NEW YORK, USA — More than six decades after leaving Jamaica to secure an education in the United States with plans to return home right after, former New York City Councilwoman Una Clarke is finally back in her homeland, having fulfilled her dream and then some.

But before departing the US Clarke passed the baton to her daughter, Yvette Clarke, who won her Council seat and has now moved up to become head of the Congressional Black Caucus and US Democratic representative for the 9th Congressional district since 2013.

Una arrived in the US in 1957, shortly after the beginning of the first civil rights movement, telling the Jamaica Observer in a recent interview: “The adjustment was not easy on account of the harsh weather and racism.”

That, however, did not stop her from becoming an activist as she not long after got involved in the student and the civil rights movements, confessing “without even fully understanding what was going on”.

“The Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr was leading the civil rights movement, and people like Harry Belafonte was involved,” she recalled.

Una, who celebrated her 90th birthday this past December 2, 2024, told the
Observer she decided to return home “as I think I can still make a meaningful contribution to the development of my country. I particularly feel that I can help improve the conditions of elderly Jamaicans who seemed to be marginalised because they are no longer young”.

But Una emphasised that she had given “strict instructions to my family that I do not wish to be buried on foreign soil. That also played a role in my decision to return home”.

She says she still has many friends in Jamaica, counting among them former Prime Minister P J Patterson.

Born in Thornton near Appleton Estate in St Elizabeth, Una, who has a long history of advocating for Jamaicans and other Caribbean nationals in the Diaspora, attended Buxton High School on Victoria Avenue in Kingston, where headmaster Buxton Thompson “ensured that every student took pride in their pursuit of a sound education”.

She migrated to the United States in search of that better education and soon enrolled in Brooklyn Community College.

She later attended Long Island University through a grant from the Federal Government and graduated from there with a bachelor’s degree in special education.

Una, who also holds a master’s degree in education from New York University, then went on to teach at Brooklyn and Medgar Evers colleges in Brooklyn, NewYork.

Despite her academic and other achievements — including director of early childhood education — Una is best known for her exploits as a member of the New York City Council, which she served for 10 years before being forced to leave because of term limits.

She holds the distinction of being the first female immigrant to run and be elected to public office in New York as a member of the city council, becoming a fierce advocate for the Caribbean community which made up the bulk of her district.

She lists among her accomplishments the rebuilding of King’s County Hospital, noting the fight she was forced to put up against then Mayor Ruddy Giuliani to ensure the project was successful.

Along the way, Una “has never forgotten my homeland”, as she has been involved with various charities to help improve conditions in health care and education. Maxfield Park Children’s Home was one of her favourite charities.

Asked about the recent election of her daughter, the aforementioned Yvette, to head the Congressional Black Caucus, Una acknowledged “that while it [the election] is quite an achievement, it will be challenging given the plans President-elect Donald Trump has advocated he will be pursuing”.

Una has, however, expressed strong support for and in the ability of her daughter to do well in the new role, noting that she (Yvette) had previously served as vice-president of the caucus and so should know what is expected.

Una added that her daughter “will need to bring a fresh perspective in unity, vision, and leadership to the position in order to succeed. She also expressed confidence that those around her daughter will give her the necessary support to ensure the success of the caucus.

Over the years Una has been bestowed with several awards, including Commander of the Order of Distinction (CD ) by the Jamaican Government.

Jamaica-American Una Clarke (Garfield Robinson)

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.