Subscribe for all my updates and don't miss a thing! Sign me up!

Jamaican Americans
Preserving the 'Yaad' Culture & Traditions

Sharing Is Caring! Share this awesome content with your friends now.

start_here_if_new_image_link

see_jamaica_in_videos_banner_july_2024_large

Jamaican Americans
by Rose-Marie Gordon-Cole

New! Take a piece of Jamaica with you💃!

Savour the memories!  Now you can get your authentic Jamaican souvenir items, as well as traditional Jamaican herbs, spices and housewares on our popular e-store. Click Here to learn more.


And, if you ever need a trustworthy and knowledgeable local guide, consider booking a private tour with us!

I remember my first visit to the US; spent a weekend in New York, Flatbush and had to pinch my self as I was convinced I was somewhere in Kingston Jamaica. The sights, sounds, and smell, were just too familiar.

Click Here To Jump To The List Of Famous  Jamaican Americans 

Jamaican Americans

Related: Famous Jamaicans.

From the handcart men selling cds on the sidewalk, to the smell of jerk chicken taunting my taste buds added to the sound of the Jamaican patois been spoken surprising not just by Jamaicans alone. This scene is very familiar in and around the New York area and other states in the US where you find a lot of Jamaican Americans.

If you were born in Jamaica but is now a citizen or resident of the US that makes you a Jamaican Americans (aka Jamericans).

Jamericans can be found in every state of the US, with New York home to more than half of the over 900,000 Jamaican Americans. The first Jamaican Americans was said to have arrived in the US in the early 1600s as volunteer workers on frigates.

It is amazing how we take our 'Jamaicaness' (if there is such a word) everywhere we go. The Jamaican Diasporas ensures that this heritage is preserved through, the fostering and encouraging of cultural programmes and events in the US and around the world.

Some of these events are...

  • Cultural expositions- show casing Jamaican talent through art and craft, dance
  • Festivals which introduces you to a taste of Jamaica, for those persons who have never been and a reminder for those who longed to be home. This is through food and entertainment.

The Jamaica Tourist Board along with other private entities, work very hard to ensue that these events are maintained. In addition to what is done in the US for the Jamaicans living there, the Jamerican society also contributes continuously to the Jamaican economy through remittances and export/Import.

REMITTANCES

With all the economic problems that the US was experiencing the Jamaican Americas still managed to continue sending remittances to their love ones. As a matter of fact up to February of this year there was a 7.4% increase in remittance to the island compared to the same period last year.

Another fact obtained from the International Fund of Agricultural Development states that “remittances represents approximately 15% of Jamaica’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year".

EXPORT/IMPORT

There is one thing that I try not to do whenever traveling to the US and that is taking a ton of Jamaican food with me, as numerous Caribbean stores can be found in and around the major Jamaican communities and is stocked with some of the most unlikely items; blue cake soap, tin mackerel, cerasee bush, pigs tail, just to give you an idea. And if you are in the Florida area it is common to see ackee and mangos for sale in the Caribbean stores.

Most Jamaicans who have relatives abroad, from the first and second week of December is geared and ready to join the long lines at the nearest wharf to collect the annual “barrels”, stock with everything from the Christmas outfits to saltfish. Irrespective of the economic situation the barrels a come... :-)

Related: Our Jamaican Store

Posted: 09/04/2011

Return to Jamaica Culture from Jamaican Americans.
Return to HomePage from Jamaica Americans.

Back to Top

Famous Jamaican Americans

The following is a list of world famous JaAmericans, extracted from Wikipedia

Actors

  • Tyson Beckford[1]
  • Shari Belafonte[2]
  • Corbin Bleu (1989 - ) film/television actor & vocalist (High School Musical)[3]
  • Camille McDonald
  • Sheryl Lee Ralph[4]
  • Tiffany Chin-Sim[5]
  • David Reivers[6]

Musicians

  • Afrika Bambaataa - Musician[7]
  • Beat Prophets[2]
  • Harry Belafonte[8]
  • Busta Rhymes[2]
  • Canibus[2]
  • Heavy D[2]
  • KRS One[2]
  • Sean Kingston
  • Notorious BIG[2]
  • Renee Neufville[2]
  • Ernie Smith[2]
  • Steven "Bigg Steve" Anderson
  • Olivia
  • Christopher "Kid" Reid
  • Sandra Denton
  • Pretty Ricky
  • Sean Paul - Rapper

Other Notable Jamaica Americans

  • Louis Farrakhan - leader of the Nation of Islam[9]
  • Samuel Fraunces
  • Gil Noble
  • Colin Powell - former 65th United States Secretary of State[10]
  • David Paterson- Governor of New York
  • Ben Gordon- British-born Chicago Bulls basketball player
  • Patrick Ewing - Retired basketball player who played with the New York Knicks
  • Claude McKay
  • Chili Davis
  • Devon White (baseball)

Make sure you subscribe to my free monthly e-zine My Island Jamaica Digest (MIJD) and stay with the latest from Jamaica!

Didn't find exactly what you were looking for?
Do a quick search of the entire site.

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.
Back To The Top Of This Page

New! Get My Latest Book👇🏿

JAMAICA_ON_A_BUDGET_EBOOK_COVER_LEAN

You asked, I've answered! You no longer need to save for months or years, to enjoy paradise!

JAMAICA On A Budget is your passport to experiencing what I call 'The Real Jamaica' on a budget!

I spilled the beans! sharing my top tips on finding cozy accommodations and secret gems, only the way a native could! Click Here to pick it up on my e-store and start saving now!

See The Best Of Jamaica - In Videos!

my_island_jamaica_channel_tv

My channel reaches over 140,000 subscribers worldwide and has leveraged over 11 million views, sharing, what I call 'The Real Jamaica'. Subscribe today and join our family of viewers.

Jamaica_subscribe_button

Read More ...

New! Experience The REAL Jamaica!
Book Your Private Tour here and experience Jamaica the way we (locals) do!

P.S. Didn't find what you were looking for? 
Still need help?

Click Here to try our dependable and effective Site Search tool. It works!

Or, simply click here and here, to browse my library of over 500 questions and answers! Chances are someone already asked (and got an answer to) your question.

copyscape
Back To The Top Of This Page

Like My Site? Please Click Here To Share It With Your Friends

Home   |   JOIN US   |   Site Search   |   Have Your Say   |   Archives   |   Old Archives   |   Contact   |   Disclaimer   |   TIP ME!   |   Link To Us


Do like I did! Share your passion
(about your city, hobby or experience) and make a living from it. Click Here to see how.

By Wellesley Gayle   |   Copyright © 2007-2024 My-Island-Jamaica.com   |   All rights Reserved.   |   Privacy Policy