The Death and Resurrection of Calabash

Last year I had the extreme pleasure and honor to participate in the Calabash Literary Festival in Treasure Beach, Jamaica. An international festival of the written word that takes place in the middle of a tropical paradise, Calabash tastes like heaven. From a Meltingpot perspective, Calabash blew my mind as I witnessed people of every nationality, race, and culture under one giant tent, nodding their heads together as they listened to the words of poets, novelists and non-fiction writers. When it was over, I promised I'd be back.

Well imagine my shock and horror when I found out Calabash was being canceled this year due to lack of funds from the government of Jamaica. After eight successful years, Calabash was being shut down. The organizers accepted it and with heavy hearts announced the sad news, but people weren't willing to let Calabash die. And faster than you can say Facebook fury, a campaign to save Calabash was launched, and yes, dear readers, it worked. In an unprecedented decision, the government of Jamaica reversed their decision and came up with $40,000 to bring Calabash back to life.

Do you see what individuals can do with the strength of their convictions? And it wasn't money that made the festival happen, it was the tremendous outpouring of support from people all over the world who had been touched by Calabash that made the government (and a corporate sponsor) take action. This is what happens when we fight for a common cause. This is why we don't give up when we know what we're fighting for is right. Calabash changes lives in so many ways. And it all started with an idea and a passion for the written word.

To read a more accurate report of how the death and resurrection of Calabash occurred, check out this article from the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper. And if you want to have your life changed in the middle of a tropical paradise, go to Calabash this year, May 22-24. You won't be disappointed and you'll get to hear amazing authors like Junot Diaz, Jamaica Kincaid and Nadine Gordimer, just to name a few.

One Love!

p.s. The Meltingpot is going on vacation and will return on Friday April 10th. We're celebrating 10 years of marriage in the Kinky Gazpacho household!

"I didn't know I was Black Until I Came to America."

The heading on this post is a quote from a young woman I met in Jamaica this past weekend at the Calabash Literary Festival in Treasure Beach, Jamaica.

The festival exceeded my wildest expectations. I met amazing authors like Lawrence Hill, Margaret Cezair-Thompson and Jackie Kay. I had a fabulous, though nerve-wracking, experience reading from my book, Kinky Gazpacho: Life, Love & Spain in front of an audience of over 1000 people. And the weather cooperated with high temperatures, cool breezes and no rain (until the last day).

But what I enjoyed the most about my little visit to this little island was being surrounded by the most beautiful Black people in the world. What an experience for this chick raised up in the whitest, white Wisconsin, to be in a warm world of welcoming brown faces and kinky hair. I felt giddy to be in the real majority for once. I considered rushing back to America to scoop up my children and bringing them back to Jamaica to raise them in a place where their cute, little, brown, faces would transform to simply cute, little, faces, because the brown would be redundant.

After my reading this woman came up to me with her friend and told me she understood my struggle of trying to define Black in America, because it happened to her when she arrived here for college and was immediately informed by the race police that she must quickly join the Black race or else face the risk of not belonging. "Growing up in Jamaica," she told me, "I didn't even know I was Black." Suffice it to say, America's racial politics sent her right back home after she finished school.

So for now, I have no immediate plans to move to Jamaica, but it is a tempting thought. Although I must admit I would miss snow. After all, I am from Wisconsin.

Peace Out!

Kinky Gazpacho in Jamaica

We interrupt the regular programming here at the Meltingpot to make mention of an exciting Meltingpot literary event taking place this weekend in the Caribbean.

The Calabash Literary Festival 2008 is: " A three-day festival of readings and music with other forms of storytelling folded in the mix. Calabash is earthy, inspirational, daring and diverse. It’s the only annual international literary festival in the English-speaking Caribbean. All festival events are free and open to the public. Passion is the only price of entry."

Unless you roll like that (or you live in Jamaica) it's probably too late to show up this year, but check out the website and imagine the magic that will be taking place as some of the world's most talented writers and musicians gather together in a tropical paradise to share their love of the written word. I get goosebumps just thinking about it and the best thing is, I'll be there this year! Yes, Lori L. Tharps (that's me, I just like to write in the third person on this blog so it doesn't get too personal. LOL!) will be representing at Calabash. Rubbing elbows with my literary heroes, Colin Channer, Lorna Goodison, and Margaret Cezair-Thompson, just to name a few. Soaking up a culture that exemplifies cultural cross-pollination. And, I won't lie, hitting the beach with the Spaniard. Can't wait!

Check it out and support a very Meltingpot Festival if you can.

1 Love

Peace!

(Image is from Calabash Festival '05)