National heroes · St. Andrew · written in Patois with an English translation
Up inna di St. Andrew hill dem, near Mavis Bank, one baby baan inna 1820 name George William Gordon. Im madda was a slave ooman, an im faada was a Scottish planta. Nobody neva send likkle George go a school — im teach imself fi read an write. An di bwoy bright yu see! Im grow an tun big businessman inna Kingston, own land, an win seat inna di House of Assembly (the island legislature). But Gordon heart neva deh pon money alone. Slavery done inna 1838, but di poor black people dem still a suffa — no land, no vote, no justice inna courthouse. Gordon stand up inna di Assembly an talk fi dem loud an strong. Im tun Baptist preacha, an im mek one deacon outta a St. Thomas man name Paul Bogle — memba dat name, wi soon reach im parish. Den come di terrible days a October 1865, when trouble buss a Morant Bay. Gordon was inna Kingston — im neva deh deh — but di govana blame im same way. Dem arrest im, carry im go a Morant Bay, try im unda martial law, an hang im. Im dead like a criminal, but time tun im inna a hero: inna 1969 Jamaica name George William Gordon a National Hero, an di Parliament building itself — Gordon House — carry im name tideh.
Up in the St. Andrew hills, near Mavis Bank, a baby was born in 1820 named George William Gordon. His mother was an enslaved woman, and his father was a Scottish planter. Nobody ever sent little George to school — he taught himself to read and write. And the boy was brilliant! He grew up to become a big businessman in Kingston, owned land, and won a seat in the House of Assembly (the island legislature). But Gordon's heart was never set on money alone. Slavery ended in 1838, but poor black Jamaicans were still suffering — no land, no vote, no justice in the courthouse. Gordon stood up in the Assembly and spoke for them loudly and strongly. He became a Baptist preacher, and he made a deacon of a St. Thomas man named Paul Bogle — remember that name, we will soon reach his parish. Then came the terrible days of October 1865, when trouble broke out at Morant Bay. Gordon was in Kingston — he wasn't even there — but the governor blamed him anyway. They arrested him, carried him to Morant Bay, tried him under martial law, and hanged him. He died like a criminal, but time turned him into a hero: in 1969 Jamaica named George William Gordon a National Hero, and the Parliament building itself — Gordon House — carries his name today.
Op iina di St. Andrew hil dem, nier Mavis Bank, wan biebi baan iina 1820 niem George William Gordon. Im mada waz a sliev uman, an im faada waz a Scottish planta. Nobadi neva sen likl George go a skuul — im tiich imself fi riid an rait. An di bwai brait yu si! Im gruo an ton big biznizman iina Kingston, uon lan, an win siit iina di House of Assembly (the island legislature). Bot Gordon haat neva de pon moni aluon. Slievri don iina 1838, bot di puor blak piipl dem stil a sofa — no lan, no vuot, no jostis iina kuotous. Gordon stan op iina di Assembly an taak fi dem loud an schrang. Im ton Baptist priicha, an im mek wan diikan outa a St. Thomas man niem Paul Bogle — memba dat niem, wi suun riich im parish. Den kom di teribl diez a October 1865, wen chrobl bos a Morant Bay. Gordon waz iina Kingston — im neva de de — bot di govana bliem im siem wie. Dem ares im, kyari im go a Morant Bay, chrai im onda maashal laa, an hang im. Im ded laik a kriminal, bot taim ton im iina a hiiro: iina 1969 Jamieka niem George William Gordon a National Hero, an di Parliament bildin itself — Gordon House — kyari im niem tide.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
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