“Africans who refused to be enslaved said, "Oh no. We insist to have the right to practice our African centered way of life as we see fit and we do not need a slave master over us.”

Proven FreeProven SustainableJamaican MaroonsJamaican Maroons - PS

Mar 18

Nana Farika Berhane (fah-rick-ah beh-hahn)

author and poet

IMAGE SOURCE: Home page image. farikaberhane.weebly.com | TEXT SOURCE: “Sister Farika's Maroon Story.” YouTube. CaribNationTV. 21 Jun. 2016.

QUOTE CONTEXT: “Wherever slavery existed Africans resisted and the most outstanding set of Africans who resisted were those who decided to steal themselves away from the master…into the hills and swamps away from prying eyes so they could now begin to recreate Africa and bring it close to them.”

QUOTE QUESTION: What rights do you insist upon?

IMAGE CONTEXT: “Farika is known for her…famous book “Sing I a Song of Black Freedom," a collection of poetry that has become part of the Pan African movement literary forte. Also "Call I Sista Love: The crowning of the mother and the birth of the daughter."

IMAGE QUESTION: Who do you surround with love and strength?

MEDIA LITERACY CONTEXT: The quote is from a video of Sister Farika’s monologue on the Jamaican Maroons and the photo is from Sister’s Farika’s website.

MEDIA LITERACY QUESTION: What online platforms can you create to extend the voice of your People?

“Africans who refused to be enslaved said, "Oh no. We insist to have the right to practice our African centered way of life as we see fit and we do not need a slave master over us.”

Nana Farika Berhane (fah-rick-ah beh-hahn)

“Fight in the morning, fight in the day and fight in the night. There ain’t no giving in. In true maroon determination, doggedness and defiance, we will win.”

“There is a lot of love inside the Vodou. It is our heart and blood. So we will not back down. We have an important and strong force with us. Without it, we could not exist today.”