Toni Morrison and I

On Wednesday January 18, Clutch Magazine posted the article "4 Books You Should Reread"  by Danielle Pointdujour. The list included Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and it struck me as odd that I had never read this novel. 


At the time of reading Pointdujour's article, I was reading Morrison's Songs of Solomon, and I was in awe of Morrison's skill, her use of the language.  There was a music to the narrative and this was infused with African mythology and rhythmic movement as the tale charted the journey of the main character "Milkman" from his dislike and fear of his father and his disconnection from his ancestral roots to self-discovery and courage.   


After reading Songs and I made the decision to read The Bluest Eye.  The Bluest Eye is Morrison's first novel and it is the story of a young black girl, Pecola Breedlove who is described as ugly and who in internalizing the belief that she is indeed ugly; dreams, prays and wishes for blue eyes to the point of madness.  


The novel is essentially from the point of view of Claudia MacTeer, and is presented by Claudia as a child who is Pecola's contemporary and school mate, and Claudia as an adult reflecting on life in Lorain, Ohio (United States of America) during the years following the Great Depression.  However, there are  distinct moments where the narrator is the omnipresent third-person narrator.  


The Bluest Eye broke my heart and I cried for all the Black girls past, present and future who have, who are and who will be made to feel ugly because of the rich ebony of of their skin. 


I had borrowed Songs and The Bluest Eye and then Kingston Bookshop had its annual Yard Sale and I am blessed to have purchased a copy of  The Bluest Eye. 


Presently I am re-visiting Beloved. I read Beloved as part of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Literatures In English, Prose Level 1. I loved the story and knew the lives of Sethe, Denver, Baby Suggs, the Garner men inside-out. In re-reading this tale I am now in far better position to appreciate the physical, psychological, emotional, sexual and metaphysical effects of slavery from which the story rests upon and seeks to confront. 

Toni Morrison

                                                             

                                  

After reading these three novels by Morrison I am truly inspired to write. I need to tell the stories I know, while creating the book I would want to read and infusing the histories I have have learnt.  


In this Black History Month 2012, I want to thank Toni Morrison for writing, teaching, inspiring  and creating. 

Dennis Brown and Good Vibrations in Downtown Kingston

Dennis Brown the Crowned Prince of Reggae earthstrong was Wednesday February 1. This post was supposed to be published on February 1, 2012 but again I am behind. 


 Sunday evening through to early Monday January 29 to 30) morning I was in  Downtown Kingston. Orange Street, to be more precise was blessed by the good vibrations of music. Hundreds of people, from just out of hand toddlers to grey headed Elders of the community were in Orange Street to share in the celebration of the life and musical legacy of the Crowned Prince of Reggae. The Dennis Brown Tribute Concert was a produced by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA)  The concert was the first of many activities slated for Reggae Month (February) 2012.  

Orange Street Big Yard 

Dennis Emmanuel Brown , the Crowned Prince of Reggae 

Orange Street

The free concert was had a star-studded lineup. Headliners included Marcia Griffith, Maxi Priest, Freddie McGregor, Tony Rebel, Duane Stephenson,  Ibra Mahr, Junior Reid, Shaggy, Half Pint, Big Yute, Ken Boothe, George Nooks, Bryan Hart, John Holt, Jimmy Riley 

The concert offered a platform for up-coming artistes. Among the new acts the band Raging Fyah offered a stella performance singing their intense ode Rastafari "Judgement Day".

Myself and many other patrons were truly excited to see the sons of the King of Reggae Bob Marley perform. They did not disappoint, Damian "Junior Gong" Marley, Stephen Marley and Julian Marley. Stephen Marley open the performance with his chart topping hit "Traffic Jam",  the trio performed mega- hits like "It is Written", "Welcome to Jamrock" and quite befitting to the tribute concert the Gongs performed "Promised Land" ft Dennis Brown off Damian Marley-Nas 2010 collaborative album Distance Relatives.  

The star of the night was Taurus Riley. Taurus Riley "Singy-Singy" wowed the crowd with a powerful performance of his Pan-African Anthem "Shaka Zulu Pickney " He kept the momentum going performing Dennis Brown songs and thrilling the patrons with his hits like "Good Girl Gone Bad" and She's Royal" 




Downtown Kingston has a bad reputation and I work Downtown and I try to tell people that they are wrong the area is not really violent.  The people are aggressive because of the environment poor education, high levels of illiteracy, high levels of unemployment and poverty. But looking beyond that and seeing the people of Downtown Kingston they are good people. So I went to the concert in Downtown with all these people who are considered the worst in Jamaica and I was truly happy being there among them sharing in the music and the good vibrations it was an awesome experience. The concert didn't end until 2:30 in the morning my feet hurt and were swollen way into the next day but that did not matter the experience was just amazing. 

 HAPPY 67^th EARTHSTRONG BOB MARLEY