bigdrumnation

Reading Time 13 minsIn the opening lines of his well-known poem, Robert Frost observes: ‘something there is that doesn’t love a wall’. The poem, entitled ‘Mending Wall’, deals with a stone wall dividing the properties of two neighbours. One of them, the narrator in the poem, argues that there is no need for it. He grows apple trees and his neighbour grows pines, and as he jokingly points out, there is no danger that his apple trees would ever ‘get across and eat the cones’ under the other man’s pines. The wall is therefore just a wall of prejudice, a… Read More »WALLS: THE POETRY OF POLITICAL PRISONERS: FLORA BROVINA AND PHYLLIS COARD — Nataša Tučev

Reading Time 3 mins                                                   The Jamaica Progressive League (the League) was launched September 1, 1936 in New York City by a group of patriotic and committed Jamaicans. These men and women, though living in New York and away from the everyday problems back home in Jamaica, were determined to make things better for their fellow Nationals in their homeland, while at the same time working to make America a more welcoming environment for new arrivals. The League was definite about its purpose and clearly outlined the principles essential to its program, which were as follows: 1. Universal Adult suffrage in… Read More »Lest we forget: The Jamaica Independence Journey — Sadie Campbell

Reading Time 3 mins“KEEPING THE LEGACY OF OUR ANCESTORS ALIVE” Fraternal Emancipation Season’s Greetings to all. August 1st 2020, marks 182 years since the abolition of chattel Slavery in Grenada and former British colonies. As we commemorate the end of Slavery and the beginning of our journey to liberate ourselves from the 400 years of the enslavement of Africans by Europeans, we challenge ourselves as well as the world around us to reflect on and remember the tearing apart of families, the decimation of communities, and dehumanizing of the African Man, Woman and Child that has occurred over these past… Read More »COMMEMORATING THE 182ND ANNIVERSARY OF EMANCIPATION (AUGUST 1ST 1838 – 2020)

Reading Time 5 minsPresented to the Annual Commemorative Emancipation Public Lecture Series of the Institute for People’s Enlightenment, UWI Open Campus, St. Georges, Grenada, July 2019. “I am not an African because I was born in Africa, But because Africa was born in me.” – Kwame Nkrumah Emancipation can be explained as an unfinished process of physical and psychological liberation of the enslaved persons of African descent, who had been forcefully taken by their European colonisers – mainly the British, French, Spanish and Dutch. Africans were forcibly taken from their homes especially along the western and central region of Africa,… Read More »In Tribute to our Heroic Ancestors – Editha (Nancy) Fergusson – Jacobs

Reading Time 2 minsAs a big man, I does still cry long tears for meh Mama. Ah want to go home and be cradled by Mother Africa. I was made an orphan many moons ago as a slave. Dumped in the Caribbean my destiny was an early grave. But my pigment was too black and strong to be spirited in the ground. The spirit of my pigment soon rose again on the beat of the drum. My soul weary searching for identity. On all them Colonials meh tear drops go fall. CHORUS: Ah doh want no ship or plane, no-no-no…..… Read More »Mama Africa Here I Come–Trevor ‘TULU’ Burnett

Reading Time 2 minsFrom Belize, Bahamas, and Jamaica in the north to southern Grenada, Trinidad, and Guyana, the Caribbean archipelago is abuzz with the sounds of freedom and the demand for justice. The month of August is ushered in with celebrations and revelry marking the end of slavery and increasing demands for centuries-long economic and social justice. These advancing demands for reparations across the region and continued immigrant anxieties in North America and Britain provide new additionally layered demands on the emancipation agenda within present-day commemorations across the Caribbean. According to the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) in its 10-point plan,… Read More »Emancipation Day (2020) – BDN Editorial

Reading Time 5 minsThis picture depicts how I feel when someone says to me “… stop talking so much about the slave trade, Chattel slavery and Reparation. Their reasoning is that slavery is long gone and opening up this subject will create a rift and a separation between black and white people…” WTH!! Can someone please tell me! “When did this African Elephant leave the room?” When did REAL segregation end, when did REAL Apartheid between black and white ceased and deceased? Whenever someone tells me to stop talking about slavery all I see and hear is someone trying to… Read More »I SIS …. DAUGHTERS OF AFRICA — Bernadette Charles

Reading Time 5 minsJuly 28, 2020 “One good thing about music, when it hits (you feel no pain).” Bob Marley, “Trench Town Rock.”                                                           “All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art.” Jorge Borges Though the town where I reside was one of the first in New Jersey to ask residents to self-quarantine–at… Read More »Life in the Time of Covid–Winthrop R. Holder

Reading Time 4 mins6/18/2020 “Zoom fatigue is a real thing! You should look it up!” my friend eagerly assured me on a phone call over the weekend.  Just search “zoom fatigue” on Google and you’ll see loads of articles on this phenomenon that, while not new, more and more people are experiencing in the midst of COVID-19. ‘Tis the season for working from home and avoiding gatherings making video meetings instantly part of so many peoples’ day-to-day work lives. Zoom is the very popular video call platform used by so many, especially of late. I had never heard of this… Read More »“Who Do You Know Suffering From Zoom Fatigue?”-Kayla McCullough

Reading Time 7 minsAs an essential worker I put myself at risk almost every day on the front lines.  The dictionary defines essential as something or someone that is “absolutely necessary and extremely important.” Although, this pandemic has made me feel more important than ever, I understand the danger I put myself in. I am pleased that I help people get things they need to get by and survive. Being regarded as an essential worker is a great tribute to what I do. It also reflects the responsible role I play as the main breadwinner for my family although it is… Read More »My Life as a Working High School Senior on the Covid-19 Frontline — S. L. White