Jamaica

Jamaica, like most Caribbean countries have always prided themselves on their caste system. No one really knows their significance or purpose. However, as a child growing up in Jamaica, by the time you reached the age of reason, you basically figured out where you were "supposed to fit in".

I have noticed that recently, America has adopted the same attitude of a caste system. Although, in America class is associated with money and wealth. While in the Caribbean it's associated with lineage and legacy.

Caribbeans are like the British, it doesn't matter how much money you have, if you are lacking in class, you are automatically disqualified from swimming with the "big fish".

As you all may know by now, My Granny was not an ordinary woman at all. Granny always tested society's social mores and limits with her endeavors. Especially when she met my Grandfather, Hubert Mortimer Brown.

Granny came from a family that would be considered the "Upper Crust" in any country or social situation. Her world consisted of private tutors, fancy tea parties and prominent Finishing Schools. Granny literally lived in her own private world which was reminiscent of Europe in the late 1900's.

Therefore, when Granny met Hubert Mortimer Brown, The Taxi Driver, it was appropriate to say that everyone's knickers were in a crease. Granny often told me the story of how she was on her way to the Cinema one afternoon, and a kind very polite gentleman stopped his vehicle so she and her chaperone could cross the street. There was a harsh wind, and since Granny was very petite, the man was concerned that she would be tossed away by the wind. So he helped her and her companion cross to the other side ,and as they say, the rest was history.

My Grandmother's parents being the epitome of wealth and privilege, emphatically opposed the union between she and my Grandfather. They thought that my Grandfather was not "good enough" for their daughter, just because he was a Taxi Driver.

Granny was raised to be the wife of a Politician or Land Owner. Granny did not care about her parents opinions. As they say in Jamaica, she gave them their receipt and told them to keep the change. Granny married Hubert, even though her very aristocratic family decided to ostracize her.

My Great Grandparents felt that Granny would live a life of being barefoot and pregnant for several years in some god forsaken shack somewhere in Jamaica. They felt that a Taxi Driver could not adequately provide for their daughter whom they had groomed for great things. Granny had no one to turn to, as even her Aunts and Uncles and siblings felt the same way. Yet like a trooper, she put on a happy face and found contentment with her life as a Taxi Driver's wife.

One day I asked Granny how she felt about the caste system and the decision she made to marry her beloved "Hubie" and this is what she told me. "Hubie was a good man, he was always impeccably dressed. His shoes were always so shine that I could always see my reflection in them. Oh, and his felt hat....., Hubie never went any where without his custom made felt hat. He had more class than all the hoity-toity people I've ever known. Ms. Mags, my children never went to bed hungry one night in their life, and you know what?

I eagerly questioned, "What Granny?"

"Sweetheart, my children never had to sleep bungle, bungle up together, even though I had eight of them. They all had their own rooms. Now, not only was Hubie a wonderful husband, but he was a man who did what he had to do to make his family comfortable . That's what you need to look for when you come of age."

"You know Ms. Mags, the whole family was up in arms about our nuptials, they even had a family summit on whether or not Hubie and I should be married. But I didn't care, I told them 'get thee hence Satans', and was on my merry way.

Hubie never deprived me of anything, whatever he gave or did, it was never stingy. It was always in a real big way and in good taste. When he bought aerated water or food, he didn't buy for the week. No, I think he was the original creator of BJ's. The man bought a whole warehouse full of food. He always made sure he worked hard, so that his wife and children did not lack or want for any good thing."

I looked at Granny in amazement, I was thinking that even then she had the gumption to be true to herself and take the folks on.

Wow! In that moment Granny became my hero.

Granny began to explain further, "Sure I had eight children, but you know what? They have been my crowning glory. They always had the best to wear, thanks to Hubie and now that I'm an old woman, they have been my blessings in disguise. They have made sure I have never wanted for anything. God Bless The Taxi Man's Children! Amen!"

Granny continued, "They all had their say, they thought my children would not amount to anything, but, God is Good, I can brag that I have grandchildren that are making their mark on the world. After a while my mother came around. She would often visit Kingston, and like a good dutiful son-in-law Hubie always got the finest delicacies for her and made sure her visits were filled with luxuries and comfort. You know, later on in life my mother told me that Hubie was her favorite son-in-law."

I asked Granny why she thought that Grandmother Belle felt that way, she replied, "Because he was not a man of pretense. He had high moral standards and he didn't take any "custed" foolishness from anyone."

I can certainly attest to that. My Grandfather was notable for closing down schools if someone tried to hurt his children or grandchildren. People respected him, some because of fear and others because of his no nonsense approach to life. He believed in old fashioned values, that a woman's place was in the home and that she should not try to dress like a man or act like one. I remember when I was about two years old, Gramp yelled at Granny for dressing me in slacks. However, Granny quickly quenched his ire by saying, "All right Hubie, for goodness sake she's a little baby."

Then he would mutter, "I don't want my granchild growing up having any gender confusion." He was old fashioned but he had some very modern ideologies.

So after Granny and I reminisced about her decision to leave a life of wealth and privilege to marry my Grandad. I asked her if she had any regrets, and she told me, "No".

As I sit here writing this article and I think of My Grandparent's life together, I can only comment that, some people have wealth and privilege, thrust upon them, some are born into it and others have it bestowed upon them, but it doesn't always mean that they are the greatest people in the world.

In my life I have been proud of my Grandmother's lineage of Aristocracy, as well as the working class legacy that my Grandfather bestowed upon his family. After surveying all the things that have transpired in life, I can honestly comment that my Grandfather made sure his children stayed on the straight and narrow path. Discipline and Family were important to him and as the bible preaches, "What good is a man who has tremendous wealth and his family is ailing, whether it be physically or spiritually." Technically, that man has failed his family and himself.

Granny may not have married the prize cow, but she married a man that allowed her to live and die a life of dignity. Yay! For Hubie, he's probably raising hell somewhere in heaven.

*In Loving Memory of Vincent J. Brown

Sleep In Heavenly Peace!