The many faces of Jamaica...

If you think the USofA is the only melting pot of the world, you are totally wrong. Almost all continents are represented in Jamaica's population, which is a colorful collection of human beings and likewise colorful traditions and cultures.
U see? Another point why Jamaica is so interesting.. ;-)

Currently, 2.7 million people live in Jamaica, of which about 800,000 live in Kingston (29% of the total population). In the 1940's and 1950's the population grew very fast, but from the 1960's the growth rate did slow down due migration and several programs introduced by the National Family Planning Board.

Africa
As you probably already know, most of the Jamaicans are black. About 76 percent of the population is from African descent. Most of them (well, their forefathers) came from West Africa to the island as slaves and today, Africa still can be found in language, traditions, music, food, religion and daily life.

A second group with African and European roots is called Afro-European, kids from white fathers and black mothers. Most of them were born on the plantations and were lucky to have some privileges. They got a better life than most black slaves. About 15 percent of the inhabitants of Jamaica is Afro-European.


The whities
The whities in Jamaica have all European roots. The first one were the Spanish, but the British influence still is visible in today's daily life. However, less than three percent of the population is white.

An interesting white community in Ja are the Germans. Between 1834 and 1838 about 1,000 Germans arrived in Jamaica to settle in Seaford Town, Westmoreland. For centuries the Germans refused to intermarry with the black locals (in-breeding was very common in Seaford) and the group stayed white for a long time.
It was a unique white community on a black island. Many names like Hanover, Blenhein, Berlin, Potsdam, ect., reminds us the German roots of this people, in Jamaica now called 'Germaicans'.

A significant number of 'poor whites' can be found on the island: the descendants of the Scottish, Welsh, Irish and German, who arrived after the emancipation of Jamaica to do the work on the plantations. It didn't work, most left the island again and those who stayed never made good.

Greetings from Asia
After the end of slavery also workers from India and China were invited to come to work on Jamaica. The amount of Indians is estimated 36,400, most Hindus from the northern part of India. In towns like Little London and Sheffield (Westmoreland) the Indian community is fully alive.
By the way, do not underestimate the Indian stamp on Jamaica's history: it were the Indians who took Ganja (the stuff and the word) to Jamaica.

Today, most of the 5,000 Chinese in Jamaica are active in the restaurant business or in trade. Most of the Chinese left Jamaica in the late 20th century to try one's luck in the United States.


Jews
Less than a half percent of the population is Jews. The Jews have a long heritage on the island.
The first Jews were Spanish (and some Portuguese to) and arrived in Jamaica somewhere in the 16th century. Many of them assisted the English during the 1655 invasion and the integration of the Jews in Jamaica went very well. Today there are about 1,500 Jews in Jamaica, but their influence still is important.

Let's go
Migration in the Caribbean is very common. Because the political and economical situations on most islands is not stable, a lot inhabitants left their home country to build up a new life elsewhere.

No exceptions for Jamaicans. In Jamaica it is hard to find a job, the unemployment figure is high and the outlook is difficult to predict. For a lot of Jamaicans a reason to left this island, first to the United States (about 350,000 Jamaicans live in the US today), but when the immigration laws in the Untied States were tighten up, Canada and England became popular.

Racism
According the Jamaican government Jamaica is a melting pot of racial harmony. And, fair's fair, we don't have any bad racial experiences so far, it looks like Jamaica seems free of serious racial trouble.

However, there still is a sort of class system. Class divisions are still related to color and an important part of the black population still is poor. In these communities there is lingering resentment against whites. Which is not so bad if you take a look in history...