In April 2003, after prompting from my good friends Tony Rebel and Yasus Afari, I wrote an article that Tony poetically titled ‘Give Miss Lou the vibes while she’s alive’ (kevinobrienchang.com/articles/give-miss-lou-the-vibes-while-she%E2%80%99s-alive.html):

“… [one of, if not the] most influential cultural figure this island has produced, namely Louise ‘Miss Lou’ Bennett. Now, not only did this wonderful lady tirelessly champion our folk customs for over 50 years as broadcaster, actress, television personality, and stage performer, but she is arguably the greatest poet this country has produced and still outsells (at least in Jamaica) all the others put together. Her dialect performances were the direct precursors of deejay music and dub poetry, and Miss Lou is, in a real sense, the mother of not only dancehall, but rap, which is after all an offshoot of Jamaican deejay chanting.

“But perhaps even more important than her artistic and linguistic legacy, was her impact on the national psyche. It was her insistence on the inherent worth of Jamaican expression that established in the populace a respect for their language and tradition — the belief that ‘patwah’ wasn’t merely corrupted English, but a neuro-linguistic creation of immense vitality and creativity. Luciano puts it this way: ‘She has worked forward into my consciousness that I can be proud of my culture and proud of myself.’ No single individual has been more responsible for the Jamaican nation’s emancipation from colonial mental slavery.

“Yet even her unparalleled cultural contributions pale in comparison to the unique esteem in which she is held by her countrymen. For Louise Bennett is indisputably the most universally beloved figure this island has ever produced. Alexander Bustamante, Michael Manley and Bob Marley all have their detractors. But no Jamaican responds to Miss Lou’s name with anything but unconditional admiration and love.”

Well, sadly, one misinformed female deejay recently made a rather disrespectful social media post #RipMissLou. Predictably she has been universally castigated. The large-hearted Miss Lou, to whom “bad-mindedness” was a foreign concept, would probably have responded with more sadness than anger. Perhaps something along the lines of: “My dear, you really need to educate yourself about your culture and those who fought to give you the freedom to express yourself in your own language. Wheel and come again, young lady, and try to do better next time.”

Not that anyone in touch with Jamaican reality ever doubted it. But the thousands of responses condemning that mistaken post are living proof of the unparalleled affection Jamaicans near and far have for Miss Lou. This column, for instance, has so far got over 63,000 views: www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/the-girl-who-sullied-the_bandana_…_or_is_that_what_really_happened%3F_105172.

Only our politicians seem unaware of the unbounded admiration, love and respect Jamaicans have for Louise Bennett-Coverley. How else could you explain the lack of official recognition given to her?

Again, from ‘Give Miss Lou the vibes…’ in 2003:

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if she could be brought home [she then lived in Canada for health reasons] for an official visit and treated like a visiting monarch — for is she not the true queen of Jamaica? Parades and performances could be held in her honour with schoolchildren lining the streets for a glimpse of the living legend they have heard so much about but never seen in person. And wouldn’t it be marvellous to have a broad range of artistes perform both original pieces dedicated to her and versions of her poetry in a televised benefit performance in her honour? Done properly it could be something Jamaicans remember forever…”

It took a further bit of prompting, but eventually then Prime Minister P J Patterson heeded the people’s cry and gave Miss Lou a state visit.

Well my prophetic record is mixed. I have been right and I have been wrong. But this time it played out exactly as predicted. Cheering crowds greeted her on every appearance, culminating in a wonderful concert at Emancipendence Park showcasing all aspects of Jamaican culture, from kumina to dancehall. I remember vividly Tony Rebel calling for a statue of Miss Lou in Emancipation Park, Yasus edutaining about our cultural heritage, and Beenie Man leading the massive crowd in a deafening chorus of “We love Mama Lou!”

Well it is now the turn of our current prime minister, Andrew Holness, to listen to the people and give Miss Lou the entrenched national recognition all Jamaicans have long demanded. There have long been calls to make Miss Lou a national heroine. I have written a number myself.

In the latest a poll taken (jablogz.com/2015/10/national-poll-should-miss-lou-be-made-a-national-heroine/) 6,993 people responded. Some 85 per cent said yes. When last have 85 per cent of Jamaicans agreed on anything?

But soundings on the ground have modified my position a bit. People, and especially children, seem to associate ‘national hero’ with politics. And it is very noticeable that in the wave of anti-#RipMissLou responses, one word keeps coming up — icon. So we are proposing that a new category of national honours be created for Miss Lou, and that she should made our first official National Icon. (Conceivably individuals like Bob Marley and Usain Bolt could be added in future years.)

But that alone is not enough. As Tony Rebel demanded in 2003, we want a life-size statue of Miss Lou at the Emancipation Park entrance. Purist elitists will talk about in front Ward Theatre. But Miss Lou’s statue must have maximum accessibility for all the Jamaicans, and especially the children, who will be lining up to have their photos taken with their beloved icon.

It is incredible that Anthony Gambrill has not only repeatedly called for a statue of Miss Lou, but offered to pay for it. Our newspapers have run numerous editorials reminding the politicians of this offer. But there has been zero response from any administration. You have to wonder what goes through the brains of our elected officials. Here is a chance to do, at no public cost, something which an overwhelming majority of Jamaicans support, and they just sit there and do nothing? It is simply inexplicable from any rational point of view.

But let us hope the recent overwhelming social media outcry in support of Miss Lou has awoken our legislators from their mind-boggling inertia. And I say to all our politicians in Gordon House: We, the people, are demanding proper recognition for our heroine, and we want it now!

While it might be presumptuous for one individual to claim to be talking for the people, I know in my bones, as in 2003, that 99.99 per cent of Jamaicans at home and abroad will agree with what I have written here.

Our elected leader is the one who has the power to make this all happen. “It’s you, it’s you, it’s you we’re talkin’ to,” Andrew Holness. And we don’t want any rubbish, mealy-mouthed, political excuses. Make Miss Lou our first national icon. Commission a statue of her for Emancipation Park. Now! Listen to the people, Sir!

There can be no excuses. As I wrote 14 years ago in a follow-up letter to ‘Give Miss Lou the vibes…’, addressed to our then prime minister: “Mr Patterson [now Holness] the ball is now in your court. The nation will not forgive you if you do not honour its greatest daughter appropriately.”

And if our PM and the other politicians stubbornly refuse to do the people’s bidding, well, let us, the people, start a petition: #MISSLOUNATIONALICONANDSTATUE.

kob.chang@fontanapharmacy.com

PULL QUOTE

…we are proposing that a new category of national honours be created for Miss Lou, and that she should made our first official National Icon. (Conceivably individuals like Bob Marley and Usain Bolt could be added in future years.) But that alone is not enough. As Tony Rebel demanded in 2003, we want a life-size statue of Miss Lou at the Emancipation Park entrance. Purist elitists will talk about in front Ward Theatre. But Miss Lou’s statue must have maximum accessibility for all the Jamaicans, and especially the children, who will be lining up to have their photos taken with their beloved icon.