BLAXIT: Seven Expats Tell Why They Chose Jamaica

It’s not a secret. Black-Americans are leaving the US in droves. They are making their exit from the land of the free to experience what they define as ‘real freedom’ outside of America. And, a large number of these expatriates, having heard about the healing properties of the Caribbean, have settled in Jamaica. This week, a few of them tell us why.

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I was born in Jamaica. I have lived in the United States for over 20 years, but the U.S. has never felt like home to me. The draconian work culture coupled with overt and covert racism have always made me feel like a stranger in a strange land. I chose to go back to Jamaica because I have a spiritual connection to the culture, the people and the physical space of the island. It is home. It is where my soul feels most settled.

I moved to Jamaica because I was tired of the fast pace of the United States. I visited for my birthday in May 2017, spent four days, and had the time of my life. When I got back home, I was so sad, I just knew I had to move back to JA. Plus, I have always enjoyed the Jamaican culture and I prefer living in a place where there is constant warm and sunny weather. Dancehall and reggae music playing all day long is also an additional plus.  

I chose Jamaica because living in Jamaica looks like this —

Neighbor: Hey I got some tings outta mi garden fi yuh. Weh yuh did deh?

Me: I was in MoBay for a bit. A little vacay so to speak.

Neighbor: Oh. Alright. Come fi these things.

He hands me the things in the pic and my capitalist conditioning had me asking him how much I owed him. He sucked his teeth and said, “yuh good man”. I love this place.

You will never ever fully understand the head job that America has done on you until you are free of it. Everyone who comes to Jamaica, white or black, expresses a surreal kinship to the place on landing. Oh, there are the ones who only come for vacation, enjoy the place and leave unaffected, but as a BLACK person, if you come here and don’t ‘get it’ there is something seriously wrong with you.

If you bring a pure, open, and honest heart to Jamaica, she WILL get you. Jamaica was a vacation destination, then she became my destiny. I choose to live here because of the climate and beauty of the country as well as a yearning to belong somewhere that felt way better than Tennessee. I also have a strong admiration for the Jamaican culture as I feel mine was stolen from me. Jamaica is where I belong. This is home.

Outside of the natural beauty and culture of Jamaica, I decided to move here to escape the toxicity of the United States and to simply exist as a black person in a more natural way of living. I wanted to be in a place that was lush with vegetation, beautiful views, and a place that had predominantly black people. When I got here, I instantly felt at home and I still feel this way to this day. My quality of life has increased significantly, and I treasure the friendliness, the authenticity, and the raw goodness of the Jamaican people I have met so far.

Every day in Jamaica, I’m literally wowed by the beauty of nature. Eating fresh fruit is now a regular treat. Breathing clean air, being able to see way more stars at night and being able to SLOW DOWN has been priceless. I don’t miss cold weather and I love adapting to the new cultural nuances. I’ve also gone natural and I’m learning to nourish my hair and skin with fresh aloe that’s growing right in my backyard. I don’t cover myself up in make-up anymore and I’m learning to love what I see in the mirror — & I`ll be damned if she ain`t alright without all of the extra. And, even when I’m feeling like I look busted down, sweaty and to’ up from the flo’ up, there’s always a random, overly-confident, old Jamaican man that shows up to remind me that I look beautiful.

Many believe in chasing the ‘mighty dollar’ to improve the quality of their life, but for me, adjusting to a much simpler life which promotes health and vitality is far better. There is absolutely nothing better than living on an island of astounding beauty and being surrounded by people who are warm, friendly and caring. That, coupled with doing everything on ‘island time’, is sheer perfection for me. This is home. My island of sun, sand and sea. She is a source of happiness for me. This land is indeed paradise.

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