Independence... ok then!

Every year on August 6, Jamaica celebrates Independence... and every year on August 6, I get a feeling of apathy all over again.

Based on my understanding of independence, it is the state or quality of being independent; freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others. Now, think about it, is Jamaica really free from the control or influence of others?

Let's look at our state of independence:
- We are currently under a four-year loan agreement with the International Monetary Fund
- Our debt to GDP ratio is somewhere in the region of 140%
- Each child born in this country inherits a debt of over J$600,000; which means that we owe our international partners almost $2 trillion dollars!!!
- All our major assets; sugar, airline, tourism... even the beloved music that Bob Marley created and gave us is owned by someone else... (the number one reggae song in the world today, Independence Day, according to iTunes is 'Easier' by Anuhea & J Boog)
- Our rate of productivity is woefully low because of the high energy cost, high cost of security and high cost of labour
Man, I could go on but am going to save myself further depression.

So, what are we really celebrating? I will be the first to admit that Jamaica has a colourful history. Our ability to entertain is second to none. Our food; finger licking good, and we certainly know how to move to the beat of the drum and the bass. But at the end of the day, Jamaicans continue to struggle... it's like having a party tonight to celebrate our struggle tomorrow.

I have often said, Jamaica should never have received independence and I have often been berated for my opinion! Thankfully, this is my blog, and these are my thoughts on this thing called independence.

Like many Jamaicans, I enjoy the glory of our athletes, I gushed with pride when Chronixx represented on the Jimmy Fallon show and I was toe-to-toe with TVJ when Tessanne competed in and won the Voice... but what else?

It's been a while... I cut my hair!

Man it's been a while since I made my last post... two years in fact! As you would imagine, a magnitude of things have happened, but instead of bombarding you with everything all at once, let's take it one thing at a time. Since my last post, I cut off my hair. Yes! All of it... looked like a boy for a little while. My son looked at me in dismay on the first occasion. In his words, 'he could not believe that a girl would go into the barber's chair and allow the barber to cut off all her hair.' Then he said, "somebody slap me before I slap my self". LOL! That's my little drama king... expressive and extremely opinionated. But back to the hair story... so when I cut my hair, I didn't know it was an emerging fad. Imagine my surprise when about one week after my first hair cut, an old friend mine congratulated me on 'my big chop'. I was like 'my what?'... she then proceeded to tell me that many women were cutting off their processed hair to reveal and wear their new natural hair. Of course, as that was not my intention, I just continued to cut my hair... looking like a dude, and enduring the constant (loving) berating of my little dramatist. When I could take no more, I decided to allow my hair to grow. That was another experience because it was at about that point that there was an explosion of 'natural' hair products. Like many persons who had 'big chopped' at that time, I became a 'natural hair products junkie', suffice it to say, wasted money!!! One product in particular left my hair looking exceptionally dry and bereft of any type of moisture! To my new natural converts, allow me to give some advice, do not allow anyone to tell you what is good for your natural hair. Do some research and find out what is best for your hair type. Based on the research, use the available samples to guide your buying process. If you decide to keep your hair natural, do what works for you! No one should force you to buying $4,000-5,000 worth of products! Today, I am still uncertain as to whether or not I am going to remain a 'natural sista' but my hair works now... on whim, I found a hairdresser who grooms my hair bi-monthly. My hair care regimen includes a bi-monthly co-wash with Tressemme Naturals Conditioner (shampoo occasionally) and an oil-based moisturizer (Optimum). My hair is twisted or cornrowed using good old beeswax with Let's Jam used to tame the fly-aways. My total monthly hair care is $3000, except in those months when I have to purchase the products I mentioned before. In those months, the cost tops out at $6,000. Happy hair, natural sistas!