Our( Jamaican) Heritage

Our( Jamaican) Heritage ( lesson)

Our rich Jamaican heritage is depicted by our motto "Out of Many One People"

Although over 90% of our population is comprised of individuals of African descent, the contribution of other ethnic groups such as the Indians, the Chinese, the Germans, the Jews, and the Syrians/Lebanese to the social and economic development of the country cannot go unnoticed. 

The first Africans arrived in Jamaica in 1513 as servants to the Spanish settlers. These Africans were freed by the Spanish when the English captured the island in 1655. They immediately fled to the mountains where they fought to retain their freedom and became the first Maroons. 

With the advent of the Sugar Revolution, there was an acute labour shortage. This need was met by large scale importation of enslaved Africans. The result of the slave trade was that the majority of the Jamaican population was of African descent. From the time of the Africans arrival to the New World, there was miscegenation, leading to the rapid development of a coloured population. 

INDIANS

The East Indians are the largest ethnic minority in Jamaica. They arrived as indentured labourers between 1845 and 1917. The Indians came to Jamaica to earn a "fortune" for starting a better life back in India. 

CHINESE

The Chinese represent a very small proportion of the Jamaican population, nevertheless, their impact has been great particularly in the area of commerce.

The first Chinese arrived in 1849. The Chinese were brought as indentured labourers to work on the sugar estates following the the emancipation of the slaves. However they disliked the nature of the work and soon left the left the estates and set up small grocery shops all across the island. 

GERMANS

The Germans came as indentured labourers. After emancipation, the Colonial Government of Jamaica adopted a programme of settling European peasants in the island. It was hoped that they would create a thriving settlement and act as a model for the ex-slaves. 

JEWS

The first Jews came to the island during the Spanish occupation of the island, 1494-1655. These Jews came from Spain and Portugal. They fled because of the Spanish inquisition. To conceal their identity, they referred to themselves as "Portuguese" and practiced their religion secretly. 

The End