Broward Library Celebrates Miss Lou’s Legacy

Playwright and journalist, Barbara Gloudon, has urged Jamaican nationals in Florida in the United States of America (USA), to keep their culture and heritage alive and, more importantly, not to keep it to themselves.
Mrs. Gloudon said that it was necessary to do research and build archives in this regard, and to continue to share the culture and heritage with their children.
She was speaking at the second annual Louise Bennett Reading Festival, on Sunday (Feb. 1), at the Broward College South Regional Library, in Pembroke Pines. The event marked the start of Black History Month activities at the Broward County Library Division.
Titled, “Defining Miss Lou and Her Impact on Jamaicans”, the festival was organised by the Broward County library division, and the Jamaica Folk Revue to celebrate the life and work of the late Hon. Louise Bennett Coverley (Miss Lou), who died at age 86 in July, 2006 in Toronto, Canada, where she had lived for more than a decade.
Describing Miss Lou as a celebration of our culture today, Mrs. Gloudon said that the cultural icon was “a prophetic being” marked out to contribute significantly to freeing “the tongue of the Jamaican people.”
She said that, although Miss Lou was considered comedic, the laughter evaporated, emphasising that the humor was really a form of communication.
Miss Lou’s work should be taken seriously, Mrs. Gloudon said. She encouraged the nearly 200 persons present to read Miss Lou’s journey through her social commentary, and see the relevance to Jamaica’s development as she gave voice to the feelings and thoughts of Jamaicans, the world over.
She likened her to other important leaders of their time, including Marcus Garvey, Nelson Mandela and newly elected President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.
She also reminded the audience that Miss Lou was the first woman to be awarded a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Arts in London, England, where she studied theatre.
Other panellists defining contributions made by Miss Lou to the development of the Jamaican culture, included, the Rev. Easton Lee, who referred to the development of the dialect through the emerging multi-racial society.
He used excerpts of short stories and poetry to demonstrate points of interest.
South Florida educators, Dr. Susan Davis and Dr. Hyacinth McBean, spoke on “The Impact of Louise Bennett-Coverley on the 60’s Generation” and “The Evolution of Patois”, respectively.
Consul General Sandra Grant-Griffiths, in her welcome remarks, saluted Miss Lou’s legacy which, she said, helped to shape the psyche of a resilient people, who are not easily ignored.
“A people conscious of the diverse roots of our heritage, but mindful that the African presence was as valid as any other,” she remarked.
Several Florida based Jamaican artistes kept the audience entertained as they celebrated the work and life of Miss Lou.