Journey Of Self-Discovery And Accomplishment.
How do you feel being an immigrant/child of an immigrant impacted what you saw as career possibilities?
I believe we aspire to be what we and our parents are exposed to. My parents were both college educated with strong education values so that was very much expected. My mother was a teacher and my father a microbiologist. Finding ‘safe’ a safe career was expected but the lens was narrow. My father’s experience in corporate America at that time was not positive as a Black man in science. He discouraged my marketing interests and African American studies courses in favor of safer Insurance and Financial advising careers. But here I am!
Do you feel the Black American experience is different than the experience of Black Immigrants?
Both of my parents are from the same community in Jamaica both were highly British influenced and my father born in Cuba raised us in a predominantly white suburb in NJ. Those influences made me feel like I didn’t belong in any cultural identity community but I now realize it contributed to my life-long curiosity about cultures and identity globally. The white friends thought we were not Black but Jamaican and the Black American friends thought we were too white, and my parents didn’t really empathize with the Black American experience of inequity. The experiences contributed to my ability to navigate different experiences and now accept what I don’t know or experience. As a child I was not embraced in the Black American neighborhoods. I consider myself an Americanized Jamaican (Jamerican) now and proud of it.
What was the goal for you? What helped to drive you to your accomplishments?
Both of my parents are from the same community in Jamaica both were highly British influenced and my father born in Cuba raised us in a predominantly white suburb in NJ. Those influences made me feel like I didn’t belong in any cultural identity community but I now realize it contributed to my life-long curiosity about cultures and identity globally. The white friends thought we were not Black but Jamaican and the Black American friends thought we were too white, and my parents didn’t really empathize with the Black American experience of inequity. The experiences contributed to my ability to navigate different experiences and now accept what I don’t know or experience. As a child I was not embraced in the Black American neighborhoods. I consider myself an Americanized Jamaican (Jamerican) now and proud of it. My life goal was to be comfortable in life (not materialistic but not struggling), to learn and grow and experience the world. I did not set out to do what I have done. The values of working hard, appreciating and valuing relationships and seeing the opportunities in front of me without a feeling of less then and that I did not belong because of history did not apply in my mind which I think helped. I feel like I belong in all places and spaces without apology and permission.Speak correctly, Speak the Queens English, Knife in the right hand to cut your food then you can return the fork to the right hand (very challenging for a left-hand person) watch your posture, stand up straight
“No sitting on the front porch. Never be accused of being a ‘porch monkey’
No dead fish handshakes. Present , grasp and look them in the eye (dead fish handshakes are such a trigger to this day!)
Were there any rules of thumb or sayings repeated to you in your childhood that you live by to this very day?
Speak correctly, Speak the Queens English, Knife in the right hand to cut your food then you can return the fork to the right hand (very challenging for a left-hand person) watch your posture, stand up straight
“No sitting on the front porch. Never be accused of being a ‘porch monkey’
No dead fish handshakes. Present , grasp and look them in the eye (dead fish handshakes are such a trigger to this day!)
Pick three theme songs for your life. One for childhood, one for when you just entered the working world, and what’s your current theme song?
Simone, I wish I knew how it felt to be free
Kirk Franklin, Why
India Irie, Strength, Courage and Wisdom
Did you know that by being who you are and pursuing your aspirations, you would be helping to write the following chapters of Black History? How does that make you feel?
You never know what people need to hear, see or read that inspires them so it brings me joy if something I have said or done inspires another human. We do what feels right personally at the time but our backgrounds and ancestors are always whispering and standing on our shoulders. I am always reminded of the sacrifices that allow me to have the choices I have today.