Faces: People, Places, and Cultures articles from April 2001

Faces: People, Places, and Cultures archives from April 2001

Editor's Message.(brief overview of Jamaica)
April 1, 2001... Dear Reader, Each year 1 million tourists visit Jamaica and take advantage of its beautiful beaches and near-perfect weather. It's no surprise that so many people spend their vacations in Jamaica when you consider that Christopher...

At a Glance.(geographic profile of Jamaica)
April 1, 2001... JAMAICA Location: Jamaica is located off the coast of Central America in the Caribbean Sea, 90 miles south of Cuba. It is part of a group of islands called the Greater Antilles in the West Indies. Area: 4,244 square miles (10,991...

Only In ... Jamaica.(Jamaican iguana)
April 1, 2001... A Jamaican hunter made a remarkable discovery in the remote, rugged Hellshire Hills in 1990. While tracking a wild boar with his trained dog, something crashed through the brush and startled him. His dog took off toward the sound. After hearing...

In the Know.(facts to look for in issue)
April 1, 2001... Look for the following people, places, and things in this issue. King Solomon: The King of Israel from c. 972 to 922 B.C., Solomon (d. 922) was known for his wisdom. The Temple of Jerusalem was built during his reign. Marcus Garvey:...

XAYMACA.(Tainos of Jamaica)
April 1, 2001... LEGACY OF THE TAINO Sometime between A.D. 600 and 700, members of the Taino tribe landed on the shores of Xaymaca -- Jamaica. They were searching for a new, peaceful homeland. Their ancestors had lived for more than 2,000 years on the...

Through Time.(Jamaica time line)
April 1, 2001... Jamaica 600-700 The Taino arrive in pre-Columbian Jamaica; they fish, hunt, and grow crops of cassava. 1494 Christopher Columbus lands in Jamaica. 1510-1517 The Spanish establish permanent settlements on the island. By 1517, most...

Life on a Sugar Plantation in British Jamaica.
April 1, 2001... Ask Jamaicans what they love about their island and they will describe some of the same things Christopher Columbus admired when he first saw Jamaica in 1494: sun-bleached beaches, tropical breezes, and swaying palm trees. One thing Columbus...

Looking to Africa.(history of Rastafarians)
April 1, 2001... "Look to Africa where a king would be crowned, for the day of deliverance is near," Marcus Garvey urged in a speech in 1929. A year later, he wrote in The Blackman, his Jamaican newspaper, "Last Sunday, a great ceremony took place... the...

The Jamaican Coat of Arms.
April 1, 2001... The ancient term "coat of arms" comes to us from the garment decorated with a badge of allegiance worn over armor in the 15th and 16th centuries. Royalty and prominent English families proudly displayed their coat of arms on banners, furniture,...

Jonkanoo.(Jamaican Christmas tradition)
April 1, 2001... A Jamaican Christmas Delight Jonkanoo (john-kah-noo) is one of Jamaica's oldest Christmas traditions. For more than 300 years, roving bands of masked and wildly costumed dancers have roamed the streets of Jamaica at Christmastime....

DOMINOES.(Jamaican pastime)
April 1, 2001... Don't be fooled by a simple set of dotted tiles! Not everyone is clever enough to survive a cutthroat game of Jamaican dominoes. Perhaps it does not take much skill to match dotted tiles on a board, but learning the strategy of successfully...

Nyam Eating Jamaican-style.
April 1, 2001... "What's for breakfast?" you ask. "Ackee and saltfish, mon," your Jamaican host replies. "Plantation breakfast and matrimony, okay?" "Matrimony? Wait a minute, I'm too young to get married...." "This is matrimony," he laughs,...

Blue Mountain Coffee.(Jamaica's coffee industry)
April 1, 2001... Blue Mountain coffee has been famous since the late 1700s. At that time, coffee shops were all the rage in Europe, and, since Jamaica was under British rule, it was natural for its coffee to be exported there. Jamaica's Blue Mountains run...

From Ska to Soca and Rap to Reggae.(Jamaican music)
April 1, 2001... The Music of Jamaica Music is everywhere in Jamaica. It pours out of buses, cars, taxis, and stores. In small towns and villages, loudspeakers atop tall poles blast out the latest craze. Even on remote country roads where the air is silent...

The National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica.
April 1, 2001... Sitting in the back of a darkened theater, a little girl holds her breath as her wide eyes follow gyrating dancers across the stage. As the drums' pulsing rhythms rise to a crescendo, she leans forward, gripping her program, until suddenly she...

Jamaica Talk.
April 1, 2001... When you first arrive in Jamaica, you are quite likely to wonder what language is being spoken. Your guidebook says that English is the official language. If you eavesdrop on Jamaicans speaking with one another in the airport, though, you may...

The Spider Man.(Short Story)
April 1, 2001... Anansi is a spider. You might find him sitting in your bathtub. He is big and hairy, and he has long, tickling legs. If you saw him, you would surely run! One day, Anansi heard news of a ghost fight. His parents begged him not to go. ...

Letters.(Poem)
April 1, 2001... Jamaica Paradise Jamaica is a lovely place, with beaches all over its face. Many cultures thrive there, with all the island's luscious fare. Weddings or honeymoons, the only worries are typhoons. So just...

FACE FACTS.(Ian Fleming and Jamaica)
April 1, 2001... BRITISH AUTHOR IAN FLEMING, THE CREATOR OF JAMES BOND, WROTE MOST OF HIS SPY NOVELS IN JAMAICA.

Books.(on Jamaica)
April 1, 2001... Jamaica by Frances Wilkins This volume in the publisher's Major World Nations series presents a thorough overview of the island nation: its geography, history, economy, and culture. The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations, most...

Audio.
April 1, 2001... Jamaica: Roots of Reggae This cassette features traditional Jamaican folk songs and original compositions that reflect basic Jamaican rhythms. Audio Forum Guilford, Conn., (800) 243-1234

Think About It ...
April 1, 2001... Jamaica's motto is "Out of many, one people." What do you think this motto means? Draw a picture or write a short description illustrating this motto. In "The Spider Man," Anansi overcomes obstacles despite his size. Can you think of other...

On-Line.
April 1, 2001... The Jamaican Gleaner The Jamaican Gleaner, the island's leading newspaper, has been publishing since 1834. Its Web site includes all the usual newspaper departments -- lead stories, sports, entertainment, business, etc. -- in an...