jamaican firsts - The Georgian Society of Jamaica

JAMAICAN FIRSTS
Outstanding Jamaican Heroes and Trailblazers
➢ Msgr. Gladstone Wilson
Msgr. Gladstone Wilson was born in Jamaica and is the first black Monsignor to be created by the
Pope. He taught at Urban College in Rome where he earned 3 doctorates and spoke 14 languages
fluently including Greek and Latin. He is also considered as the 7th most learned person in the world
at the time of his death on Dec. 1, 1974. In 2000, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Gladstone Wilson was inducted into
the Hall of Fame of St. George’s College and named St. George’s College Student of the 20th Century.
➢ Dr. Harold Belafonte
Harry Belafonte is the first recipient of a pressed gold record in the history of recorded music for his
album “Calypso” which sold 1 million copies. He also won awards in film and on Broadway and is
considered one of the greatest civil rights activists in U.S. history. He was brought up in Jamaica by
his grandmother and schooled at Wolmers.
➢ Leonard Howell
Howell, the first “Gong Guru”, is regarded as the “Father of the Rastafarian Movement” – a unique
religion that worships Haile Selassie as a descendent in line of Kings of Israel. Rastafarianism grew
out of the felt oppression of African-Jamaicans after 300 years of slavery and the search for an
identity. Rastafari has now become a spiritual inspiration for the downtrodden and oppressed
throughout the world – beyond strict ethnicity. He died in 1981 after being arrested 50 times for
sedition and other offences because of his anti-colonial teachings.
➢ Robert Sutherland
Robert Sutherland, born in Jamaica was the first person of African descent to graduate from a
Canadian University in 1845 (Queens University in Ontario).
➢ Marcus Garvey (1887-1940)
Marcus Garvey is the greatest human rights activist of the 20th Century, inspiring Ho Chi Minh, Nelson
Mandela and Martin Luther King among others in the African diaspora. He was born in Jamaica.
➢ Brigadier General Horace Sewell
Also born in Jamaica, Brigadier General Horace Sewell is the first and only person of colour to be a
general in the British Army who served in WW1. He was a graduate of Harrow and Trinity College,
Cambridge University in the UK.
➢ General Colin Powell
Gen. Colin Powell is of Jamaican ancestry and the first and only black person to become Army Chief of
Staff in the Unites States.
➢ Dr. Mary Anne Chambers
She was Senior Vice President of Electronic Banking, Scotiabank Canada, the first woman to achieve
this position. She started her distinguished career in public service as Vice Chair of the Governing
Council of the University of Toronto in 1998 and was elected President of the Canadian Club of
Toronto the same year. Subsequently she entered politics and was named in 2003 Minister of
Training, Colleges and Universities and in 2005 Minister of Children and Youth Services in the
Government of Ontario.
➢ Michael Manley
Born in Jamaica, Prime Minister Michael Manley is one of the first leaders to condemn apartheid and
was one of “only 6 world leaders” to receive a Gold Medal from the UN for his continuing opposition
to the immoral regime.
➢ Usain Bolt
Born in Jamaica, Usain Bolt is the world’s fastest human and the first and only person to win the 100
metres under 9.6 seconds in 2009. He is from Sherwood Content, Trelawny.
➢ Merlene Ottey
Merlene Ottey, 53, was born in Jamaica and is one of the greatest female athletes of the 20th Century.
She has the highest number of medals in her very illustrious international career. She is from the
village of Cold Spring, Hanover.
➢ Dr. T.P. Lecky
Born in Jamaica, Dr. Lecky is perhaps the most well-known geneticist/cattle breeders in the 20th
Century. Using Darwinian principles of natural selection and gene mutation, he was the first to create
in his lifetime new cattle breeds (4), totally unheard of in the annals of livestock husbandry.
➢ Jamaican Maroons
The heroic Maroons of Jamaica whose total rejection of servitude during 300 years of slavery resulted
in this Jamaican Phenomenon (the Maroons) being credited by the UN with the “first official
recognition of the existence of a black community in the New World”.
➢ Dr. John Ewen
With more than 50 patents, Dr. Ewen was the first Caribbean person to have earned the National
Medal of Technology in the US – the highest award for technological achievement in the US – for
discoveries in the field of plastics. He was born in Jamaica and attended Munro College.
➢ Dr. Donald Shirley
Born in Jamaica and considered a genius with doctorates in Music, Psychology and Liturgical Arts, Don
Shirley was a composer and performer of classical and jazz music. His first major achievement was
performing with the London Philharmonic in 1946 at age 19. His prodigious musical skills are
exhibited in all genres of music including jazz, show tunes, ballads as well as compositions for organ,
piano and violin “always with the overtone of a classically trained musician”. He died in 2013.
➢ Una Marson (1905-1965)
Born in Jamaica, Una Marson was an early feminist, poet, playwright, journalist, social activist and
child advocate. She was also the first black female broadcast journalist at the BBC (1939-58). In 1936,
she went with Haile Selassie as his personal secretary to the League of Nations where he pleaded for
human rights recognition for Ethiopia, then under Italian control. She was educated at Hampton High
School in Jamaica.
➢ Monty Alexander
Born in Jamaica, Monty Alexander is the winner of many International Jazz Polls & Awards and is
celebrated as one of the most important jazz pianists in the last half century. He is listed among the
top five jazz pianists in Hal Leonard’s book – “the 50 Greatest Jazz Pianists of all Time”.
➢ Christopher Blackwell
Blackwell is of Jamaican ancestry and is the producer of “Catch a Fire” by the Wailers, the first reggae
album to go international. He was also the subsequent producer of most Marley albums including
“Exodus”. In 2009 he received the UK’s award for the Most Influential Man of Music in the last 50
years over Brian Epstein, producer of the Beatles.
➢ Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin
Appointed Chaplain to the House of Commons in 2010, the first woman and the first person of African
descent to be so appointed. She is also tipped to be appointed the first female Bishop in the UK
when the current ban is lifted. She was born in Jamaica.
➢ Bob Marley
Bob Marley, Jamaica’s musical genius of the 20th Century was awarded Album of the Century for
“Exodus” (1999) and song of the Millennium “One Love” (2000) with its message of hope for those
whose human rights are oppressed throughout the world.
➢ Judge Patrick Robinson
The first person of colour to be appointed President of the UN International Court of Criminal Justice
in the Hague, Netherlands, Judge Patrick Robinson was born in Jamaica and educated at UWI.
➢ Dr. Leon Sullivan
Dr. Leon Sullivan, a Baptist Minister, was of Jamaican ancestry and was the first black director of
General Motors with a lifetime of job-creating programs for African-Americans and an outstanding
human rights record in Africa. In 1992, Sullivan received the 1992 Presidential Freedom Award. He
was brought up by his Jamaican grandmother Carrie in Charleston, WV.
➢ Mary Seacole
Deemed a “Doctress”, Jamaican born Mary Seacole was voted “The Top Black Briton of All Time” in a
poll taken in the UK in 2011. She received the government of France’s highest honour for her bravery
during the Crimean War in the 19th Century during which she nursed thousands of soldiers injured in
the field of battle.
➢ Barrington Irving (2008)
Barrington Irving born in Jamaica is the youngest person to fly solo around the world at age 23 and the
first black person to do so. He built his own engine from spare parts when no sponsorships could be
found.
➢ Carole Joan Crawford (1963), Cynthia Jean Breakspeare (1976) and Lisa Hanna (1993)
All distinguished themselves by winning the Miss World titles in years 1963, 1976 and 1993
respectively – Jamaican firsts.
➢ Gordon “Butch” Stewart
Gordon Stewart born in Kingston Jamaica was the first to establish a chain of all-inclusive hotels
gaining worldwide recognition in the hospitality industry for excellence including the award for the
Leading All-Inclusive Chain 15 years in a row. (Annual World Travel Awards in the UK) He is also
Chairman of Sandals Foundation which is a major contributor to Community development in Jamaica.
➢ Claude McKay
Claude McKay was the most important Jamaican-American writer and poet in the US in the 20th
Century. His best seller novel, “Home to Harlem” won the Harmon Gold Award for Literature. He was
a leader of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920’s.
➢ Shirley J. Thompson
Born in London of Jamaican parents, Shirley is a composer, lecturer, conductor of opera, symphonic,
chamber music, music & director for film, TV and theatre. She is the first women in Europe in the last
40 years to compose and conduct a symphony – “New Nation Rising”. Currently, she has a contract
with the Royal Symphonic – the Queen’s orchestra – having created the award-winning ballet, “Push”,
which has been touring worldwide for the last 5 years.
➢ Desnoes and Geddes
Eugene Desnoes and Thomas Geddes merged their resources to establish a brewery in 1925. In 1938
their offspring Peter and Paul became the brewers of the now world renowned Red Stripe Beer, now
distributed by Diageo, the largest distributor of spirits in the world.
➢ Bookman Dutty
A Jamaican Maroon, banished by white planters to Haiti for educating fellow slaves in Jamaica
(because he was literate), joined struggling black Haitians in 1790, helping to inspire their rebellion
against the French planter class. After swearing a blood oath to the ancestors, he became of one the
leaders in the fight that finally led to the Black Haitian victory for Independence from France in 1791.
➢ Francis Williams (1702-1770)
Francis Williams is believed to the first person of African descent to graduate from England’s
prestigious Cambridge University. He was born in Kinston to a free black couple. In order to prove
that black men had the same capability as a white man he was chosen by the Duke of Montague for
Schooling in England and educated privately. He graduated with a bachelor degree after studying
mathematics, Latin and literature, returning to Jamaica in 1735 where he set up a school in Spanish
Town.
➢ Donovan Bailey of Canada and Asafa Powell
These athletes were the first Jamaican sprinters to hold and then break the 100 metre world records
in 1996 and 2005 respectively, to be followed by Usain Bolt’s incredible achievements in 2008 and
2009.
➢ Richard Henriquez
Richard Henriquez of Jamaican ancestry is the leading architect in Canada, internationally recognized
for his design excellence. Winner of six Governor-General of Canada Awards, he was recently
awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
➢ Clifford Alexander
The first non-white Secretary in the Cabinet of the US government. He was Secretary of the Army
under President Jimmy Carter in 1979-80. His father was Jamaican.
➢ Maurice Ashley
He is the first black International Grand Master of Chess in the US. He was born in St. Andrew
Jamaica.
➢ Dr. Anthony Chen
Nobel Prize winner while serving on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control with Vice
President Al Gore. He lives in Jamaica where he is Professor Emeritus at the University of the West
Indies.
➢ Dr. Stuart Hall
Professor Emeritus at UK’s Open University and is one of the world’s most sought after cultural
theorists and the holder of several honorary doctorates in the UK. He was Jamaica’s Rhodes Scholar
(1950) and attended Jamaica College.
➢ Dr. Patrice Smith
She is a Jamaican-born neuroscientist at the University of Ottawa in Canada. She spearheaded, along
with colleagues at Harvard, the discovery of a new way to repair damaged nerves by allowing the
adult brain to respond to repair signals that are induced after injury – a major breakthrough for spinal
cord injuries.
➢ Dr. Cicely Williams
Researcher and paediatrician, Dr. Williams has saved the lives of millions of babies every year by her
early diagnosis of Kwashiokor (severe child malnutrition). Jamaican by birth, she was one of the first
female graduates in medicine from Oxford University in 1923, becoming a pioneer in children’s
healthcare throughout the world. She has worked in 58 countries – curing, making discoveries and
giving talks on child health and welfare. She was one of Jamaica’s first female doctors and received
the Order of Merit, Jamaica’s highest honour.
➢ Andrea Levy
She is an award-winning novelist and the winner of the 2004 Orange Prize for Fiction in the UK,
winner of the Whitbread Prize for Best Novel and the Commonwealth Writers Prize for her book
“Small Island” which was subsequently screened on television by the BBC. Her Dad migrated to
England on the SS Windrush in 1948, to be followed by her Mother who is also Jamaican.
➢ Malcolm Gladwell
He is an International best-selling writer of four books that topped the New York Times Best-Seller
list. In his third book, “Outliers”, he reveals his Jamaican slave ancestry through his mother. His other
books are “The Tipping Point”, “Blink”, “What the Dog Saw” and his latest, “David and Goliath”. He
resides in New York.
➢ Sir Willard White
Jamaica’s most celebrated classical musician, a bass-baritone who has performed in opera houses
around the world, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
➢ Rachel Manley
Daughter of Michael Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica and granddaughter of N.W. Manley, National
Hero and his wife Edna, regarded as the Mother of Modern Jamaican Art. Author of three memoirs of
her family. She was the winner of the Governor-General of Canada’s Award for Literature for her first
book – “Drumblair” which was written about her distinguished grandparents. – lives in Canada.
➢ Herb McKenley
Olympic Gold Medallist (Helsinki, 1952), Herb is the only athlete to reach the final of the 100, 200 and
400 metres in the history of the Olympics. He was a top administrator and coach of Jamaican track
athletic teams during their ascendancy to international excellence.
➢ Dr. Franklyn Prendergast
Born in Jamaica, Dr. Prendergast is an Oncologist and holder of three doctorates and professorships
including medical specialties in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Pharmacology. Black director of
the famous National Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, he is currently director of the Mayo
Clinic for individualized Medicine and Scientific consultant to the National Cancer institute – another
Jamaican first.
➢ Commissioner Basil Robinson
Coming out of 100 years of British Colonialism in Jamaica, he was the first non-white Commissioner of
Police in the 1970’s. He was a graduate of the Hendon Police Academy in the UK where he placed at
the top of his class.
➢ Eleanor Alberga
Guest lecturer at the Royal Academy of music in London. She is a pianist and musical director for the
London Contemporary Dance Theatre. Her music has been performed by the Royal Philharmonic and
London Philharmonic orchestras, as was as many others throughout the world. Born in Jamaica.
➢ Dr. Leslie Wong
Dr. Wong is a pioneer Plastic Surgeon in the US specializing in the re-attachment of hands, a rare
specialty – born in Jamaica.
➢ Dr. Carol Jacobs
Chair of the Barbados National HIV/AIDS Commission, who has served as chairman of the
Geneva-based Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Recipient of the UN’s Gold Medal of
Achievement from UNAIDS. Born in Jamaica.
➢ Glen Chin
He is a NASA engineer and Mission Manager with NASA and the Spacecraft Directorate at Cape
Canaveral.
➢ Barrington Watson and Michael Escoffrey
Award-winning artists – “artists whose art transcends boundaries”. As part of their repertoire they
both captured the essence of the beauty of the female form and various objects unique to their
native Jamaican culture. Starting in 1967, Watson was the winner of the first Spanish Bienniale at
Barcelona as well as a winner of many international art competitions. Similarly Michael Escoffrey has
exhibited in over 200 solo exhibitions throughout the world including images and portraits depicting
the African diaspora and their struggle over the last 100 years.
➢ Joy Elliott
An award-winning international journalist, she was the first black writer and editor for Reuters. Born
in Jamaica, she was among 100 “Women of Achievement” that were awarded Leadership of America
Fellowships in 1989. Now retired, she resides in New York.
➢ John Brown Russwurm
A ground-breaking journalist, he was born a slave in Jamaica of a white father and creole mother. He
was the second black person to graduate from a US University in 1786 and was co-founder of the first
African-American newspaper in the US – “Freedoms Journal”, before migrating to Liberia where he
died in 1851.
➢ Dr. E. Albert Reese
Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland. He is the holder of four professorships
and three University degrees. He is Chairman of the Council of Deans of the Association of American
Medical Colleges – the first black person to achieve this distinction.
➢ Dr. Carolyn Gomes
A native Jamaican, she was the recipient of the 2009 United Nations Human Rights Award for her
Human Rights Activism in Jamaica, joining other esteemed awardees including Nelson Mandela,
Eleanor Roosevelt and Dr. Martin Luther King.
➢ Dr. Jonathan Farley and Christopher John Farley
Dr. Farley is of Jamaican ancestry and is a graduate of Harvard University (summa cum laude). In 2004,
he was awarded Harvard’s Foundations “Distinguished Scientist of the Year Award” in recognition of
“outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of Mathematics”. Christopher Farley, his
brother, is a journalist and writer and formerly Senior Music Editor of Time Magazine who was part of
the team that voted Bob Marley’s “Exodus” as the Album of the Century. He is the author of several
books including the biography ”Before the Legend” which examined Marley’s background. He is
currently a Senior Editor of the Wall Street Journal.
➢ Dr. Susan Rice
US Ambassador to the UN and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institutions. Her grandparents were
Jamaican.
-----------------------------------------Copyright George Meikle 2013
The above is an extract from George Meikle’s latest book “In Praise of Jamaica”. For more on the book
or to order a copy, please visit the website www.inpraiseofjamaica.com.