Self Assessment Response

     Overall, I feel my blog posts meets majority of the criteria that is required in my class, but I still feel that I am missing something. Maybe I could go further into detail when I write my blogs. There are not any aspects of writing assignments on a blog that confuses me or stress me, but sometimes I struggle to engage with certain topics that I feel are sensitive to my way of life and what I believe. I am comfortable putting how I feel out there for anyone, but I do not care how I am viewed. I do not care about meeting someone else standards, I do not  need validation from anyone. I feel I have been doing the best that I can do with my blogs, but I can always get better. Some days  are not always shining for me but I always stay in good spirit to maintain peace.  Honestly, being on this computer for so long is tiring, I miss regular class just a little bit. Lately, I've been very tired and it has caused me to be a little less productive. I believe that the body needs efficient sleep to maintain energy, brain functions, etc. and I have not been getting that. When I write I usually review and read over what I just produced from my mind. I think my grammar is good enough, this is how I write. I do not mind other students reading what I write, but how I feel is how I feel, and I do not hide my truth. The truth is not all pretty either. 😅 Lets just say to believe The American Dream, you have to be sleep. Once you are awaken you will see the roots to the crime, hate, trauma, sickness etc. in this world. I am thankful to experience this life, because there are beautiful parts as well, I just have to focus more on the light. The best thing I can do is focus on what I can control and that is making myself a better me. Consistency, gratitude, peace, building myself to grow stronger everyday. Building myself to have a great future out of the matrix and systems of it all. I Love blogging because I'm such an introvert, unless you know me well. I stay to myself, but blogging is a way to express myself easily. I've had a blog since I was 12 years old, on Tumblr. It's nothing new to me. Grew up an only child and sometimes all I had was a laptop to talk too. 

Getting to know the Honduras

     In the Honduras, the Caribbean coast and the outlying bay island, are home to the Garifuna people. The are descendants of African Maroons, mixed with Carib and Arawak Indian from the west indies. Today, the Black Caribs are the largest ethnic oppressed in the Honduras. 

    From 1769-1773 in St. Vincent, the British were involved in the first Carib war. In 1795-1797, the second Carib war happened. The wars occurred because the British did not want to co-exist and cooperate with the Garifuna people. The Garifuna people were in alliance with the French and they lived in harmony on St. Vincent. During the second war, the Garifuna lost and the British divided the St. Vincent Garifuna by skin color, as if separation is the answer to everything. Nearly 5,000 people of darker skin were banished to the nearby island of Baliceaux. Most of the darker skinned people died from malnutrition and disease. The remaining, which said to be about 2,200 people, were sent by ship to Roatan, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and Nicaragua. They are the ancestors of today's Garifuna on the Caribbean coast of Honduras and the Bay Island. 

    Just like most places, Garifuna people has race issues in their country. For some reason the dark skinned people of Garifuna does not have the same benefits or resources as the lighter skinned people. The people just want to make their land great and sufficient to keep traditions and their people safe, but they do not get much help from the government. In places like La Ceiba, the education for children is vast, and the places are very well kept. Children can learn French, English, Spanish, but not the Garifuna Language. In the schools for the Garifuna people, it is poorly kept and the education is not vast, so it is up to parents to teach the language of Garifuna, because the schools are not as sufficient there. Also, the people of Garifuna has took it into their own hands to make their land more suitable. Every time the people ask for help from their government, the mayor does not get to the issue right away. So the people of Garifuna gather their own sand, wood, etc. from their beaches, to fix the roads for their community, with no money or help in return. The people of Garifuna put the matters into their own hands to make their community stronger. 

    This reminds me of how things are in the United States as well. How people that are considered minorities, are not given the best resources or the best help as the people in richer communities. Is it really all because of  our darker skin? I was raised in a poor part of Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS. My mom sent me away to school with the white children because the school for the black children was very bad and still is. I left the majority black school after 1st grade to a school that was majority white. I was 1 out of  3  black girls in my grade. If you ask my mom it was worth it, but there was a part of me that wanted to stay in my own community. People of darker skin have always been neglected. To me, we must take matter in our own hands as the people of Garifuna are doing as I write this blog. We have to educate our children and build a better community for our people because other people do not care like we care for ourselves. Today darker skinned people are still trying to find peace and liberty in this world. 

 The people of Garifuna have ways to take their mind off of every bad thing around them. They dance, sing, and boost their happiness all the time. They really love the drums, and they pass the love of music down to the children as best as they can. Once you hear the beat, all your worries will fade away. They will continue to be strong for their community in hopes of a better world. The people of Garifuna will never lose their traditions, as it lies deep within their souls and their ancestors will always guide them.

Resources: http://www.whereishonduras.com/2011/08/roatan-and-bay-islands.html

https://ggccaribbean.wpengine.com/listing/honduras-and-the-bay-islands/

https://www.ninebelize.com/2018/04/30/24-facts-about-the-garifuna-culture/

https://www.roatanfivestars.com/roatan-garifuna-culture/

Caribbean History of Jamaica

 The first inhabitants of Jamaica are believed to be from the Taino and Arawaks tribe. They came a very long time ago and named the island Xaymaca, which means "The land of wood and water". The tribes led a very peaceful life until the Spaniards showed up and took over, Christopher Columbus found the land in 1494.  The Spaniards goal was to take over the island, and they did. Most of the indigenous people that lived there were sent away, enslaved, or brought down by disease that the Spaniard brought. The Spaniards controlled the island until 1655. When the English arrived at the island, the Spaniards surrendered to the English and the English took over. Just like everywhere else, the Europeans take what was never there's in the first place. The island became an official British colony in 1707. Both the Spanish and the English imported slaves from Africa, but the Spaniards freed their slaves as they fled. There were wars for freedom, several slave rebellions stand out in Jamaica history for example, the Easter Rebellion of 1760 led by Tacky; and the Christmas rebellion of 1831 which began on the Kensington Estate in St. James, led by Sam Sharpe. He has been named a national hero. On January 1, 1808 the Abolition Bill was passed. Trading in African slaves was declared to be "utterly abolished, prohibited and declared to be unlawful". Emancipation and apprenticeship came in effect in 1834 and full freedom was in 1838. The island became a Crown colony in 1866. "Crown colony" is when a British colony has the entire control of legislation administration, as distinguished from one having a constitution and representative government.

    Jamaica's culture is mixed due to all the different races on the island, but there is a lot of things that can never change about Jamaica. Like the food, the indigenous grew cassava, sweet potatoes, corn, fruit, and vegetables, cotton and tobacco. Tobacco was grown on a large scale because smoking was a very popular past time. Today, Jamaica's food is fairly the same, people grow their own food and resources, and plant life is very important. Smoking is still a part of Jamaica's culture as well, especially marijuana. People on the island appreciate the plants. Also, people on the island use plants for medicinal uses just like the indigenous people of the land. Spirituality/beliefs and practices to connect to the nature/divine energies is also still around. That is something that will never leave the souls of people with connection to the higher power. Dancing, chanting, singing etc. will always be a way to liberate our souls. To me this is nothing new, it is not about where you are born, because I too am a believer of plants for medicinal uses and I am a believer of a higher power. I am connected to nature just like my ancestors, and I practice my spirituality daily to be closer to the great divine. I am blessed with the power of the great divine and there are many others around the world who is blessed as well. Sure you can label people by origin, but soon you will realize that it doesn't matter where you are born. People like me will forever carry out similar traditions passed down by our ancestors. What matters is the spirit, mind and soul.  

Resources: https://jis.gov.jm/information/jamaican-history/

https://ggccaribbean.wpengine.com/listing/jamaica/

 

Island Travel ☼

 If you are looking for somewhere worth traveling too, definitely start with the Caribbean. More specifically, start with Puerto Rico! From the food to the scenery, everything is worth it. Fried Plantains, rice and beans, marinated meat to perfection, and special blends of herbs and spices. Herbs that come from the land. One of my favorite dishes is Mofongo, though I love almost every dish, my mother in-law is Puerto Rican and I cant get enough of her cooking. Mofongo is a dish with fried green plantains as the main ingredient, then mashed with herbs and spices, and covered with shrimp (if you like), and yummy broth. Also, if you do not eat meat, the island is filled with fresh fruit and vegetables for the plant-based lovers! 

Also, there are only five Bioluminescent bays in the world, and Puerto Rico has 3 of them! Mosquito Bay, Laguna Grande and La Parguera. The bioluminescence comes from a single-celled microorganism called dinoflagellates. Which is just algae or plankton. With movement, the plankton lights up the water, very beautiful.  

Overall, the island is full of mystic adventures, and color and life! Go pop open a cold Malta, and jam to some reggaetón! Or you can just explore a nice lagoon, and listen to the relaxing sounds of the coqui frog. Either way, you win! 

 
   

Who Am I?

 My name is Dicy! You can call me Dice. I am twenty-one years of age and I was born November 3,1999. I was raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and moved to Georgia in 2015. I currently attend college in Georgia, with biology as a major. My plan is to continue a career in the study of plant life. I am a seeker of truth and a spiritual believer, I believe that there is more to life than what we see.✨ I believe in the power of love and positivity. 💗

 I enjoy the practice of yoga and meditation. It allows me to balance my connection to the earth, and my connection to the great divine. It also allows me to have healthy mental and physical aspects in my life. I also enjoy nature activities and exploring. I have never been out of the country, but it is my dream to see more of this world. I enjoy creating music, singing and dancing! I enjoy learning and seeing new perspectives about everything. I also like the watch sit-coms and anime for fun.