New Diaspora leader challenges Jamaicans

New Diaspora Advisory Board member Dr. Susan Davis wasted no time, immediately defining the Diaspora for members of the Jamaican-American community who gathered at the Holy Family Episcopal Church in Miami on Sunday. The event was a the thanksgiving service for the Diaspora Movement of Jamaica and the consecration of the new Diaspora leadership of the Southern Region of the U.S.

Using Patois, the unofficial language of Jamaica, Dr. Davis, a cultural activist and poet, recited a short poem saying the Diaspora was not just a select number of people, but everyone of Jamaican heritage who has been scattered across the world. She said the Diaspora is "you and me," assuring Jamaicans in the congregation that without doing anything they are still a part of the Diaspora. One of the criticisms of the Diaspora Movement is that it fails to define itself.

Dr. Davis, who is a professor at Nova Southeastern University, also challenged the notions that the Diaspora was an elitist organization and that it has not done much in its five years of existence. Using the Chinese bamboo plant (which takes years before it even sprouts, but grows to heights in a short time) as an analogy, she said representatives had spent the five years planting the seed of the Diaspora, watering and nurturing it – working behind the scenes in a tedious and thankless job for which they are not paid, and now it was time for it to grow rapidly.

The way forward

The new Diaspora leader said her job was to help the movement sprout and she was enlisting the participation of all present. She is charged with doing some core work like adopting new and fixing existing bylaws, working on fundraising (the movement is not funded) and bringing about greater awareness to the movement and its functions.

She said all these things were needed to make the Jamaican Diaspora Movement "visible, accountable and approachable...working from the grassroots up." Dr. Davis closed with a challenge to Jamaicans: "Can we do this?"

It is hoped the response is, "Yes we can."

Assistant Diaspora Advisory Board members Attorney Pamela Gordon and, lecturer and community activist George Pedlar, will help Davis to move the organization forward.

Jamaican Consul General, Sandra Grant Griffiths addressed the congregation and new president of the United Theological College of the West Indies, Jamaica, Rev Dr. Marjorie Lewis, delivered the homily – calling for people to "rejoice always" despite difficulties.

Father Horace Ward and Rev. Easton Lee officiated the service.