Book Description

Throughout their history, the Jamaican people perpetually struggle to survive under extraordinarily harsh economic and social conditions. From a historical perspective, this is fundamental to understanding the psyche of Jamaicans migrating to and settling in Canada in search of a better and more prosperous life. Therefore, their courage and determination have a backdrop, which the reader must be familiar with in order to understand the Jamaican desire for respect, peace and dignity. Significantly this book provides a classic account of the Jamaican experience settling in Canada over a period of five decades starting from the 1950s and lasting until the 2000s. It is divided into five chapters, three of which encompass interviews with individuals who immigrated to Canada. Each of the three chapters covers a twenty year period: the 1950s and 60s, the 1970s and 80s, and the 1990s and beyond. In order to provide a credible description of what the general experience might entail, three heuristic methods were employed to gather the most accurate data available. A literature review was conducted to expand and strengthen the author’s knowledge base of the subject matter. The author researched a number of books, newspaper articles and internet publications which provided critical perspectives from writers who tried to interpret attitudes and behaviors directed at Jamaicans on their journey towards settling in Canada. These perspectives include covert and overt issues connected to various categories of immigrants: those who came under the nursing, domestic, and seasonal agricultural worker programs and those who came as visitors. Furthermore, a plethora of literature was reviewed about Jamaicans, in general, (including middle and upper class Jamaicans who came to Canada significantly as independents) and their achievements. This secondary information and paper-based survey data assisted the author in crafting the last two chapters of the book.