UNICEF: For Every Child

#ForEveryChild, I wish the grace of wonder.

The plague of adult violence terrorizes our children.

From child-soldiers and sex-trafficking to the casual violence of spankings, children’s lives are destroyed by adults who abuse their power.

We can change this.

History has been changed when a few activists confronted threats to our common humanity.

Violence against children is a global threat.

As compassionate global citizens, we must become activists.




UNICEF #ForEveryChild Tiny Stories

Now Accepting Entries: Jamaica 51 Essay Competition

The Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami is now accepting entries for its Annual Essay Competition to commemorate Jamaica’s Independence 51st Anniversary.

The competition is open to all Jamaican children, first and second generation, residing in Florida State, and forms part of the Independence celebrations across the Florida communities.

Eligible students can choose from a selection of topics related to the island’s cultural heritage some of which include community leadership, entertainment, education, history, cultural heritage, geography and national development.

Applicants must be between five and eighteen years of age, normally resident in the State of Florida, and submit entries in one of three age categories -  five to eight (5-8); nine to twelve (9-12); and thirteen to eighteen (13-18).

For more information, please follow this link:
J51 Essay Competition - Consulate General of Jamaica:

'via Blog this'

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The Coalition for the Exoneration of Marcus Garvey is petitioning Senator Bill Nelson, Representative Frederica Wilson, and the Congress of the United States of America for the exoneration of Marcus Garvey:

http://www.causes.com/actions/1722148-urge-congress-to-exonerate-civil-rights-leader-marcus-garvey

We are also petitioning President Barack Obama to exonerate Marcus Garvey:
http://signon.org/sign/exonerate-marcus-garvey?source=c.url&r_by=4631897
Thank you for your support..

Last Day for FREE Download: The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby

Today is the last day for the FREE download my new children’s E-book, The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby, on the Amazon Kindle: http://goo.gl/Gusje

I love working with Christina. From the time she was in kindergarten, Christina and I have been creating Christmas cards, and The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby is the third book that we've worked on together. She's a gifted artist and I am lucky that she has collaborated with me on so many projects.

Set in the island of Jamaica, The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby is the story about Joe and Myriam Lumley, who find a baby in a Dutch pot on their doorstep. Without hesitating, the Lumleys take the child, whom they name Eleanor, into their home. But little do they know, Attaberra, Queen of the Zemis, who has watched over the island since it rose out of the sea, has been watching their every move. The Queen has also made a prediction about the child. Will her prediction come true?

The themes of family, hope, and redemption run through the book. It's what the Christmas story is all about."

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Blog Disclosure Policy

Geoffrey Philp’s Blog Spot receives a percentage of the purchase price on anything you buy through links to Amazon, Shambala Books, Hay House, or any of the Google ads or Google Custom Search.


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Disclaimer of Endorsement

The documents posted on this Web site may contain hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links and pointers are provided for visitors' convenience. I do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any linked information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to other Web sites or agencies is not intended to assign importance to those sites and the information contained therein, nor is it intended to endorse, recommend, or favor any views expressed, or commercial products or services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites, by trade name, trademark, manufacture, or otherwise.

Reference in this Web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the site's visitors, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by this blog.

Free for the Next 2 Days: The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby

My daughter and I have published a new children’s E-book, The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby, and for the next two days, our E-book may be downloaded for free on the Amazon Kindle: http://goo.gl/Gusje

I love working with Christina. From the time she was in kindergarten, Christina and I have been creating Christmas cards, and The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby is the third book that we've worked on together. She's a gifted artist and I am lucky that she has collaborated with me on so many projects.

Set in the island of Jamaica, The Christmas Dutch Pot Baby is the story about Joe and Myriam Lumley, who find a baby in a Dutch pot on their doorstep. Without hesitating, the Lumleys take the child, whom they name Eleanor, into their home. But little do they know, Attaberra, Queen of the Zemis, who has watched over the island since it rose out of the sea, has been watching their every move. The Queen has also made a prediction about the child. Will her prediction come true?

The themes of family, hope, and redemption run through the book. It's what the Christmas story is all about."

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Blog Disclosure Policy

Geoffrey Philp’s Blog Spot receives a percentage of the purchase price on anything you buy through links to Amazon, Shambala Books, Hay House, or any of the Google ads or Google Custom Search.


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Disclaimer of Endorsement

The documents posted on this Web site may contain hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links and pointers are provided for visitors' convenience. I do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any linked information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to other Web sites or agencies is not intended to assign importance to those sites and the information contained therein, nor is it intended to endorse, recommend, or favor any views expressed, or commercial products or services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites, by trade name, trademark, manufacture, or otherwise.

Reference in this Web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the site's visitors, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by this blog.

Characters in Caribbean Folk Tales; Anancy Festival 2012

For the children's writing workshop, "How to Write Your Own Caribbean Folktale," that I'll be conducting at the Anancy Festival in Pembroke Pines tomorrow, I'll be introducing some of the characters that live in our dreams, fears, and hopes.

"Anancy" by Christina Philp
Anancy or Anansi, the Trickster/ spider man can change into a man or spider at will. A rugged survivor, who uses his wits to over come any obstacle, Anancy is rarely a victim.

"Papa Bois" by Christina Philp
"Papa Bois." An old man ragged clothes, sometimes hairy and though very old, extremely strong and muscular, with cloven hoofs and leaves growing out of his beard.

"La Sirene" by Christina Philp
"La Sirene," "River Mumma," "Mama Dlo," "Mama Dglo" or "Mammy Wata". A female water spirit who guards the source of many of our rivers. She can sometimes be seen sitting in the river, combing her hair with a golden comb. She sometimes leaves her comb on a rock, to entice victims whom she then draws into the water

"Soucouyant" by Christina Philp 
"Ole Hig" or "Soucouyant." A woman, often old, who sheds her skin at night and flies through the skies, sometimes as a ball of flame, to suck blood from her victims.

"Loup Garou": bit.ly/LbqnJM
The "Ligahoo" or "Loup Garou." A shape shifter, who can change form (to a werewolf) so that at night he could go around to kill without ever being caught.

"Rolling Calf" : bit.ly/MKgTLi
Rolling Calf. A huge, calf-like creature, which rolls along the road, blocking the way of nighttime travelers, and chasing them with a wicked intention. It has blazing red eyes that gash fire, and a chain that it drags behind it, making an unnerving clanking noise.

"La Diablesse": bit.ly/MKfK6p"La Diablesse." An old woman who steps forth with her cloven hoof from behind a tree on a lonely road, the sound of chains mingling with the rustle of her petticoat. Sometimes she takes the form of a beautiful woman, to lure some unsuspecting passerby to his death or perhaps to madness. 

"Headless Horseman" by Christina Philp
The Headless Horseman. An evil spirit riding a black horse and carrying his head under one arm (or holding it high to see at great distance). He wields a whip made from a human corpse's spine. When the headless horseman stops riding, death occurs. He usually calls out a name, at which point the named person dies immediately. In another version, he is the headless driver of a black carriage. 

It will be interesting to see how the kids react to and change these characters for their stories.

See you tomorrow!

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Blog Disclosure Policy


Geoffrey Philp’s Blog Spot receives a percentage of the purchase price on anything you buy through links to Amazon, Shambala Books, Hay House, or any of the Google ads or Google Custom Search.




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Disclaimer of Endorsement


The documents posted on this Web site may contain hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links and pointers are provided for visitors' convenience. I do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any linked information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to other Web sites or agencies is not intended to assign importance to those sites and the information contained therein, nor is it intended to endorse, recommend, or favor any views expressed, or commercial products or services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites, by trade name, trademark, manufacture, or otherwise.


Reference in this Web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the site's visitors, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by this blog.

College Summit Florida Awards @ MDC

Gerard Robinson, Florida Commissioner of Education
Miami Dade College (MDC) will host the College Summit Florida Awards featuring Gerard Robinson, Florida Commissioner of Education, as keynote speaker, at11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 21, 2012, at the Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami.
Robinson will speak to 300 high school seniors and educators from 13 Miami-Dade and Broward high schools, all of whom are making a difference in creating a "college-going culture" in their schools. In addition to the Commissioner's speech, individual students and schools will be recognized by organizations such as Deloitte, The Children's Trust and Darden Foundation.
News media interested in covering the event will have a chance to interview local students, educators and guests between 10:45 to 11:20 a.m. and between noon and 1 p.m. with the commissioner, on the day of the event. All news media must schedule their interviews in advance with Vanessa Lillie at 816-217-7296 or vlillie@collegesummit.org. 
Other notables attending the event include Madeline Pumariega, MDC Wolfson Campus president; John Ise of The Children's Trust; Angela Woods of the Darden Foundation; representatives from the College Summit's partner schools; and Peter Pruitt, Deloitte's managing partner of the Florida/Puerto Rico offices.
About College Summit
College Summit-Florida uniquely combines a passion for inspiring students with precision measurement to deliver mean­ingful outcomes for the students and schools it serves. Nationally, College Summit trains high school principals, teachers, and the most influential students in lower-income communities to raise their college-going and success rates. College Sum­mit has grown from working with four students in the basement of a low-income housing project in 1993, to serving annually 30,000 students at partner high schools in 12 states and the District of Columbia.
College Summit Florida Awards featuring Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson as Keynote Speaker
WHEN: Monday, May 21, 10:45 AM - 1:00 PMWHERE: Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 300 NE Second Ave.
For more information, visit www.collegesummit.org.

Blog Disclosure Policy

Geoffrey Philp’s Blog Spot receives a percentage of the purchase price on anything you buy through links to Amazon, Shambala Books, Hay House, or any of the Google ads or Google Custom Search.


***

Disclaimer of Endorsement

The documents posted on this Web site may contain hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links and pointers are provided for visitors' convenience. I do not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any linked information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to other Web sites or agencies is not intended to assign importance to those sites and the information contained therein, nor is it intended to endorse, recommend, or favor any views expressed, or commercial products or services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites, by trade name, trademark, manufacture, or otherwise.

Reference in this Web site to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the site's visitors, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by this blog.

The Responsibility of Children’s Books Authors in Postcolonial Societies

Do you hear me? Do you see me? 
Considerations on the responsibility of the author of children’s books in post colonial societies.

By Diane Browne


At some time when I was younger, I wished that there were stories about us, as "normal people," living our way of life--not just folktales and duppy stories. I eventually decided to write stories, to show not only that we are normal, but that we are important; we don’t need to be a princess with long golden hair; we don’t need snow or haystacks; we don’t need to be in a foreign land to be somebody in a book.


However, even as we replace the socialization of books of colonialism and give voice to our own children, I think that we have some responsibilities. Some of them are obvious. Like authors everywhere, we must respect the child by writing an engaging story, our characters should be worthy of the reader’s attention, and the topic and setting relevant to the child.


The characters. Replacing the blonde princess with the Amerindian princess should not be used as an escape valve as we struggle to come to terms with ourselves. Of course, we can have a story with an Amerindian Princess or River Mumma if that’s what our story requires. We know that our characters should reflect the major ethnic group/s in our country. This need not stop us from writing about other ethnic groups, should we wish. Our character, from whatever background, will call to us, and we will tell his/her story in a particular place at a particular time. And in our multiethnic, multi-religious region, we know that all characters are due respect.


So shouldn’t we know what our character looks like? This is often left to the illustrator guided by the artwork brief. Some writers feel that is enough. However, I like to use words to describe my characters, because, just as: “If I am not in a book, this means I don’t really exist , then “If you can’t describe me, am I okay, acceptable?" So, I find words to describe my character’s appearance including HAIR!


We do not want to mention hair. I even wondered if I dared mention it in this post. However, there was a recent symposium on black beauty at one of our universities (reported in the press) at which "good hair/bad hair" came up as a concern. So you see the words used to describe us/divide us are still alive in 2012. (And before you say anything, I grew up with "What a pity the girl didn’t get the good hair!" and perception is reality; then, I found myself, and gradually, I became okay). So, perhaps it is our responsibility to find the bold and beautiful words to describe ourselves and our wonderful hair. We have to make our children know that we know they are ALL beautiful.


Language: English or Creole. Respect is due both languages. I write the narrative in standard English as it is spoken by us. I believe that we have a responsibility to reinforce the use and understanding of this universal language which our children need to pass exams, get a job, work/live elsewhere. I use a modified Creole for the authenticity of dialogue. It’s up to writers how much Creole they use in the dialogue. This decision will be affected by the perceived target audience; for example, if we wish the story to be understood in other countries, even within the Caribbean.


Language can also define a character’s social standing. Although deeper Creole usually identifies those from rural areas or from the lower socio-economic group, my concern is never to stereotype a particular group. I am more likely to use variations of Creole within in one family, or according to situation; for example, we get excited, we use Creole.


Family type. We have a number of family types represented in our region; the nuclear, extended, single parent, grandmothers raising children. Even if we believe firmly in the 'correctness" of one type, we have the responsibility to see that no child should read our book and feel that it negates him/her, or diminishes the efforts made by the family/significant others in that child’s life.


Controversial topics.Even when we know situations exist which are injurious to our children, we don’t usually write about them: abuse, drugs, and gangs. Perhaps because our societies are so small, we do not want to appear to be pointing a finger recklessly. Perhaps we think topics like this are better suited to the young adult group. Perhaps we wonder if these could be the responsibility of the writer in a postcolonial society?


Well, if they are our realities then surely we have a responsibility to write about them also. However, a word of caution. It’s best not to write about something unless you can handle it authentically. You have to decide if you want to take on the challenge of the topic; if so, then do the research; present a real character with whom the reader can empathize, and produce a practical and safe solution in keeping with the reality of that character’s life.


The ending to a story needn’t be happily ever after, but I believe that it should present an understanding of life, which gives the reader hope. If we can’t do this for our young readers, why write?


Does this all sound too clinical? Well actually you consider these things, internalize them, and then you write a great story. It’s like the foundation for a building; you don’t see it when the building is completed, but it is there. Consider how other countries have used their folktales and children’s literature to socialize their peoples? Now consider how these stories from the developed world have been used to socialize us. We do have a responsibility to our children, to write our stories, to validate ourselves and our lives.


About Diane Brown


Diane Browne is the author of Children's Literature blog (http://dianebrowneblog.blogspot.com/) as well as a writer and editor of textbooks. She teaches writing workshops in children's fiction and textbook writing, both in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Diane’s books have been published by Heinemann Caribbean, Carlong Publishers, Arawak Publications, the Ministry of Education, Jamaica; Ginn, UK; Harcourt, Friendship Press, USA. Her most recent books are time travel adventure novels for the 9-13 year age group, The Ring and the Roaring Water (back to 1951 and Hurricane Charlie) and A Tumbling World ... A Time of Fire (1907 earthquake in Kingston). Ms. Browne is a recipient of a Bronze Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica, one of the most prestigious literary awards in Jamaica.

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My Blog in 5 Categories

Based on readership, here are the top 5 categories on my blog:
 

Bob Marley & Rastafari

Caribbean Literature & Writing

Marcus Garvey

Children

Fatherhood

 
Dig through and enjoy!




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Thank you!


Image source: http://blackfathers.org/

Children's Month: May 2012

I'm taking a page from Diane Browne: "To celebrate this month, please buy a local ( Jamaican or Caribbean) children's book, and if you don't have a child or grandchild to give it to then please give it to a school or charity."

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Thank you!

MDC Freedom Tower Will Go Blue in Support of Child Abuse Prevention

Miami Dade College (MDC) will illuminate its National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower in blue in commemoration of Amigos For Kids’ annual month-long activities during National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. The Tower will be illuminated at sundown on Saturday, March 31, and then again on Monday, April 30, to mark the beginning and end of activities.


Amigos For Kids, a non-profit dedicated to preventing child abuse, will kick-off festivities with its Second Annual Celebration for Friendship Luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel at 11:30 a.m. on Mar. 31.


Amigos For Kids is a 501(C) 3 nonprofit corporation founded in 1991 to respond to the diverse needs of South Florida’s abused abandoned, neglected, and less-fortunate children and their families, through education, abuse prevention, and community involvement. To fulfill its mission, Amigos relies on the support of dedicated volunteers and donors throughout the community. Throughout the year, the organization creates awareness of its cause through public service campaigns, fundraising events, and community efforts such as the Amigos For Kids, There’s NO excuse for child abuse! ® campaign.


Miami Dade College is the nation’s largest institution of higher education with an enrollment of more than 174,000 students. It is also the nation’s top producer of Associate in Arts and Science degrees. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree programs including several baccalaureate degrees in education, public safety, supervision and management, nursing and others. In fact, its academic and workforce training programs have served as national models of excellence. MDC is also renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is home of the Miami Book Fair International, Miami International Film Festival, the Cultura del Lobo performing arts series, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, a sculpture park and a large art gallery and theater system. MDC has served nearly 2,000,000 students since it opened its doors in 1960.




MDC and Amigos for Kids to Light Up Freedom Tower in Blue


WHEN: Saturday, Mar. 31, 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
WHERE: MDC’s Freedom Tower 600 Biscayne Blvd.
MDC and Amigos for Kids to Light Up Freedom Tower in Blue


WHEN: Monday, Apr. 30, 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM
WHERE: MDC’s Freedom Tower 600 Biscayne Blvd.


For tickets, or more information regarding Amigos for Kids events, please call 305-279-1155, or visit www.amigosforkids.org.








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Thank you!

Celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day)

Tomorrow is El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), "a celebration every day of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds."

The new Dia site lists several ways you can help with spreading the word:

Download the Dia Resource Guide: http://dia.ala.org/sites/default/files/ResourceGuide%20UPDATED1-18-12.pdf

Download book recommendations: http://dia.ala.org/sites/default/files/Spanish%20brochure%20-%20FINAL3-28-12.pdf

Send an e-card: http://www.readingrockets.org/content/e-cards/setup.php?photo_id=4

Tomorrow will be a day to share our stories with children and to celebrate our community.



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Children's Book Fest @ South Regional/ Broward College Library

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Why I Donated to Crayons Count

My mother would have been disappointed with this post. For years, she donated to many charities and it wasn't until after her death when letters of condolence began flooding my mailbox that I discovered the names and stories of the many children from all over the world whom she had supported financially and in-kind. She believed in giving the way the Bible admonishes: "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."


For the most part, I've followed my mother's example of giving without drawing attention to myself. But Crayons Count is different kind of charity and my sole purpose for writing this post is to spread the word as best as I can about this noteworthy cause. And Crayons Count is important charity for many reasons:


Child-centered charity
Educational: Book Based
Support for literacy
Non-Governmental
Homegrown
Building Civil Society


In my post about Mona Heights, I described the kind of community that existed in Jamaica before the undeclared civil war of the 70s. Crayons Count is a step in the right direction of restoring that kind of civil society. But it won't happen by a miracle. It won't happen unless we put our hearts, minds, and money into projects like these.


I also like that Crayons Count is book based. I hope it will expand to include local authors and build on the children's awareness of our regional literature. Our children need to know from an early age that there are storytellers in our midst. If this happens, I believe literacy rates would increase and we could broaden the children's appreciation of our regional literature.


A classic regional literature appeals to the moral imagination and accomplishes what George Lamming in his lecture "The Present Future of Caribbean Literary & Cultural Studies," describes as "the education of feeling": "Art is the most civilizing instrument or tool in the education of feeling…the nurturing of a consciousness to respond sympathetically to a world of people and customs that are different from your own… and to approach the Other with respect."


The last point is very important. Because of our history and geography, Jamaica and the other islands in the Caribbean are uniquely qualified to discuss Otherness and respect. For example, although the book is above the reading level of the target audience of Crayons Count, Dog-Heart by Diana McCaulay imaginatively recreates the distinct worldviews of two characters from both ends of the Jamaican social spectrum. I'm not saying the novel is a panacea, but it points toward a solution.


We can respond imaginatively to others who are seemingly different without fear or violence. By expanding the scope of the readings, Crayons Count may be one of the building blocks of extending our conversations about topics that are relevant to our culture. As Lamming explained further: "Books stay alive when they are talked about in a variety of situations by people who recognize that the books are talking about them and may have originated with them."


Crayons Count is a program that works toward unifying Jamaicans in the care of our island's treasure: our children. It may also become that necessary bridge between race and class, the past and the future, which keeps our cultural gifts in circulation. This is why I used the Amazon link to make my donation:

http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/16XZFCOMX3V8U

I hope my mother will forgive me.






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Thank you!

Call for Papers: ‘Children’s Literature from the Commonwealth of Nations’

We invite submissions for a Special Issue of Bookbird in conjunction with the Commonwealth Education Trust (CET). The CET has promoted education, literacy and literature throughout the member states of the Commonwealth of Nations for 125 years. Their work has much in common with IBBY. Papers are invited on the literatures of Commonwealth countries, as well as on literacy education, the development of the imagination and critical thinking through reading, and other practical uses of literature. Papers of 4000 words are invited on, but not limited to, the following topics: 

• National identity in literature for children and teens
• Literacy programmes which incorporate children’s literature
• Thematic developments in national literatures
• Indigenous and diasporic literatures for children
• Multilingual children’s literature
• The impact of colonization and/or Empire on national literatures for children
• The oral tradition and/or literary retellings
• Trends in illustration techniques
• Prizes for children’s literature
• Non-fiction publishing for children and teens

Titles and abstracts of 250 words should be sent to both editors by 15th May 2012. Roxanne Harde rharde@augustana.ca and Lydia Kokkola lydia.kokkola@utu.fi

The full papers will be expected by 30th June 2012. Please see Bookbird’s website at www.ibby.org/bookbird for full submission details.

In addition, short reviews of recently published children’s literature (c.a. 300 words) or of research on children’s literature (c.a. 750 words) are warmly welcomed.

Papers which are not accepted for this issue will be considered for later issues of Bookbird.


Bookbird: A Journal of International Children's Literature (ISSN 0006 7377) is a refereed journal published quarterly by IBBY




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Crayons Count: A Building Block in Jamaica's Civil Society

There have been so many times when I have been invited to meetings with Jamaicans in the diaspora when the conversation has devolved into fevered rants about "all the things that are wrong with Jamaica."


Yes, the crime rate and garrison communities are atrocious. Yes, the decline in public morality is a cause for concern. But there are bright spots that shine beyond Jamaica's geographical boundaries.


One of these lights is Crayons Count.


As the founder of Do Good Jamaica, "an online information portal for and about civil society organizations in Jamaica," Deika Morrison is the driving force behind Crayons Count, "a project designed to support the early-childhood education programme and is endorsed by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) and has two primary objectives:


1. To put a learning kit of materials in all early-childhood institutions (i.e. basic and infant schools as recognised by the ECC) across Jamaica at back to school in September 2012. Each basic kit contains: 240 crayons, 10 books, two balls, two sets of blocks, four children's scissors, four puppets, four tubs of play dough and four packs of paper.


2. The complete kit: made up of four puzzles, four manipulatives, four sets of children's paint, eight children's paint brushes, eight glue sticks.


According to The Daily Gleaner: "These kits represent the basic starter material required by the basic and pre-schoolers, to set them on their way to a life of learning, that will eventually result in a more educated society and a change in the existing culture of the embracing of ignorance and the dependency syndrome that the culture breeds."


So many memes within our culture encourage "ignorance" and a "dependency syndrome." Jamaica's first national hero, Marcus Garvey, livicated his life to our emancipation from this type of "mental slavery." Crayons Count is one more step toward our liberation.


Marcus Garvey would have been proud.

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There is a well-known Chinese proverb, "It is better to light a candle that to curse the darkness." Here's one way to "light a candle."


Crayons Count has a link to Amazon so that those in the diaspora may also help with this remarkable project: http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/16XZFCOMX3V8U

Related Link: http://www.jamaicans.com/articles/primeinterviews/deikamorrisondogoodjamaica.shtml




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Thank you!

Consulate General launches Jamaica Independence Essay competition

Hon. Sandra Grant Griffiths

The Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami is now accepting entries for its Annual Essay Competition to mark Jamaica’s Independence Anniversary.


The competition is open to all Jamaican children, first and second generation, residing in Florida State, and forms part of the celebrations to observe the nation’s 50th anniversary of Independence throughout the Florida communities.


There are several topics of choice for the competition, launched this year under the theme of Jamaica’s responsibility, as stated in the National Pledge, of “advancing the welfare of the whole human race” and the merit in this project is to advance Diaspora Community awareness in a state that promotes diversity, while exposing our youth to their Jamaican culture and heritage. 


As they research and prepare compositions, applicants are given the opportunity to reflect on the nation’s history and culture; record how their Jamaican roots have impacted their upbringing; and the positive events that have catapulted the image of Jamaica and her outstanding Diaspora in the global arena. 


According to the Consul General, the Hon. Sandra Grant Griffiths, “Children of the Diaspora are being invited and encouraged to participate in the essay competition, to be inspired by our island’s rich history and cultural heritage and to take pride in the many accomplishments at home and abroad by the people of the island of our origin”.


The deadline for the submission of entries is Friday, July 6, 2012. The winner in each category will be awarded with a plaque by the Consul General on Friday, July 27, 2012.


Eligible students can choose from a selection of topics related to the island’s cultural heritage some of which include community leadership, entertainment, education, history, cultural heritage, geography and national development.


Applicants must be between five and eighteen years of age, normally resident in the State of Florida, and submit entries in one of three age categories - five to eight (5-8); nine to twelve (9-12); and thirteen to eighteen (13-18).


For information on the competition interested persons may contact the Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami located at 25 Southeast Second Avenue, Suite 609, telephone (305-374-8431 ext. 232); email INFO@JAMAICACGMIAMI.ORG or visit the Consulate’s website at WWW.JAMAICACGMIAMI.ORG





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Book Review: Island Princess in Brooklyn

As parents, we struggle to instill values in our children that are important to us. We often turn to books as a means of continuing our conversation about values, which we believe will enable them to become successful members of our community. But what happens when a child is uprooted and placed in an unfamiliar setting? What values will they discard or retain? This is the predicament of Princess McQueen in Island Princess in Brooklyn by Diane Browne.


Written in the first-person, Island Princess begins in medias res with Princess McQueen at the JFK terminal. From the opening sentence, we get a glimpse of the estrangement between Princess and her mother: "Would my mother be there? This thought kept bouncing around in my brain like an echo in a cave, over and over again, even though I tried to keep it away" (1). This uneasy prologue is just the start of Princess's yearlong sojourn in Brooklyn where she attempts to reconcile the American Dream with the real issues of trying to fit in to a new neighborhood and school.


Although Princess has difficulty in adapting to a new neighborhood, nothing has prepared her for her schoolyard in Brooklyn where she must reconcile the hard earned wisdom of her grandmother with whom she spent her formative years as one of the many "barrel children" in Jamaica, and the everyday rough and tumble of school in America. Yet, this precocious "Island Princess" as she is called by her classmates, soon makes friends with other children from different ethnic backgrounds: Latoya (African American), Esperanza (Hispanic), Simply Red (Caucasian) and Chunkie Bear (Biracial).


As she learns to negotiate the racial and social differences in the schoolyard, Princess's knowledge comes with a price. Princess is forced to balance her commitment to speaking the truth against loyalty to her friends when her friend Chunkie Bear is tripped while walking across the yard. She must also weigh the value of honesty that she has learned from her grandmother against her mother's practical advice of remaining neutral, "No interfering in what don't concern you. For the last time I am telling you, you are a migrant and a foreigner! Story end right now!" (85).


Her mother's advice, punctuated with the colloquial, "Story end right now!"—a sure sign that their discussion had come to an end--is only one of the many charms of Island Princess in Brooklyn. Throughout the book, Diane Browne conveys the confusion in Princess's mind as copes with the changes that accompany displacement. Princess's bewilderment is captured in her description of the subway:

It was a scary underground place of sudden flashing lights: sometimes narrow, with walls close on either side, looking damp; or wide, where other passing trains rocked thundering by, windows alight, slipping by one after the other, with disappearing ghostly figures inside, all caught up in the wind and noise. The subway was like a large underground nest of moving metal minsters. (38)

In this midst of this turmoil, Princess yearns for the security of home in Jamaica even as she tries to heal the relationship with her mother. Princess makes lists of the things she misses in Jamaica, but as another of her friends, Jamal, reminds her, "your mind is always on what's missing, not what is nice about being here?" (156)


It's those snippets of wisdom from the conflicts between the characters and the realistic treatment of Princess's dilemma that make Island Princess a delightful read. Island Princess in Brooklyn is a welcome addition to the conversation within the diaspora about communal values values and the problems our children face while growing ups as "strangers in a strange land."

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I am participating in World Read Aloud Day!

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If you are searching for posts about Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, Rastafari, or Dennis Scott, please check the archives.

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Launch of Caribbean Literature Action Group

The NGC Bocas Lit Fest, British Council, and Commonwealth Writers have announced a new partnership that will work towards enhancing the Caribbean literary scene and help kick-start an infrastructure to support writers, writing, and publishing. The Caribbean Literature Action Group (CALAG) will be launched in Port of Spain at a one-day brainstorm workshop on Wednesday 25 April, on the eve of the 2012 NGC Bocas Lit Fest.

The Caribbean has produced some of the world’s greatest contemporary writers, including three Nobel Prize laureates. Its literature is one of the region’s most celebrated cultural products. But Caribbean writers continue to migrate to North America and Europe in order to obtain financial support for their work and to achieve the highest level of international recognition. Literary publishing within the region remains in an embryonic state, and talented writers who choose to stay “at home” often find it difficult to access international publishers, or find opportunities for local publication and promotion.

In light of these common interests, the British Council and Commonwealth Writers have now developed a plan to work in partnership with the NGC Bocas Lit Fest and other literary professionals in the region. The first stage is to assemble a small, results-oriented action group of professionals from all areas of the Caribbean literary sector: writers, publishers, editors, teachers, booksellers, and organisers of festivals and writing programmes. (See a full list of participants below.)

Facilitators for the action group include Nicholas Laughlin (editor of The Caribbean Review of Books), Linda Leith (founder of Blue Metropolis Bleu in Quebec), Anita Sethi (writer), and Susie Nicklin (Director of Literature, British Council).


“The NGC Bocas Lit Fest was established to promote Caribbean writers and writing. Joining forces with the British Council and Commonwealth Writers, two entities dedicated to advancing literature in many other regions of the world, presents a real opportunity to help push forward development in the region’s publishing sector. We are delighted to be able to work with fellow Caribbean people who share the same ambition.”
—Marina Salandy-Brown, Festival Director and Founder, NGC Bocas Lit Fest

“The British Council is privileged to have been invited to join such a distinguished group to address issues of concern, not just to the Caribbean but to writers across the Americas. With the Council’s global remit I hope that my experience and expertise will be helpful, but I expect to learn far more than I can teach from such vibrant and accomplished people.”
— Susie Nicklin, Director of Literature, British Council

“Commonwealth Writers is excited to be part of this timely action group to generate practical ideas to help shape a dynamic publishing infrastructure across the Caribbean. We hope that the initiatives which emerge from CALAG will in the longer term be transferable to other regions where opportunities for writers are scarce.”
— Lucy Hannah, Programme Manager, Culture, Commonwealth Foundation


Participants in the inaugural CALAG meeting, 25 April, 2012:


Lisa Allen-Agostini, Trinidad and Tobago: writer, founder of the Allen Prize for Young Writers
Ellah Allfrey, UK: deputy editor of Granta
Funso Aiyejina, Trinidad and Tobago: writer, Dean of Humanities at UWI St. Augustine, co-ordinator of the Cropper Foundation Writers' Workshop
Donna Benny, Trinidad and Tobago: editor, head of StarApple Books
Nicolette Bethel, the Bahamas: writer, editor of tongues of the ocean, head of the Shakespeare in Paradise theatre festival
Alwin Bully, Dominica: writer, co-founder of the Nature Island Literary Festival
Gracelyn Cassell, Montserrat: chair of the Alliougana Festival of the Word
Shruti Debi, India: literary agent, Aitken Alexander Associates
Justine Henzell, Jamaica: co-founder of the Calabash International Literary Festival
Kendel Hippolyte, St. Lucia: writer, co-ordinator of the Word Alive Literary Festival
Mitchell Kaplan, US: bookseller, founder of Books and Books, co-founder of the Miami Book Fair
Antonia MacDonald-Smythe, St. Lucia/Grenada: senior associate dean, School of Arts and Sciences, St. George's University
Kellie Magnus, Jamaica: writer, head of Jackmandora Publishing, executive member of the Book Industry Association of Jamaica
Kei Miller, Jamaica: writer, professor of creative writing at the University of Glasgow
Esther Phillips, Barbados: writer, editor of BIM, head of the BIM Literary Festival
Jeremy Poynting, UK: founder of Peepal Tree Press
Monique Roffey, Trinidad and Tobago/UK: writer, writing instructor
Patricia Saunders, Trinidad and Tobago/US: professor of literature, University of Miami
Lasana Sekou, St. Martin: writer, founder of House of Nehesi Publishers, co-founder of the St. Martin Book Fair
Linda Speth, Jamaica: head of the University of the WI Press



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