Jamaica is now buzzing with reactions pertaining to the topic of bleaching that was addressed on the program 'All Angles" last night. The topic wasn't a shock to Jamaicans as we see bleaching  everywhere we go in our little island. Some comments being passed are that the individuals being featured are not comfortable in their own skin and are shamed of who they are. This brings me to the issue of makeup which those who proudly wear it, wear it to 'accentuate their beauty' as they say isn't that the same thing these individuals are doing? I'm not targeting anyone or their believes just showing another side to this story. Some women live in makeup they don't feel comfortable going anywhere without it because they don't like how their skin looks again I say isn't that the same thing those women featured are saying for the reasons they bleach.Other women stated that it'ts a fashion thing just as dressing and hairstyles aren't those simi

Our tears flow into the sea that surrounds our nation We cry out loud but the hatred and selfishness around deafens the sounds My mother cries over my body while you change the station Three of us killed in a week this is nothing but a bloody nation All I hear is how I am the future of my island but presently I'm fighting to be a better human You don't see my struggles, you don't feel my pain my tears are bursting through my fragile veins I am a child, my mother and father are my guide But I am a child of this nation a child who needs help, help to find a new light a new direction I cry, I cry, I cry it does nothing but fall to the ground A day or two later and so called words of comfort are echoed from the leaders microphones What happens next? Life goes on Till another one of my friends is gunned down and a mother cry out No more tears I want to cry No more tears for my mother,father or my friend The whole nation needs an awakening Bills and bills and

When a nation no longer embodies its motto 'Out of Many one People" and is no longer united just merely on a paper when I sign that our nationality is Jamaican. When a nation decides to use the culture of other lands as its primary source of education their child. When a parent doesn't spend time to educate their child on the history of a nation but allow that child to be fed the practices of the  land we look up to so much'not the mother land but the land we seem to view as the answer to all our problems america' when a nation looks for inspiration on literature,dress and music from other lands and places ours on the back burner. The young will not be educated about what the true meaning of a Jamaican is. The young will simply be living in Jamaica but have the minds of Americans. That is what Jamaica today is all about our young know more of foreign lands than our own therefore the Jamaica you grew up knowing is gone

 Some will boast how much they given to their child, how they ave them the opportunities to foster the best education. Some will boast that they provided them with the best of everything, good clothes, technological gadgets and all the money they needed. How many can boast that they know their child's friends, they know their child's dislikes, they know when their child is hurting? To be able to know these things to me is what makes you a good parent. Some parents are confused when their child will echo that "You don't even know me" but why are they confused? How many times have you stopped to ask your child how are things? How is your life going? Food, clothes and shelter can't makeup for a lack of  communication. Some children spend most of their childhood hiding from their parents, simply afraid to say certain things to them therefore resulting in them making decisions on their own without proper guidance.   Jamaica needs parents in the homes yes but J

   Last week I was looking through the comments on some of the pictures of this years contestants in the Miss Jamaica World competition and it literally drove me to write this today. Who really is the ideal Jamaican beauty? Shouldn't it be a Jamaican woman who is confident and proud to be  Jamaican one who is knowledgeable about the history of the nation?. I was baffled by the terms used by some of our Jamaican people, one individual stated "She too black" another stated "She too white and  American looking" what does a Jamaican woman look like? Once again I'm left to think that our people have forgotten that our motto is 'Out of Many one People' maybe its time we create a new motto that embodies the new frame of mind that our people are in.   I saw a young lady, dark skinned with unprocessed hair and a comment read,"Now this is a true Jamaican beauty" should I then conclude that lighter skinned women with long hair or women with proce

  Being young in this world is by far not an easy journey riding on a roller coaster for five hours straight would perhaps be a much more easier task. That's how the journey is really at first we are filled with excitement ready and willing to be taught, grabbing the instructions as we go on our ride. As the journey goes on and on we  have to take matters into our own hands understand how our mind works and what is right for us. We will throw up now and again and we may have friends and parents to wipe up our mess but there are times when we have to decide whether or not we will sit in our own mess or learn to clean it up ourselves.   I have come to understand a trend with young people, we are so dependent on those around us especially in how we think. Some of us are simply robots walking on the face of this earth. To be different today is to be called ugly or lame. Young people will spend what little they have to simply fit in, to attend all the parties and look fash

Mother wipes my nose, kisses me and puts me to bed I stare through the window waiting, hoping that my father would come in next Breakfast is prepared, my mothers hands kneading the flour The same hands that scrub the floors, wash the clothes and press the uniforms I was one of ten and my mother had no idea where my father was I would close my eyes and nights and wonder what he looked like or even how he spoke Even though my father was never around I held him close, close to my heart I had no memories of him but I felt like I knew him Each time I walked to school and saw men standing on the corners lusting at me I felt like that's exactly how my father would be The nation needs fathers but not just fathers, good fathers Hardworking fathers, honest fathers, fathers with dignity In my class I felt at home only one out of fifty had a dad at home He would take her to school each and everyday Walked her to her seat not just make sure that she was at the gate I loved