Friday, September 22, 2006
Overview of Kingston, Jamaica
"Out of Many, One People" (Jamica's National Motto)
Kingston the capital of Jamaica is the second largest english speaking city south of Miami and was founded at the end of the 17th century as a refuge for survivors when a devastating earthquake hit the former capital of Port Royal. Kingston is named in honor of the British King, William of Orange. Before the earthquake Kingston housed pig farmers and fishing shacks but its harbour allowed the city to flourish as an integral seaport also allowing freed slaves and immigrant workers to find a safe haven. The rich gravitated towards uptown Kingston, nestling in the mountains overlooking the entire city and harbour while the poor huddled in shanty towns on the edges of downtown. The Metropolis endured many natural disasters, a hurricane in 1784, an enormous fire in 1843, a cholera epidemic in 1850 and an earthquake in1907. These events devastated the downtown region further resulting in higher levels of poverty and this devastation helped to create the Rastafarian movement during the 1920s and 30s.
Today Kingston is known throughout the world as a dangerous city, however the danger is unseen to most tourists and lurks in the dark corners at the edges of the city. Kingston is divided into two sections, Downtown and New Kingston. The Downtown sector streches north from the waterfront and houses old buildings; it is home to Gordon house where parliament resides meeting on tuesdays (House of Representatives) and fridays (Senate). The safest and most popular attraction is Ocean Boulevard, the centre piece and focal point of the strip is the emotionally charged "Negro Aroused". It is a statue depicting a crouched man breaking free from bondage and was created by Edna Manley, with of former Prime Minister Norman Manley. When walking through downtown, all one sees is street vendors, warehouses, industrial ships and ofcourse lots of street children and poverty. This is where for me the beauty of my surrounding stopped as i looked around and felt an emotional outrage for everything the people have indured and are still induring.Uptown Kingston or New Kingston is the urban centerpiece of the city, it is the "new" downtown and it dominated by businesses, offices, banks, restaurants and clubs. The most popular attractions are Devon House, built by the first Jamaican millionaire and the Bob Marley Museum, which was once his house and recording studio. Being in New Kingston feels like being in any other urban city, I feel sheltered from the violence and danger that i know is only kilometres away.
# posted by Craig Young @ 7:40 AM 
