INDIAN / NON-INDIAN... NO BIG DEAL !
That is one of the reasons I am so proud of my Jamaican heritage. Attached are two pictures of my daughter and myself taken at our family reunion in July 2006
Kindly contributed
by Margaret Dalley-Johns.
A picture of my parents on their wedding day in Jamaica. As you can see, my mom is not Indian, and guess what? This was not a big deal in Jamaica in the 1950's!
We are not as hung up about this race thing... people are people.
I did grow up with
my father's Indian culture,
And I am very proud of it.
But I also respect and
I am very proud
Of my mother's non-Indian side.
BOOKS TO PERUSE
© photos courtesy Margaret Dalley-Johns. Special thanks.
Zendien enmé chabine! (a Guadeloupean saying)
The sari of our women and the choga and turban of our men defy comparison as regards beauty in dress. The tight dresses cannot approach in loveliness the loose ones that fall in natural folds. - Vivekananda.
- Shepherd, Verene A., Transients to Settlers: The Experience of Indians in Jamaica 1845-1950 England: University of Warwick and Peepal Tree Books, 1993. ISBN: 0948833327.
- Mansingh, Laxmi & Ajai, Home Away from Home: 150 years of Indian Presence in Jamaica 1845-1995 Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers, 1999. ISBN: 9768123389 or 9768123397.
Last year you agreed to be your family’s next reunion organizer.
At the time you thought it was
no big deal,
but now that summer's here you realize you’ve got a lot to
do.
Where do you start?
Follow these 12 steps to a less stressful and more successful family reunion.
1. Form committees.
Involving
the rest of your family in the planning process makes it easier for you
and gives everyone else a stake in the event’s success. Make a list of
the committees you think will be required. This might include
invitations, site arrangements, transportation, food, entertainment and
cleanup. Then match the abilities and interests of your relatives with
the functions of the committees. Check in with the committees
periodically to make sure everything gets done. Have your committees
keep records and compile them in a reunion binder you can hand off to
next year’s planner.
More ideas on committees
2. Establish a budget.
If
you’re hosting a potluck buffet or a small gathering in your backyard,
your expenses can be relatively low. Larger reunions, however, may
require substantial funding for things like food, facility rental,
party favors, entertainment or photography. Keep accurate records of
all expenditures. You may want to set up a special checking account to
help keep track of revenues and expenditures. Ask your family members
for donations or do a fundraiser.
More ideas on budgeting
3. Decide what you want.
Start
talking with your family about what type of reunion you want. How much
preparation is involved? How many family members will be invited?
Depending on these factors, you may need anywhere from a few weeks to a
year to plan your gathering. Keep in mind that the earlier you invite
people, the more will be able to attend.
More ideas on deciding what you want
4. Choose a date.
Summertime
is traditionally the time of year for family reunions, but if your
family would rather sled than swim, winter gatherings can be great
too. You might plan your event for a special day like a birthday or
anniversary. Three-day weekends give out-of-town relatives ample time
to travel, but lodging rates may be lower during off-peak times.
More ideas on choosing a date
5. Make a checklist.
Once
you’ve decided what type of gathering you want, you can determine a
checklist for your preparation. Check off each step as it's
completed.
More ideas on making a checklist
6. Pick a location.
Think
about what your family plans to do during the reunion. The easiest
(but most expensive) location is the banquet room of a restaurant,
where someone else handles all food preparation, serving and cleanup
duties. A more economical option is to hold the gathering at a park or
someone’s house. Wherever you look, consider the services available,
capacity, cost, accessibility, restrooms and availability – and if
necessary, be sure to reserve the location as soon as possible.
More ideas on picking a location
7. Plan your food.
Check
with your family about food allergies or aversions before choosing
food. If your reunion will be held at a restaurant, get a list of
options and create a couple menus that fit within your budget. If you
plan to have a potluck, decide what types of dishes everyone should
bring.
More ideas for food
8. Send invitations.
Send
your first invitation as soon as you’ve decided on a date and
location. That way your family can put the reunion on their calendars
early, and they’ll be more likely to attend. If you’re having a
potluck, use the invitation to assign dishes. If the gathering will be
at a restaurant, inform them of the price range or remind everyone to
send payment in advance. Send a reminder a couple weeks before the
gathering. If you still haven’t heard from some relatives a week or so
before the event, contact them to ensure attendance.
Make your own personalized invitation
9. Define activities.
Like
most family gatherings, your reunion will probably revolve around
food. But what should you do with the rest of your time together?
Play games with the entire family, and bring awards or prizes for the
winners. Plan an outing to a nearby zoo, museum or bowling alley.
Turn up the music and let people dance. Give adults a chance to chat
while children play in the “Kids' Zone,” a designated area stocked with
games, crafts and projects to keep kids (and adults!) happy during your
gathering.
More ideas on activities
10. Prepare for the big day.
Write
a reminder list of last-minute details. Choose or make a guestbook for
the reunion. Arrive ahead of time to make sure you’ve got everything
ready. At a restaurant, half an hour is sufficient, but one to 1 ½
hours may be needed at a park. Make sure all equipment is set up, and
liven up the space with signs and decorations.
11. Enjoy!
Take
care of any last-minute concerns you can handle and ignore the rest.
Most important – have fun! You’ve worked hard to organize your
successful family reunion, so enjoy yourself.
12. Clean up.
Make sure to bring brooms, buckets, water, rags and soap if your reunion is in a park. You'll also need ample garbage, reecycling and can receptacles. Enlist the help of your cleanup committee, and be sure all rented equipment is returned...
HAPPY FAMILY REUNION !
Special thanks to Margaret Dalley-Johns.
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Posted by: VesTriess | 25/10/2011 at 05:30
Hey Margaret,
I have been trying to get information about other family members. Your post makes for very interesting reading. Sorry that I was not at that family reunion.
Posted by: Christine Dalley-Bennett | 22/11/2008 at 12:50
Hey Margaret, nice post gyal, my grandfather grew all his grandchildren in the strict Jamaican Hindustani culture. I'm very proud that there are others like myself keeping a keen interest into our culture.
Beucase of our unique ethnic background my freinds refer to me as "The Wild Indyan" as i am full Indian but come from Jamaica, my freinds are all indian as well but they are directly of indian descent.
Our culture is so special Margaret so do not let any ignoramuses discourage you from sharing what you feel is important to you. Indian culture in Jamaica would seem to be dieing but it is not, I would say that it is a very discrete culture which is growing and strenghning.
You know Margaret it is very intersting that you have mentioned the two books that I also have, i am on page 27 of transients to settlers!!
Continue to preserve, promote and propagate Indian culture......you have my support.
Posted by: Danny Maragh | 11/11/2008 at 17:13
Good Afternoon,
We are writing to request the use of your image of your parents' wedding in the 1950's on a website for the arts consulting and strategic planning firm, Helicon Collaborative. We are interested in this photo because it shows cultural and racial diversity and "change" in the human behavior and belief. We want to show that over time people and things change for the better. We want to use this image in a flash animation on the homepage of their website – you can see an http://www.heliconcollab.net
The mantra of Helicon Collaborative is that cultural organizations need to adapt to changing times, or they will fossilize and die. The flash animation is a very visual way of demonstrating that things inevitably change: technology, landscapes, people, perceptions – everything. Each example is conveyed by three or four images above a timeline, as you can see from the example on the webpage above.
We want rights to display the image in this manner for 2 years. There will be a page of photo credits on the site.
Please let me know if you need any additional information.
Maria M
Media Combo
225 Varick Street suite 304
New York, NY
10014
E: Maria@mediacombo.net
M: 646-247-8803
Posted by: Maria M | 04/11/2008 at 18:18
I was actually doing research for a business in Miami and had to research my last name because I wanted to make sure no one else was using it. What a find! I usually visit Negril, Essue is my married last name even though we are now divorced.
Posted by: Danetta Essue | 12/10/2007 at 05:27
In response to the 4/14/07 posting:
First, you do NOT know my mother so do NOT pass any judgment against her. You also don’t know me or have any clue how I was brought up. No, "non-indian” is NOT the “acceptable euphemism” for Black in Jamaica. We (Jamaicans) do not need to be euphemistic about an obvious part of our culture, of which we are very proud. Also, you have taken my “non-indian” comment out of context. Maybe you are not aware, but this comment was originally posted on a yahoo group called the Bhatchaman group which is geared toward descendants of Indians who came to the Caribbean in the late 1800s-early 1900s. When I posted my comment originally my audience was this particular group, subsequently it has hit the general internet audience. You have really missed the point I was trying to make and I feel sad about this. Your comment was the only negative one posted and I must say after reading it, I am even more grateful to all the others who posted positive comments. I hope in your future endeavors you will not jump to unjust conclusions like you did with me. All the best to you!
PS: I do believe the term “negro” is NOT an “acceptable euphemism” in the 21st century!
Posted by: Margaret Dalley-Johns | 04/08/2007 at 02:41
Is "non- indian" the acceptable euphemism nowadays for Black in Jamaica?
A proud black man wonders!
Certainly you were not brought up to value your negro heritage. That's your mother's fault of course, but perhaps she sees it as a virtue.
Posted by: Ramiie | 14/04/2007 at 18:43
I was very intrigued by your page. Likewise i have a very strong INDIAN heritage of which i am extremely proud. I still live in Bastard Cedar Walk in Sav-la mar and and we still have the annual hussea jamboree. By the way are you married. I did not see your husband in the picture. is he also indian?
Injshun Kossaly
Posted by: Injshun K | 04/01/2007 at 12:50
Hi Margaret
I never got a chance to meet you because I never came to the Family Reunion
Posted by: Neil Dalley | 10/12/2006 at 22:16
i would like to say am so proud of someone finally from Jamaica who is proud of their indian heritage, the reason for this comment is because i have many relatives from Jamaica, Indian and mix indian and they dont take the time to get active in the indian culture in Jamaica.
Most of them live in Sa-la-mar, Westmoreland, Kingston and their last names are Thakur, Essue, Kuram and Baggal and my family in Trinidad are proud to be indian and and also speak hindi and gurati and I am a Dougla an very proud of it also speak hindi, spanish. I live in Puerto Rico grew up in Mexico and California.
Please keep up the good work on your indian heritage and let people know that Jamaica has a strong indian culture also. Take care keep up the good work.
Posted by: William Patel | 19/08/2006 at 07:55
Hey,
Hey very nice post.
Posted by: Kimani Goddard | 08/08/2006 at 13:09