Episode 4 Side A - How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs
How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs
Alexia Arthurs' "How to Love a Jamaican" is a collection of short stories focused on the Jamaican experience in both America and her native island of Jamaica. In this episode we dive into some music that pairs nicely with a reading of her book.
Featured Book
How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs https://www.mcnallyjackson.com/book/9781524799229
Music from this Episode
Song: Shirley Come Over - Freddie McGregor
Short Story: “Shirley From a Small Town”
This is the first story in Alexia Arthurs' collection. Legendary singer Freddie McGregor longingly pleads for a woman named Shirley to come over to his home. Interestingly enough, Alexia Arthurs' character, also named Shirley, receives text invitations from another artist also longing for her affections.
Song: Love the One You’re With - Phillys Dillon
Short Story: "On Shelf"
In this song, Phillys Dillon laments a lover kept away from her by geographical distance. In the story "On Shelf" an Ohio student falls in love with a man from Kansas," after losing a lover who moves away without her. This song poetically captures "if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with."
Song: Curly Locks - Junior Byles
Short Story: “We Eat Our Daughters (Corrine)”
In an interesting take on Rastafarianism, a white man pushes the teachings of Haile Selassie I upon a Jamaican woman. Understandably, her parents shun this idea, and reject the white man's wearing of Rastafarian dreadlocks. In this Junior Byles song, the lyrics capture this tension nicely, "Curly locks / Now that I'm a dreadlock / Your daddy says you shouldn't play with me."
Song: I’m Hurting Inside - Marcia Griffiths
Short Story: “Bad Behavior”
A young daughter behaving poorly in the United States has her privileges taken away and is sent to experience a simpler life in her native Jamaica. Legendary singer Marcia Griffiths summarizes the situation well in the first verse of this song
“When I was just a little child
Happiness was there awhile
And from me it... it slipped one day
Happiness come back I say”
Song: All Kinda People - Sugar Minott
Short Story: “How to Love a Jamaican”
This story bears the book's title and reminds me of a Sugar Minott line I have sung with joy for many years, "she just a sell curry chicken!" The story emphasizes chicken as a staple of Jamaican culture - a character eats curry chicken and another is even named Chicken Foot. I think this song is appropriate as it focuses on the curry chicken our main character enjoys in this story.
Bonus
Alexia’s recipes: https://www.alexiaarthurs.com/htlaj-food
Alexia’s Writing Soundtrack:
https://www.alexiaarthurs.com/the-music
