Is reading the enemy of Jamaicans?

The question asked in my blog title will probably upset many Jamaicans and lovers of Jamaica but the question really needs to be asked. I've noticed that Jamaicans will look at the headline of an article or read the first sentence and simply start to sate their opinions on the issue despite not reading the entire article through comprehensively. Jamaicans are very hard working people but can be very lazy when it comes to reading. On my way to and from work each day I read a book on my journey and I'm looked upon by others as if I'm doing something out of the norm.

Without a thirst for knowledge how will our country even make steps to improve? The lazy attitude when it comes to reading and comprehension will be the reason why we continue to choose the wrong representatives to lead our country. What brought on this question was the recent proclamation by the British Prime minister that a prison will be built in Jamaica to accommodate Jamaicans serving term in British prisons. Apparently, majority of Jamaicans bypassed the reason why the prison was being built and went straight into suggesting that the money should be used to build factories. Why are we entitled to any financial assistance from Britain? Why don't our leaders see any need for factories to be built? Why do we continually sit and wait on gifts from other nations?

Many Jamaicans would rather ask you what was said than go and find out for themselves, because reading is such a huge burden. The government is aware of this attraction to ignorance so they continue to spew out foolish promises because so many Jamaicans will never go and research the actual truth. So the country remains in the same stagnant state.

Comments

Loving a black man that doesn't love me

Image source: Google Images His beautiful dark skin made rich from the earth, his physical strength supporting where I am physically weak, his beautiful smile and then the depth of his speech. In a world where the wrongs that he has done is spoken about more frequently than what is good about him. I see the beauty in black unions,I see the beauty in black souls connecting, I see beauty in being by his side. The issue is, he no longer sees beauty in me. We walk paths these days paved with the broken connections. Couples who once professed to be so deeply in love now pretend to not know each other. We walk paths where you can pour the purest of love into the vessel of a man/woman and they remain empty. On one side, we have black men who believe that black women have lost their worth. They have lost the meaning of what it means to be a Queen. The black man believes that the black woman has wrapped herself in the labels that society has placed on her. The black woman is ofte...

The Jamaica of tomorrow

When shall the change come? Crime and violence ago continue and mash up Jamdung? Street lights come on at night and our window lids we shut tight tight No kids on the street, no time to meet and greet Why can't we no longer walk at nights? Why we don't have no peace? Police men guard the streets Kids run quickly pass them not sure if they police or just undercover gunman and thief Thousands complete their university education but student loan awaits them in every gleaner publication Jamaica is such a beautiful nation, nice food and nuff happiness and sweet jubilation Wait a moment and turn the TV off the international station Turn the dial to our local station No more happiness and sweet jubilation Blood flowing in the streets of poverty and ever increasing destruction You have the answers? Tell us how we need a change in politics Five years time and we still have the same corruption You tell me to smile because better must come I ...

Feeding the minds of future queens with 'The Curly Hair Club'

Growing up, I enjoyed getting books as gifts. Reading was something that my mother took seriously. I could read exceptionally well before I even began infant school, due to my mother's teachings. I loved skipping through the pages of beautiful children's book, but even at that young age, I noticed that something was missing. I wasn't in these books. I didn't see faces that looked like mine, I didn't see hair that looked like mine. I said to myself then, that one day I would write a book that I could see myself in. Little did I know, but one day this would indeed be a reality. I'm all grown up now and this book is now a reality for little girls of colour to skip through and see themselves in. I want this book to give them a space to realize that they don't need to change who they are and that they should love and appreciate their beautiful dark skin and the beautiful crown on their heads. It starts with the youngest members of the Kingdom. If the...

Search This Blog