Lauryn Hill – Selah

Who is Candice Jones so far?

I was born in Queens, New York. Unfortunately at the age of 7, I moved to Georgia. I am a second-generation American for my mother, who is Haitian and lived there for a short time in her youth. I am a first-generation American for my father, who is from Guyana. That is Guyana in South America, not Ghana in Africa. It’s of no offense to those who may be reading, but it is a constant struggle that I face. Even though I am extremely proud of my cultures, often times it is difficult to grow in an area with a lack of exposure to different cultures.  Clayton County is one of those places. Currently the demographics are slowly changing, but when I was in the public school system, I found it extremely easier just to act American. However in the fall of 2011, I began to attend Georgia State University as a Political Science major and Theatre minor. Attending GSU made me feel like I had a chance to be myself, and to actually figure out what “myself” meant. I began to learn more about my cultures. My father is half Afro-Guyanese and half Indo-Guyanese, so I learned folk songs and how to dance to tassa. Bollywood movies became the common sound coming from my room, and French began to annoy my mother’s ears even more.

Me singing*Tuhje Deka To Ye Jaana Sanammmmm  Pyaar Hota Hai Dewaana Sanaaammmmmm (When I saw you, I understood this, sweetheart, Love Is Madness, Sweetheart) or meri aashiqu aab tum hi hoooooo, kyunki tum hi hooooo. (Now, only you are my love, Because you are the one)

Or the constant Mai, pouvez-vous parler avec moi en francais? Parce que j’ai besoin savoir comment dire choses en francais et vous savez comment! (Translation: Mom, can you speaka with me inna de French, because I need to know how to say tings inna de French, and you know how)

I used to my culture as a way to learn who I am, and now that I’m a senior, I’m happy with that choice. I have played Mas in Caribbean Carnival (a big fete in de road) and played Phagwah ( Holi, a Hindu holiday).  I’ve grown a strong pride in who I am, based on who I come from. This has shaped my career choice in a large way. In West Indian, as well as many immigrant homes, there are only three professions. They are doctor, lawyer, and engineer. I chose lawyer, because I was told I hand people too much backchat. I convinced myself that I wanted to do that, but it was actually one of the many superficial goals that were more pleasing to everyone else. (Except my mom…she never really pushed that) I realized that I wanted to help immigrant groups coming in this country to acclimate to everyday life. I want to be an advocate for the immigrant, because in a large way I am an immigrant myself. We all are technically, except the Amerindians. It’s difficult to adjust to a new country and twice as difficult when you’re a person of color and/or speaking another language. I realized that I could be more hands on by going towards social work and case management. I am still a political science major, but I dropped my theatre minor. I am learning Spanish and unfortunately forgetting some of the French that I know in the process. I take an interest in many cultures and love the many differences outside of the mainstream white and black American cultures. I want to know how to speak Spanish, French, Hindi, and Arabic fluently. I think I’ll need some prayer with that. However I still have a small start with French and Spanish. And for the rest, I have a long life ahead to learn. I am obsessed with Bachata music. Solo quiero saber como bailar bachata. I just want to know how to dance bachata. I have been learning how to cook and do henna for the past year and a half, and I blog them on tumblr. So, one can imagine, I was happy to have this assignment. I have a love for cooking, especially dishes from different cultures. I’m very artsy in general. I’m a supporter of Rastafari, hence the song below, but I am a Christian. I just believe in rebelling against Babylon and Babylonian ways of seeing things. (Like European standards of beauty, systematic oppression by our colonizers and murders, etc.) I love ballet .That’s really random. Just like me. I think I’m most likely going overboard with this about me page, so I’ll end it here. Enjoy the song.

Bob Marley – Babylon System