The Island Of One People

"Compelled to flee the Iberian Inquisition in Europe, Jews began crossing the Atlantic Ocean and settling in the West Indies from as early as the 15th century. When the Inquisition travelled to Brazil in the late 16th century, Jews sought refuge in Jamaica. From that time, to the persecutions in Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 40s, Jamaica proved tolerant and welcoming, and today, the Jewish community remains a strong thread in the nation's tapestry." "But little is known about this segment of Jamaican society and its contribution to the development of modern day Jamaica." "The Island of One People: An Account of the History of the Jews of Jamaica redresses this unawareness in an exploration of the Jewish-Jamaican community and its contribution to the development of Jamaica. From the early merchants of Kingdom to the development and modernization of the Kingston Harbour, the construction of numerous Housing Developments, and landmark buildings such as the Ward Theatre; from the development of companies such as the Lascelles deMercado conglomerate with interests in sugar, rum, insurance, motor car agencies and airport and shipping services, to the establishment of the renowned Gleaner newspaper, arguably the oldest newspaper in the western hemisphere; from representing Jamaica internationally to the new iconic work of Belisario; the contribution of the Jewish community in nation building in Jamaica is unquestionable."--BOOK JACKET.

A masterwork of travel literature and of history: voyaging from Cuba to Jamaica, Puerto Rico to Trinidad, Haiti to Barbados, and islands in between, Joshua Jelly-Schapiro offers a kaleidoscopic portrait of each society, its culture and politics, connecting this region’s common heritage to its fierce grip on the world’s imagination. From the moment Columbus gazed out from the Santa María's deck in 1492 at what he mistook for an island off Asia, the Caribbean has been subjected to the misunderstandings and fantasies of outsiders. Running roughshod over the place, they have viewed these islands and their inhabitants as exotic allure to be consumed or conquered. The Caribbean stood at the center of the transatlantic slave trade for more than three hundred years, with societies shaped by mass migrations and forced labor. But its people, scattered across a vast archipelago and separated by the languages of their colonizers, have nonetheless together helped make the modern world—its politics, religion, economics, music, and culture. Jelly-Schapiro gives a sweeping account of how these islands’ inhabitants have searched and fought for better lives. With wit and erudition, he chronicles this “place where globalization began,” and introduces us to its forty million people who continue to decisively shape our world.

As a source of colonial wealth and a crucible for global culture, Jamaica has had a profound impact on the formation of the modern world system. From the island's economic and military importance to the colonial empires it has hosted and the multitude of ways in which diverse people from varied parts of the world have coexisted in and reacted against systems of inequality, Jamaica has long been a major focus of archaeological studies of the colonial period. This volume assembles for the first time the results of nearly three decades of historical archaeology in Jamaica. Scholars present research on maritime and terrestrial archaeological sites, addressing issues such as: the early Spanish period at Seville la Nueva; the development of the first major British settlement at Port Royal; the complexities of the sugar and coffee plantation system, and the conditions prior to, and following, the abolition of slavery in Jamaica. The everyday life of African Jamaican people is examined by focusing on the development of Jamaica's internal marketing system, consumer behavior among enslaved people, iron-working and ceramic-making traditions, and the development of a sovereign Maroon society at Nanny Town. Out of Many, One People paints a complex and fascinating picture of life in colonial Jamaica, and demonstrates how archaeology has contributed to heritage preservation on the island.

Far from being a melting pot, multi-racial Singapore prides itself on the richness of its ethnic communities and cultures. This volume provides an updated account of the heterogeneity within each of the main communities — the Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian and Others. It also documents the ethnic cultures of these communities by discussing their histories, celebrations, cultural symbols, life cycle rituals, cultural icons and attempts to preserve culture. While chapters are written by scholars drawing insight from a variety of sources ranging from academic publications to discussions with community experts, it is written in an accessible way. This volume seeks to increase intercultural understanding through presenting ample insights into the cultural beliefs and practices of the different ethnic communities. While this book is about diversity, a closer examination of the peoples and cultures of Singapore demonstrates the many similarities communities share in this Singaporean space. Contents: Foreword (Janil Puthucheary)AcknowledgementsIntroductory: Ethnic Diversity, Identity and Everyday Multiculturalism in Singapore (Mathew Mathews)Chinese: The Chinese in Singapore (Tong Chee Kiong)Chinese Community and Culture in Singapore (Soon Su-Chuin, Elvin Xing Yifu and Tong Chee Kiong)Malay: The Malays in Singapore (Suriani Suratman)Malay Community and Culture in Singapore (Suriani Suratman and Siti Hajar Esa)Indian: The Indians in Singapore (Vineeta Sinha)Tamil Community and Culture in Singapore (A Mani, Pravin Prakash and Shanthini Selvarajan)Malayalee Community and Culture in Singapore (Anitha Devi Pillai)Punjabi Sikh Community and Culture in Singapore (Amrit Kaur and Bhajan Singh)Gujerati Community and Culture in Singapore (Rizwana Abdul Azeez)Minority Indian communities in Singapore (Nilanjan Raghunath)Eurasians and Others: The Eurasians and Others in Singapore (Mathew Mathews)Eurasian Community and Culture in Singapore (Alexius Pereira)Filipino Community and Culture in Singapore (Lou Antolihao and Clement Mesenas)Myanmar Community and Culture in Singapore (Moe Thuzar and Christine Lim Li Ping) Readership: Student and researchers of Singapore society and general readers interested in Singapore and its ethnic culture. Keywords: Ethnic Diversity;Culture;Customs;Traditions;Heritage;Singaporean Chinese;Singaporean Malays;Singaporean Indians;Singaporean EurasiansReview:0

"Little by little, an egg will come to walk upon its own leg." Ethiopian-Israelis fondly quote this bit of Amharic folk wisdom, reflecting upon the slow, difficult history that allowed them to fulfill their destiny far from the Horn of Africa where they were born. But today, along with those Ethiopians who have been recognized as Jews by the State of Israel, many who are called "Feres Mura," the descendants of Ethiopian Jews whose families converted to Christianity but have now reasserted their Jewish identity, still await full acceptance in Israel. Since the 1990s, they have sought homecoming through Israel's "Law of Return," but have been met with reticence and suspicion on a variety of fronts. One People, One Blood expertly documents this tenuous relationship and the challenges facing the Feres Mura. Distilling more than ten years of ethnographic research, Don Seeman depicts the rich culture of the group, as well as their social and cultural vulnerability, and addresses the problems that arise when immigration officials, religious leaders, or academic scholars try to determine the legitimacy of Jewish identity or Jewish religious experience.

First published in 1997, it would be hard to find a publisher today for a white, male expatriate writing about the realities of life in a Jamaican hamlet. To make matters worse, Guy Kennaway wrote One People in the local patois. But this comic novel - sparkling with irreverent wit - is cherished in Jamaica where it is recognized for its "humor and humanity" and as a mirror which reflects the essence of the island, where "culture is something that comes from the ground up and good times do not require a whole heap o' money." Guy Kennaway's novel about Jamaican life and culture is set in the fictional village of Angel Beach. It is an affectionate and hilarious description of a small community where everyone knows everyone's business, poverty is a way of life, and dreams of escape trickle through fingers.