Jamaicans in US diaspora dig into Thanksgiving in variety of ways

As the United States marks Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, Jamaicans across the country will join to observe the holiday in various ways – from having the traditional Thanksgiving dinner to visiting restaurants, or taking Thanksgiving cruises. At the same time, some may not celebrate the day at all.

A check by The Gleaner with Jamaicans across the US revealed the various plans they have for the day.

Dr Allan Cunningham, out of South Florida, told The Gleaner he will have the traditional family Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends.

“We will have turkey, both deep fried and jerked, collared greens, mac and cheese, lasagna, while having Jamaican dishes such as curried goat, jerk chicken, jerk pork, fish, Jamaican rum cake and black cake,” he said.

“Growing up in Jamaica, we did not celebrate Thanksgiving but, coming to live in the United States more than 30 years ago, there has been a cultural shift where we do the traditional United States Thanksgiving dinner.”

According to him, the occasion is used to say thanks to family and friends for their support throughout the year.

“It is a very important celebration time,” he told The Gleaner.

However, his Thanksgiving outreach is not just confined to having a good time with family and friends but also reaching out to those in need.

“Through the People Profile Organization, Jamaican Men of Florida and the Jamaican Women of Florida, we have been giving out turkeys to members of the community to ensure that they too will have a good Thanksgiving dinner,” he said.

Also providing foodstuff to members of the community is the Kiwanis Club of Sunrise which has given out more than 2,500 boxes of turkeys and other goodies.

The president of the club, Jamaican Arlene Lewis-Marr, told The Gleaner that the Kiwanis Club of Sunrise, which comprises mainly Jamaicans, has been providing foodstuff to members of the community with the assistance of Publix supermarket.

“It is a way for us to give back to the community at this time of the year,” she said.

The Kiwanis Club of Sunrise has been joined in their community outreach to the community by the staff of the Jamaican Consulate in Miami which assisted with coordinating the outreach efforts.

Dr Nicole Bent-Jones, president of the Jamaica Foundation of Houston, told The Gleaner that she will be having the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends.

“The meal will consist of the traditional American fare, spiced with Jamaican dishes,” she said.

Bent-Jones said that, for her, Thanksgiving is a time to spend bonding with family and close friends.

“I see Thanksgiving as a time for giving thanks for the love of family and friends. Those who have impacted your life and are important to you. It is a coming together and expressing what we mean to each other,” she said.

According to Bent-Jones, Thanksgiving is a time to get together with family and friends and share fond memories.

She said that, while the Jamaica Foundation of Houston has not given out any food items for Thanksgiving, the organisation will be doing its annual Christmas charity outreach.

“At Christmastime we provide dinner free of cost to members of the community,” she said.

Joan Golding, in Atlanta, Georgia, said she will not be doing the traditional Thanksgiving dinner but rather will have dinner at a restaurant.

She said that, with very few family members around her, she has no need to do the big traditional dinner.

“It is easier for me to either go to dinner at a restaurant or take a Thanksgiving cruise, which can be very exciting,” she said.

She pointed out that, on a Thanksgiving cruise, a buffet dinner is provided followed by entertainment and there is no cleaning up after.

Patrick Beckford, former Diaspora Board member, said that while he will accept invitations to have dinner with family and friends, he will not be cooking a Thanksgiving dinner as he does not really believe in the holiday.

“It is not something I indulge in for religious and historical reasons,” he said.

Beckford said that, while he was not disparaging Thanksgiving, he was not “big on the idea of Thanksgiving”.

Burchell Cummings also said he was not big on Thanksgiving celebrations for historical reasons.

“I understand the history of Thanksgiving, so I am not big on celebrating the holiday. But, I will visit with family who have invited me to spend the afternoon with them,” he said.

Dr Clover Hall will be travelling to Florida where she will spend the holiday with family members.

“My children are grown and have their own activities so there is no need for me to do the big traditional dinner, as in the past, so I am going to Florida to family members who have invited me to spend the holiday with them,” she told The Gleaner.

Franklyn Dunn will also not be cooking the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, instead opting to spend the day with family at their home.

“I will be cooking a turkey but I will not be doing the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. I have been invited to dinner and so there is really no need for me to cook a big meal,” he told The Gleaner.

As far as Dunn is concerned, Thanksgiving is merely a time for eating and having a good time with friends and family.

“It takes the pressure off to prepare this big meal,” he said.

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