Jamaica is an island located in the Caribbean Sea. It’s was first inhibited by the Taino Indians who settled there around 600 AD. They were stone-aged people who migrated to the island from Northern coast of South America. After occupying the island for over 900 years, the Taino people were met with challenges from The Spaniards around 1494. Jamaica was settled in the year 1510 by the Spanish. The Spaniards exploited the people of the island. They enslaved, starved, and murdered many individuals. Many of the Taino people fought hard for their freedom but within fifty years of the Spanish conquest, the Taino people were wiped out. This led us to a false narrative that Christopher Columbus discovered Jamaica. Columbus was an explorer who sailed to the west for Spain. He misled us all to believe he discovered the island. The real narrative is Columbus only took land from the people who occupied it.
The Arawak language was the language spoken by the Taino people. This language survived and lives to this day in the year 2024. The original name of Jamaica was Xaymaca, which means “Land of Wood and Water”. Jamaica has many beautiful beaches and natural waterfalls. The mountainous regions provide some of the world’s best coffee. By the sixteenth century the Spaniards began importation of slaves from West Africa to Jamaica. Most of the slaves came Ghana, Nigeria, and other African nations. The tribes that mostly occupied the island were Yoruba, Iba, Ashanti, Akan, and Ibibio. The first town build by the Spaniards was in Saint Ann’s Bay. In 1538 the Spanish moved the capitol of Jamaica to a place the called Spanish Town. Spain did not heavily populate Jamaica because of the lack of gold. They did control the island for about 150 years. There are some historic buildings in Spanish Town that still bears the remanence of Spain. There are rivers, mountains, and hotels that also still have Spanish names.
In the year 1655 the British navy captured Jamaica from the Spanish people. Since it wasn’t theirs in the first place. We call that “Easy Come, Easy Go”. The exchange of powers cause many of the West African slaves to escaped and fled to the hillside mountains of Jamaica. These slaves created their own culture and were known as the Maroons. With their new founded freedom, the Maroons became a thorn in the side of the British. They were never captured or overtaken by England because of their knowledge of the mountainous regions of the island. In 1789 the Maroons were granted diplomatic immunity by the British. The decedents of the Maroons remain in Jamaican and have their own place of freedom called Maroon Town. In 1807 the slavery trade was abolished in Jamaica, but it wasn’t until 1838 the emancipation of slavery was finally won. The terrible venture of human traffic through the middle passage had ended.
Britain had ruled Jamaica for over 300 years. The location of Jamaica in center of the Caribbean helped the British to rule the region. Jamaica became Britain’s most valuable asset in the new world that they didn’t discover. Most of Jamaica’s first British settlers were there to occupy the land as owners. Others came as pirates and criminals who stole from Spain. Sir Henry Morgan “AKA Captain Morgan” was a famous pirate, who with the help of mercenaries robbed and raided Spanish ships in the Caribbean. Captain Morgan built his headquarters in Jamaica at a place known as Port Royal. Port Royal became rich in gold and also became known as the “Wickedest City in The World”. Captain Morgan created rum from the sugar canes stolen in Jamaica. The rum today you know as Captain Morgan is name for the pirate, we all know today. Due to all the wicked actions in Port Royal. The city was ruined by an earthquake in 1692, followed by hurricanes and other natural disasters. Following the disasters England and Spain signed a treaty. The need for pirates and thieves was no longer necessary so they began to export sugar, cocoa, and other agriculture products from Jamaica.
Jews were the first to come to Jamaica as indentured servants. They were followed by the Indians from India in 1845. They all worked in the sugar cane manufacturing. The Morant Bay Rebellion occurred because the newly freed slaves had no work and suffered. They hung British leaders and there was a new form of government created with a Parliament. The Chinese started arriving in Jamaica around 1854 as indentured servants. They were followed by Palestinians and the people of Lebanon who fled their countries because of political and religious persecutions. There are people from those ethnic groups in Jamaica to this day. The destruction of Port Royal led a boom for the city of Kingston and the Kingston Harbour. This led to a change in the capitol city. Kingston become the capitol of Jamaica in 1872 and still remain the capitol to this day of May 18, 2024. In 1938 the worldwide sufferation from the Great Depression and an unhappiness with the Crown of England. There was rioting going on in Jamaica which led to a new constitution in 1944. This brought on a two- house party. Jamaica sought independence from Britain so in 1958 Jamaica became the founding member of the Federation of the West Indies.
In 1961 Jamaica succeeded from England and on August 6, 1962, Jamaica was granted independence from the Queens rule. After over three hundred years of in humane rulings, Jamaica was its own ruler. The years since independence has brought ups and downs. The government of Jamaica still has a British leadership. The legal system also is governed by the England’s laws. The question is when will Jamica really be free. The political system has two parties. They are Shower and Power. The colours are represented by green and orange. Even though Jamaica is independent, they are still suffering. Tourism is the money maker for Jamaica. The all-inclusive hotels are the go-to employment but don’t pay enough to survive. This information is from workers interviewed in the hotel industry. All the hotels and beaches are owned by foreigners and still have the slave mentality.
Jamaica is famous for rum, home grown coffee, and the most popular product called ganja aka marijuana. Foods of Jamaica includes the famous jerk chicken, jerk pork, rice and peas, also escovitch fish. The current Prime Minister of Jamaica is Andrew “Bro God” Holness. Jamaica is known for having greatest track and field athletes in the world. Jamaican track teams are famously known for winning medals in the Olympic games. The fastest man in the world is Usain Bolt of Jamaica. There’re many female track athletes also who are world champions. There are many Jamaicans athletes that compete for U.S. colleges and universities. The main entertainment in Jamaica is the music. There are Reggae, Dancehall, and Lover’s Rock musicians that provide the best music. Jamaica is the home of Bob Marley and all the Marley kids. They also have Shabba Ranks, Vybz Kartel, and many more entertainers. Patra and Mad Cobra were ones who paved the way. Marcus Garvey was a prominent Jamaican who fought for freedom, The motto of Jamaica is “Out of Many, We’re One”. Yeah, Mon is a phrase Jamaicans use regularly. This means yes man. There are many historical places to visit in Jamaica. Please plan your trip and contact me and my Jamaican travel partners for your best experience. Weather it’s Kingston, Montego Bay, Negril, the local markets, or attractions. We’re ready to take you on a great adventure. Welcome to Jamaica and enjoy our island.
Written, Edited, and Published by:
Gary Wright
