A Jamaican Women in England.

People in story: Cherita Brown
Location of story: Jamaica/England
Background to story: Civilian

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by Aisha Foster-Robinson, Lisa Siliya and Cherstyna of the Back in the Day project on behalf of Cherita Brown and as been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.

The following extracts were taken from an interview, which was conducted by the above named persons on the 27th of October 2005.

Q: Which Caribbean Island were you living during the war?

"I am from Jamaica. I was born in Clarendon but grew up in Spanish Town, St Katherine. I was born in 1924 so that makes me 81".

Q: How old were you when the war started?

"I don’t know my dear. In Jamaica when we were young we knew nothing about war - we only heard people talking about war but didn’t listen. Its since I come over here that I heard people talking about war, War, War!

Back home in Jamaica I didn’t worry about the war. I was too busy doing hard work and looking after animals.”

Q: Do you remember anything about the day War was declared?

"I was carefree. I didn’t know anything about war. Only heard grandmother say that in the war people couldn’t get this and that… and other things.”

Q: Did any of your family go to war?

"My elder brother’s father was in the war. Reason why I know because he has a white hand, a black man with white hands and when asked he said that it was burn off during he war.”

Q: Did you have a large family?

"I don’t come from a large family…my mum have four of us and I have three children.”

Social Life:
Q: Did you have a boyfriend when the war was on?

"I wasn’t developed enough to fall in love…I lead a sheltered life. I was a child for a long time. I had my first boyfriend when I was 20… I was 3 months pregnant before I even knew I was pregnant.

“First Husband died before I left Jamaica…so I was still living with my mother. When I was 27 my mother gave me a beating all because of a lie my stepsister told on. When she finished whipping me that day I packed my things, beg a lift and left.

“I got married at 28. My husband taught me about life. Met first husband in church back in Jamaica.”

Q: What clothes were fashionable at the time?

"‘Long something’ body draws come over our whole body we had to open the back and step in not even the front way that we couldn’t get into it and someone else had to button it up for you, so when you want to ‘wee wee’ you couldn’t pull it down or up yourself.”

England wasn’t what Cherita expected. Her first impression of England was similar to that of other people that came over from the Caribbean. When she first arrived she thought that the houses where factories because they had chimneys. She also thought that the snow was just like the crushed ice she uses to eat in Jamaica. She remembers how she tried to pour syrup over the snow.

“I only came to England to visit because of my uncle. I came specifically to make money. I left my children in Jamaica to come over just for a short while but then decided to stay for years.

“My uncle sent for me after me sent (a letter) and asked him for £29 to be used to do sewing. My Uncle said that he is not giving me money but if me want money then me would have to come over to England and work to get the money. I didn’t come to England with intention of setting down. Came here to get £29, to buy a sewing machine, and go back.”

The first job Cherita got was in a factory where they processed chicken - Waldins Poultry. She mentioned that there were a few black people working there. Her friends actually told her about the job which was on the production line. She had to catch the chickens and scrape them out.

"I was the fastest worker…never got sacked from a job…always left with a good record."

Q: Where do you consider home to be?

”Still Jamaica though when I go home people look at me strangely. Last time I went home was 1995 and all I could do was sit on the verandas can’t stand the heat in Jamaica I am more comfortable in England."

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