Author: Mak Spence
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Mout’ Mek Fi Talk
Speak Your Truth before Silence Starts Speaking For You Before microphones and megaphones, podcasts and press conferences, Instagram captions and Whatsapp messages, there was always the simplest technology of all: the mouth. Jamaican wisdom does names its purpose plainly: “Mout mek fi talk.” Literally, the mouth is made for talking. Figuratively, your voice is not…
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Jackass Say Di Worl’ Nuh Level
Life Isn’t Always Fair…So We Choose Compassion This past Christmas and New Year’s unfolded in the shadow of Hurricane Melissa. For many Jamaicans, the aftermath was devastating: some were left staring at the sky where their roofs once stood, surrounded by the soaked wreckage of their homes. Others saw their farming livelihoods wiped out, and…
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Honoring Jamaican Taínos
Why I Don’t Recognize Columbus Day. I remember being taught as a young child about the fearless adventurer Christopher Columbus who traversed the unknown to “discover” the “New World”, including Jamaica. He was celebrated for: By the time I got to high school, our education system had started to shed the residues of our colonial…
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Cock Mout’ Kill Cock
When Your Words Become Your Worst Enemy There’s something magnificent about a rooster at dawn. The way he stands tall, throws back his head, and announces to the world that a new day has arrived. His crow carries confidence, authority, the unmistakable sound of someone who believes he rules his domain. But in Jamaica, there’s…
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Ef fish deh a river bottom an’ tell yuh seh alligator deh deh, believe him
When Someone Who Lives the Reality Gives You a Warning Imagine you’re standing by a pristine river on a hot summer day, ready to dive into the cool, inviting water. Suddenly, a little fish surfaces and says, “Friend, I wouldn’t go down there if I were you. There’s an alligator resting on the bottom.” What…
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Mi throw mi corn, mi nuh call nuh fowl
The Art of Speaking Truth Without Starting Wars Picture this: You’re in a team meeting, and everyone knows someone dropped the ball on the big client presentation. The tension is thick enough to cut with a knife. Your manager takes a breath and says, “Moving forward, let’s all make sure we’re double-checking our work before…
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Fool nuh dead, him jus’ nuh learn
When Life Keeps Teaching… Are You Still Listening? You know that friend who keeps dating the same type of person and wondering why it never works out? Or maybe the colleague who touches the metaphorical hot stove every month, then acts surprised when they get burned? We all have someone like this in our lives.…
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Nuh Buy Puss Inna Bag
Look Before You Leap: The Wisdom of Discernment Introduction: All That Glitters… Might Be a Puss in a Bag You’ve been there. We all have. You buy something online that looks pristine in the photo, only to open the box and find disappointment. Or you rush into a new relationship, a job, a business deal…
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Mi Duck Anuh Mi Duckling
Raising Individuals, Not Reflections: The Myth of the Mini-Me “Why can’t you just be more like your sister?”“That’s not how I raised you!”“Back in my day, we didn’t question everything…” If you’ve ever heard or said anything like that, you’re not alone. We often expect our children to reflect us in looks, behavior, values, and…
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Long Way Draw Sweat. Shortcut Draw Blood
Why Taking the Scenic Route Might Save Your Life The Proverb That Pulls You Back From the Edge “Long way draw sweat. Shortcut draw blood.” It’s the kind of proverb that Jamaicans drop with a slight side-eye and a knowing nod, usually after someone tries to skip a step, dodge a duty, or rush a…