Black Americans flock to paradise
Music industry insider Vivian Scott Chew and George
Clinton. Photo by Vinette k. Pryce
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Caribbean Life, J BQ uly 12–18, 2019 11
MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica –
The July 4 holiday conjures a
very unique commemoration to
many Black Americans than a
day fraught with fireworks, hot
dogs and hamburgers and the
age-old picnics and barbecues.
Millennial Black Americans
seem to have embraced the
celebratory, independence
day holiday with a sense of
purposeful appreciation of
freedom they annually invest
to splurge on getaway vacations
and outings.
Thousands have been
rallying to the Essence festival
in New Orleans for a quarter of
a century to liberate themselves
in a fun way Hollywood captured
in a hit film directed by Malcolm
D. Lee titled “Girls Trip.”
In the film, Jada Pinkett
Smith, Tiffany Haddish, Regina
Hall and Queen Latifah are four
girl friends pulling out all the
stops with a no-holds barred
approach to independence
from work, spouses, family
and tedium by embarking on
an adventurous, daring, fun
vacation to New Orleans.
Departing from New York on
the eve of America’s birthday,
yours truly spotted a group of
more than 50 women boarding
a plane to Jamaica.
Easily identifiable they all
wore T-Shirts emblazoned with
the words Jamaica Girls Trip
2019.
It was the first of many
sightings to boldly distinguished
groups bound for paradise
and away from the routine
barbecues and backyard fetes.
There were those that simply
stated “Jamaica 2019.”
Although unintentionally
adding to the sold-out statistics
reported at hotels, motels and
villas throughout the second
city of Montego Bay, this Insider
traveled south to a celebrity
wedding.
Here to witness the union
of Selwyn Croft and Barbarella
Bishop, the daughter of
funkmaster George Clinton, a
musician popular known for
his assembly of Parliament
Funkadelic collective and
compositions of “One Nation
Under A Groove,” “Atomic
Dog,” “Flashlight,” “Nothing
But the Dog In Me.” “Paint
The White House Black” and a
myriad of hits highlighted by
his landing of “The Mothership
Connection.”
Barbarella married her
childhood sweetheart in
Paradise.
At least that’s what the
preacher said when he delivered
the vows.
In front of what seemed
like a planeload of guests that
arrived from Canada and all
over the USA the individuals
were bonded as a couple on
the beach at Montego Bay’s
Iberostar Resorts.
The Caribbean Sea fanned
cool breezes throughout the
ceremony on the sand.
Etta James’ “At Last”
serenaded father and daughter
as they walked towards a
flowered, white-netted mesh
setting.
As weddings go, this
Saturday affair was brief.
As the couple signed the
registry Stevie Wonder’s “For
So Long” played.
When they completed
the official ritual, Wonder’s
“Signed, Sealed, Delivered”
turned up the temperature
to find guests dancing on the
beach.
The night before an all-blue
party kicked off revelry that
lasted all week and extended
into local venues and as far
away as Negril in another
parish.
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
/NYLResponsiblePlay.com
