Conor Finn

Professor Torres

Cultural Blog

Research for this blog has cost lost hours in the library as well as online. Whatever source I read the main attraction for Jamaican culture has stayed on the east coast. New York City has been a recurring hot spot for Jamaicans and there is even a Jamaica New York. The interesting part of this Jamaica in America is that my mother was born in this part of New York City many years ago. She does not remember much of the place she was born, but as time went on her knowledge of the area grew along with her hair, feet, and nose. This area of the city was full of Jamaican culture and when talking about my blog topic with my mother story after story started pouring out of her mouth. The one that caught my attention was the tale of the Jamaican maid that worked for my mother’s family. 

My mother described her as a beautiful women slightly overweight, always bearing a smile. She was the woman that took care of my mother as my grandparents were to busy with their lives. This maid raised my mother to respect others and laugh about everything. My mother has recalled hundred of instances where this particular maid rescued her from the fights between her parents and took care of her when she was sick. This immigrant in some eyes was actually more of a mother than the American who conceived her.