In the cast of nine poets of the Def Poetry Jam in San Francisco, it is interesting to be "the Jamaican." A wide cross-section of "voices of America" is visible in the politics, the faces, and the heritage presented on stage. It has been a tad puzzling that I have met so few Jamaicans in the Bay Area, yet every night I make reference to being Jamaican there is a rush of patois shouted back at me in recognition.

The nuances of that are, at best, multifaceted. I am a lesbian speaking about issues of sexuality and homophobia- and if anybody knows anything about Jamaica it is that our people and our politicians public advocates for the immorality of homosexuality. It is indeed the conflicted moment with my people! And remember, I have only met one Jamaican here in San Fran, but every night there is a "bunch o' yaadies" in the audience- kicking up a fuss every time they hear anyting about Montego Bay or marijuana, or East Indian Mango.

A couple of years ago I heard Dr. Basil Bryan say, there more Jamaicans living abroad than there are living in Jamaica. Unbelievable then, but after my travels and experiences with Jamaicans popping up out of nowhere- in audiences and on the streets- I must say that we really are everywhere; in the entertainment industry, academia, publishing, activism-I once met a Morant Bay woman in Germany, who was involved in the fight against neo-nazism.

People who speak no English shout, "Bob Marley," when they hear I am Jamaican. Our music has made its way into the mainstream and our flag graces the hoods and bumpers of cars all across America. Sometimes I wonder how a little country, ninety miles off the coast of Castro's Cuba, with such a "third world" struggle with economy, could produce Merline Ottey, Madge Sinclair, and a "famous bob sled team". With all the odds against our children, we have carved a place in the world that clearly denotes a Jamaican consciousness.

Now, what should we do with this presence? That is really the million-dollar question. There must be a way to translate this collective Jamaican identity into ways to alleviate the conditions of poverty and the consequent crime in Jamaica-the Jamaica not visible on the tourist ads, the underpaid workforce that drives that industry.

I believe there are ways make that translation. First and foremost, some of this cold, hard, reggae money and tourist dollars and the one love legacy we sell to the rest of the world must make it back home to Jamaica.

Then we have to find a way to make that cash finance the comprehensive education of all our children. We have to offer scholarships for study abroad, for programs where children have money for school shoes and books and lunches.

AIDS is only one of the health problems on the rise in Jamaica. We have finance programs to facilitate the effective use of contraceptives in the larger society. We have to figure out heath-care for those who cannot afford it. Hospitals have to be better staffed and equipped.

The "good life" for Jamaicans abroad must be able to do more than send sneakers and fancy clothes for those left on the island. Yeah, man! We have nuff tings fi fix-up ina we backyard! So the next time you see the flag waving in Pennsylvania, shout out and tell the Jamaican to send a few "dunzai" fi the sufferers who just did unlucky fi draw a bad cyaad!

Till next time,

Staceyann