the car accident in last April occured. Her heart was only comforted knowing that dad was there to take care of business. Dad continues to have significant influence in guiding their famous son.
.
Our host then fired up the multi-media system taking us back to 2007 where his world coming out race occurred. The crescendo of stomping, screaming, and singing of the national anthem filled that living room. It was great getting the color commentary of the Bolts as they retold the details surrounding each event. The recordings were replayed repeatedly to squeeze every sentiment out of each event.
.
When asked which was their most memorable event, they shared in synchronicity the 200 meters race at the Olympics. Mom was confident that he would break the world record, while dad had his reservations given that he had just recently been depleted by the emotions of the historic 100 meter record.
Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt with Chris Daley
.
Well, the work of ambassadors are tireless. As the darkness fell, they were off again.
Let us remember this fine family in our prayers that they will have the sustaining energy to support their famous son, especially during these limelight years.
His mom yanked him by the hood of his jacket unto the train. She sternly pointed at an open seat demanded he rest himself in it.He casually flung himself into the seat not noticing that his backpack was disturbing his seat partner.At the next stop, the passenger beside him disembarked . As I took her place, I decided to try an experiment.
.
Could I in some way spark a positive response from this boy who looked to be around 10?
I opened up my Kindle and started to read. I glanced up at the response of the woman sitting across the isle from us. The sternness she had shown before was melting into the warmness of a motherly gaze. She had seen what I was about witness, a heart encouraged in a new way.
.
His eyes were as large as saucers as he discovered the electronic ink of the E-reader. I asked him if he had one of these in school. He nodded no, but shared that longing wish.
.
I was about to let him “take the machine for a test drive”, when the train arrived at his stop. He longingly sauntered off the train with what I hoped was a new perspective for learning and a spark of the possibility.
.
I share this story to say we do not know how our small action may engage a young mind with new possibilites. The video link below tells the story of how an Eddie Murphy movie changed a life that has a multiplying , positive effects. Invest 8 minutes, and I guarentee you will be inspired.
You have as much star power as a Eddie Murphy. Just be open to the possibility. This is the logo that encouraged my engagement with that young man this week.
Being born on an Island gives me a special sensitivity to life on a lush rock.
Here we are in October, and the Caribbean has been blessed with uncommon serenity of the Atlantic and Caribbean seas.
.
The Islands of the Pacific has not been that fortunate.
In the period of just a few days, the Philippines has been hammered by two typhoons. American Samoa is grieving from the wake of a terrible tsunami, and Indonesian’s national nerve have been rattled by the repeated shaking of 6 plus magnitude earthquakes.
.
We can generate a lot of heat with arguments regarding the impact of global warming, or we can do something constructive.
.
Instead, use this as an opportunity to nurture the generosity of your heart.
How about sharing a gift of Thanksgiving for the so far quiet season in the Caribbean.
.
One place that I have lots of trust and confidence in delivering maximum service with minimum overhead year in, year out is ADRA.
.
This is one suggestion, but take action and support the cause.
.
“The human contribution is the essential ingredient. It is only in the giving of oneself to others that we truly live.”
September 7 would have been the 90th. birthday of Miss Lou.
Dr. the Hon. Louise Simone Bennett Coverley
She was a thought leader that use her gifts of words and presence to influence the Jamaican culture to embrace its preciousness. In honor of her, we share one of her works.
Dutty Tough - Louise Bennett
Sun a shine but tings no bright;
Doah pot a bwile, bickle no nuff;
River flood but water scarce, yawl
Rain a fall but dutty tough.
Tings so bad dat nowadays when
Yuh ask smaddy how dem do
Dem fraid yuh tek it tell dem back,
So dem no answer yuh.
No care omuch we dah work fa
Hard-time still een we shut;
We dah fight, Hard-time a beat we,
Dem might raise we wages, but
One poun gawn awn pon we pay, an
We no feel no merriment
For ten poun gawn pon we food
An ten pound pon we rent!
Saltfish gawn up, mackerel gawn up.
Pork en beef gawn up,
An when rice and butter ready
Dem just go pon holiday!
.
We interrupt this fine work to share the wisdom of a passionate senior Jamaican.
Here is a hint! It is not in the heart of DC, but is a stone throw away around the Belt Way at Northern Virginia Community College.
.
.
So you were not in Berlin to see Bolt, why miss an opportunity to meet Basil Dawkins, the Bolt of Jamaican theater?
Basil Dawkins, Award winning playwright
.
He and his award winning team came to Northern Virginia and delivered a spectacular performance of their award winning play, which Way is out
.
This play tackles some huge societal issues , bring the tension of the issue to its full consciousness, use humor as a powerful teaching vehicle, and delivers redemption of the human spirit as the curtain closes.
.
Want to have some fun giving your non-patois friend a express lesson in listening skill, this play delivers.
This play critic was talking about playwright & producer, Basil Dawkins’ latest work,
“Which Way is Out”.
.
Basil Dawkins
For those who may not be aware of the magnificent breadth and scope of his work, let me take a moment to share.
.
Celebrating over 30 years in theater as actor, producer and multi award winning playwright his latest offering Which Way Is Out? Follows a long tradition of issue oriented plays rooted in the Jamaican experience which theater goers all over the world continue to find relevant current engaging and entertaining.
.
His list of successfully written and produced plays include Flat mate, Parson and Mrs Jones, Couples, Champagne and Sky Juice, Same Song , Different Tune, / God Bless, Power Play, Toy Boy, Feminine Justice, What The Hell Is Happening To Us, Dear?, Forbidden, No Dirty Money, A Gift For Mom, No Disrespect, Hot Spot, Uptown Bangarang, Uptown Bangarang 2.
.
Basil has through the years served his community and his industry well. He has been President of The Jamaica Association of Dramatic Artists, he has served on the Government of Jamaica Advisory Board on Arts Culture and Entertainment, The Ward Theater Foundation and currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the CHASE fund set up by the government of Jamaica to fund projects in Arts and Culture.
.
His plays have continued to be selected by amateur and professional theater groups for performances in Canada , USA , Great Britain and the West Indies . In his country he was recognized for his contribution to the development of theater when he was awarded the prestigious Musgrave Medal. He has been awarded Keys to several USA cities and for his works he has been awarded numerous Actor Boy Awards by the International Theater Institute – Jamaican Chapter, in the categories, for Best Script, Best Productions, Best Dramas, and Best Comedies
This Saturday & Sunday, your opportunity to experience the cultural excellence of the Caribbean.
.
We had the distinct privilege to share a few moments of conversation with Maylynne Walton one of the fine actress of his latest work.
Maylynne Walton
.
Maylynne studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and was awarded a scholarship to Emerson College in Boston . With 15 years of ballet and 10 years of professional theater in Jamaica , she also stars in Jamaica ’s longest running soap opera, Royal Palm Estate, and has done 5 local films. Her nominated theater roles include Joey Clarke’s Making a Killing, David Heron’s 4Play and University Players’ After Mrs. Rochester. For Basil Dawkins’ Productions, Maylynne has played in Uptown Bangarang and Uptown Bangarang 2, making Which Way Is Out? her third outing with Basil Dawkins Productions.
We are all excited about the Herculean feat of Usain Bolt in the great showdown in Germany.
On August 16, 2008, he blazed to an Olympic record of 9.69 sec.
Well, on August 16, 2009, he turbo-charged his performance to 9.58 seconds that puts him in the league of the immortals.
.
We need to celebrate this marvelous performance, the new Berlin Express.
However, is our hearts and minds large enough to give a powerful affirmation to the Honorable Marcus Garvey, an extra ordinary national hero?
.
August 17, 2009 marks Honorable Marcus Mosiah 122 nd. birthday.
His vision and perseverance gave millions of people a sense of unified purpose that still have practiced principles that can resurrect and knit together our scattered communities.
.
It was indeed our privilege to have a conversation with several of the leaders of the Marcus Mosiah Garvey Institute.
.
They shared some key insight to this giant of a man.
Do yourself and your youngster a huge favor. Pour a tall, cold glass of lemonade, or iced tea. You will certainly be inspired and get a new sense of the possibility!
.
A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.
The unemployment rate and other technical terms used to describe the impact fail to capture the anguish and human toll of the economic tsunami.
.
Like a tornado, it strike swats within communities and industries leaving many staggering and drowning in a sea of debt and despair.
.
One powerful tool that we do possess to battle the sinking feeling of despair is hope.
Hope is said to give energy to the mind to explore the possibilities of a new day. Hope stays the course even when doors are slammed, and phone calls are not returned.
.
Putting a face to and sharing the odyssey of the journey from joblessness to employment can hopefully inspire those of us in the unemployment vice.
“I am grateful for all of my problems. After each one was overcome, I became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I grew in all my difficulties.”
The Jamaican national motto is ‘Out of Many One People’, based on the population’s multi-racial roots. The motto is represented on the Coat of Arms, showing a male and female member of the Taino tribe standing on either side of a shield which bears a red cross with five golden pineapples. The crest shows a Jamaican crocodile mounted on the Royal Helmet of the British Monarchy and mantling.
The aspirational tone of this motto may have given us the false sense that we have arrived at the kum ba ya era of heaven-bound maturity. However, recent criticisms from a chorus of global voices have given me pause to reconsider how well we have practiced the call of this motto in an evolving and demanding 21 st. century global community.
.
We have initially pushed back calling the criticism unfair, and un-warranted. However, is this a teachable moment that we are missing that could propel us into a future that gets us into fuller alignment with our motto?
.
Let me raise some discussion regarding the two most prevalent concerns that I have heard. These are regarding:
Homophobia
Second class service of African-American clients
.
We can deal with these perceptions in several ways.
We could vehemently deny them.
We can bury our heads in the sand, and install the code of silence.
We can muster the needed courage and address the issues square on.
.
I am choosing the later, and invite you to do likewise. The timely addressing of the tarnishing of our brand will have implication on our moral development and economic future whether we like it or not.
.
Our brand value is what others perceive you possess. It is also something you can develop, shape, and control. Branding is what makes you unique — and better than all your competition in the marketplace.
.
So, who are the shapers of our brand that would create such a growing negative perception?
How do they get employed for such an important function?
Who preserves and defend the wealth of the culture ?
How do we create tools and mechanisms to transmit the best and discourage the worst in the culture within the constraints of the constitution?
.
Dance hall musicians have been tagged the leading cultural pied pipers and they are clearly holding a heavy sway over the hearts and minds of our youngsters.
This week, we celebrate the 40th year of that glorious moon walk. While it is good to reflect, a perilous future confronts our near term journey. It calls for new innovation, new pioneering to provide our economy with high octane fuel. For this to happen, the underutilized human potential need to be energized and new dreams and possibilities given birth.
.
A new set of alchemists are needed to encourage this process, and guess what folks, I think they are here!
What do you get when you combine the energy of a social entrepreneur, a master teacher, and a motivational speaker?
You have a wining team dedicated to change young lives through the catalyst of entrepreneurship. Meet the fantastic partnership of:
Toniette Wheatle , the founder of Wheatle Peart, which is a social consulting business. www.WheatlePeart.com
Alphonso Roundtree , former NFL player and global guest speaker. www.ARoundtree.com
.
These folks have joined capabilities to partner with business institutions and go into under served communities and get youngsters excited about entrepreneurship. They are growing young CEOs in some places written off by many. They have designed the teen CEO blueprint with much success. This blueprint is being deployed in North America, Asia, Africa, and of course, Jamaica.
.
The current economic situation has left us reeling. Finding work for many is as frustrating and elusive as catching a duppy (a ghost for you non-Jamaicans ). Being able to truly appreciate one’s potential, develop partnerships, products and services in a global oyster will serve us well going forward.
