tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post8263924136627431413..comments2024-01-04T04:31:00.481-05:00Comments on Mixed Race America: Returning to JamaicaJenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-65674606504492424852009-05-01T09:10:00.000-04:002009-05-01T09:10:00.000-04:00Keidra,
Never too late to leave a comment! I appr...Keidra,<br />Never too late to leave a comment! I appreciate everything you've written--and I think many of my aunts/uncles/cousins would echo your sentiments. Perhaps because my own father is not from Jamaica, coupled with being raised in the U.S., I don't quite feel the same tug--or at least I end up questioning it/wondering about it more than other relatives of mine. <br /><br />At any rate, thanks for stopping by and hope you leave another comment if you feel so moved in the future!Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-83020675694270126262009-04-28T23:24:00.000-04:002009-04-28T23:24:00.000-04:00Hello,
I know this is extremely late but I am firs...Hello,<br />I know this is extremely late but I am first generation American, my parents are Jamaican, and I just had to comment on the Bob Marley thing and "looking Jamaican!"<br /><br />Whenever I tell people that I am Jamaican these are the two main things I hear: <br />"Oh I love Bob Marley" and<br />"You don't look Jamaican"<br /><br />For one Jamaican really is your nationality because there are African, Chinese, Indian(India), English, Syrian and every mix in between!<br />How else could you explain or mix off food (bok choy, curry, rice and peas...)<br />And secondly what about Beres Hammond and Sanchez and all the other artist we grew up listening and actually dancing to! If they mention one of them then I know they really know some reggae.<br /><br />I personally have family of every race but they are all Jamaican.<br />It just really bothers me to have to define myself. <br />I feel like in American its all about checking a little box next to Black, White, Asian or Other...<br /><br />At least with Hispanic/Latino people when they check the box it does not describe their race particularly, it describes their culture.<br /><br />But I hope all is well with you if not I can certainly introduce you to my uncle Al or my uncle Tony, both "Chinese" Jamaican and sound like they just stepped off the boat!<br />The pride is in every Jamaican's blood no matter where they go.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12595447673040335426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-84530102114203466222008-01-29T07:24:00.000-05:002008-01-29T07:24:00.000-05:00Tanika,Thanks for your thoughts. I think you're p...Tanika,<BR/>Thanks for your thoughts. I think you're probably right--that if I had grown up in Jamaica I would have that as my primary identification.<BR/><BR/>But I also wonder...because many of my cousins who were born and to a large degree raised in Jamaica also tend to hyphenate now that they are adults.<BR/><BR/>For example, I'm fairly certain that two of my Canadian cousins call themselves either Chinese Jamaican or Jamaican Chinese (I don't think they call themselves Canadian but perhaps I'm wrong). Maybe this is due to the fact that they moved when they were little (under the age of 10) and that they don't return on a regular basis, as your comment suggests that you do.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I am really looking forward to going as an adult. I promise to report back when I return.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-47652365625434691252008-01-28T22:19:00.000-05:002008-01-28T22:19:00.000-05:00Interesting post. I think if you grew up in Jamaic...Interesting post. I think if you grew up in Jamaica you would not put Chinese before the Jamaican. But you would have to tell them (your fellow Jamaicans)that your not Ms. Chin :). Unless your name is Chin: ). I feel the way your uncle did about Jamaica, I have spent my adult life here but I never truly belonged no mater how much I facebooked and ate sushi and pizza etc. I will never identify with USA. I love my fellow country men warts and all and every time I get off the plane my heart swells with love and pride. I hope you get a chance to feel that way but if not enjoy your trip home.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07042771890423715473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-58626948365328113062008-01-08T18:38:00.000-05:002008-01-08T18:38:00.000-05:00Hi Tami,I'd be flattered to have you link this pos...Hi Tami,<BR/>I'd be flattered to have you link this post to your site. It's funny--I was taking part in a meeting today where we had to go around the room and talk about our "academic autobiograhy"--essentially, how did we end up as professors doing the work that we do. <BR/><BR/>And normally I try not to talk about the personal connections in my research (because I find that there is this assumption/knee jerk reaction that people have that OF COURSE I work on Asian American issues because I'm Asian American and thus my work is therapeutic rather than academic), but this particular crowd disclosed many personal/family connections to their research, and I guess because my uncle has been on my mind (along with my upcoming trip to Jamaica) I did say that one of the things that motivates my research is trying to figure out where I fit into America given my background as someone who grew up believing I was Chinese Jamaican. <BR/><BR/>As a kid, I got asked a lot "What are you?" (as a kid I didn't know to just say "human" because what kind of question is that--as if I were animal/vegetable/mineral) and I told other kids I was Chinese Jamaican. And as I grew older, every time I gave this response people would say, "That's funny, you don't look Jamaican" and I didn't quite catch on (call me slow) that they meant I didn't look "black" until I got to junior high/high school. It's also funny because my family's phenotypic features are very varied (I'd say we range in complexion from a dark toffee to light parchment) but to me we all looked alike, maybe because everyone spoke patois and ate Jamaican food combined with Chinese food so I figured that meant we were Chinese Jamaican.<BR/><BR/>I haven't called myself Chinese Jamaican in a long time--I think because even though it was an identity I felt as a kid, as an adult who works on race I've begun to question how strong this cultural connection is. But it is funny, because anytime I spend a lot of time with my maternal family I do feel the tug of identity. Which makes me excited and a bit anxious to actually "return" to Jamaica and see how I "feel" when I'm actually there.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13261371053113519712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1658138279766595241.post-86792649730416187322008-01-08T18:22:00.000-05:002008-01-08T18:22:00.000-05:00Jennifer,I am embarrassed to say that I never knew...Jennifer,<BR/><BR/>I am embarrassed to say that I never knew there was a Chinese Jamaican diaspora. Just shows you how limited our concept of race and nationality is. Can I link to this from my site?Tamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12940502776699227686noreply@blogger.com