Tour

There was a time in this country. A time when the people’s anxiety was stirring. When the average man and woman got disillusioned whenever they looked around at their situation. No one was making any money and hope for a future on the island was becoming more expensive by the day. For some, the only solution was to pack a steamer trunk full of memories of sunshine and trade a life of hard work for a passage on the ships that sailed almost everyday. Back then, towards the end of the 40’s & the 50’s you could wake up one morning and your neighbours would be shipping off their only son to an english law school . Or sending their beautiful daughter to study nursing.
All up the islands, everywhere, there was this great exodus of young minds, young hope, to the big European Cities. To the American promise of a better life and equality and justice for all. In London, Amsterdam, Paris, New York Trans Atlantic steam ships pulled up and poured their freshwater cargo over the docks and into the cities. Bringing the hot creole stew into the melting pot that had started to lose its flavor.
The legacy of this great West Indian exodus is now beginning to shake off the cramp from the 10 day cruise in a cargo hold. Now these expatriate sons and daughters whose mama and tanties still call live on these islands, are starting to realise the dreams that their fathers and mothers left home chasing. From Lenny Kravitz to Karem Abdul Jabar. A new kind of American entertainer is being heard. From the dinner table in the Fresh Prince’s Bel Air to a possible Oval Office desk for Colin Powell, these second Diaspora West Indians are making room for themselves.
So when we look up now and see the logos of foreign companies where ours once were, don’t let the smog choke you. When you fear that next time you’ll only get two sweetie for your dollar, don’t suck the paper, because this time around the plane ride is only 8 hours and there are scholarships instead of steamships.

Dennis Allen