Today, Jamaicans across the world celebrate independence from the United Kingdom.
Many events led up to the historic day. The Maroons waged war against the British twice, which led the British to deport hundreds of them to the newly colonised Sierra Leone. Several slave revolts took place, as well as uprisings led by the likes of Sam Sharpe, prompting the British to end the slave trade.
The loss of slave labour, the fall of the sugar trade and continued rebellions set the scene for the emergence of activists such as Marcus Garvey and the empowering Rastafari movement. While Britian bore the burden of the Great Depression and two World wars, Jamaicans continued to organise, revolt and demand the right of self-determination. The long road to independence came to an end on the 6th August 1962, however the spirit of determination and resilience among Jamaicans lives to this day.
So on the 54th anniversary of Jamaican independence, here are just a few times we proved that we may be likkle but we tallawah (we may be small but we are strong and fearless).
"If you haven't confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.” Marcus Garvey
"There was always someone else in the way until I worked out how to make myself the one who was in the way of others." Grace Jones
" I really hold unto my culture because it is what made me." Tessanne Chin