Jamaica - People
The end of slavery was not the end of domination for black people in Jamaica. Long after emancipation, Jamaica remained a poor and socially divided country, ninety percent black but dominated by a light-skinned elite, with the majority of people speaking Jamaican dialect while English was retained as an official language.
The original Maroons were the indigenous Tainos and enslaved Africans brought to the island by the Spanish, who were set free when the British captured Jamaica in 1655. During their settlement of the island (1655-1807), the British brought more Africans to work on the sugar plantations. Some of these enslaved Africans ran away to the hills and joined the original Maroons, thereby swelling the group’s numbers.
There were two distinct groups: the Leeward and Windward Maroons. The Leeward Maroons were originally found in the mountains of Clarendon, Trelawny and St. Ann, while the Windward group was located in the eastern mountainous regions of St. George (Portland), St. Mary and St. Thomas. The Maroons settled in largely inaccessible, usually mountainous, regions of the island. They launched periodic raids on the plantations to get food and weapons, and also welcomed runaway enslaved Africans or encouraged them to join their groups.
Jamaica’s educational system is based on the British system. The school system consists of a pre-primary cycle of two years, followed by a primary cycle of six years and a secondary cycle of five years. In some instances students pursue two years of additional secondary education. The educational system accommodates a variety of public and private schools. Post-secondary education is available to qualified candidates at community colleges, the University of Technology, Northern Caribbean University and the Jamaican campus of the University of the West Indies.
In addition to the formal school system, Jamaica has an adult literacy program, which contributed to reducing the illiteracy rate from 32.2% in 1987 to 24.6% in 1994, according to a 1994 survey. No comparable survey has been undertaken since 1994. There is also a government-directed employment and resource training program, which helps place high school graduates with private sector firms for “on-the-job” training. In addition, Jamaica instituted “Lift Up Jamaica”, a government-sponsored program that hires unemployed youths to do basic infrastructure work on a short-term basis.
Jamaica’s population faces struggles similar to people in other island nations. There are many areas where people still practice subsistence agriculture. Many youth are without jobs or lack the skills to contribute to the development of their communities. Many children cannot read. Historically, Jamaican emigration has been heavy. Since the United Kingdom restricted emigration in 1967, the major flow has been to the United States and Canada. About 20,000 Jamaicans emigrate to the United States each year; another 200,000 visit annually. New York, Miami, Chicago, and Hartford are among the US cities with a significant Jamaican population.
Jamaica is a small island with a population of approximately 2.8 million people. It has a rich, diverse culture mixed with other equally interesting cultures from around the world, the majority of whom are of African origin. Other ethnic groups include East Indians, Chinese, Lebanese, and Europeans. The country’s ethnic diversity is reflected in the national motto, “Out of Many, One People.” What makes Jamaica’s culture most interesting is the people. Hospitable, warm, friendly, and gracious are just among the many ways to describe Jamaicans. These qualities alone attract tourists to Jamaica.
As a former British colony, Jamaica is an English-speaking country; however, most Jamaicans speak Patois, a Jamaican dialect derived from several languages, including English and West African languages. Music is a significant aspect of the culture, and the rhythms of reggae, calypso, and soca commonly emanate from dance halls and the streets.
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