I had the most extraordinary experience last night. I had a ticket to a program which I had purchased a while ago and did not know what is was about except that I must have been interested initially to buy the ticket. All that it said was Orland Patterson was speaking. As I waited in the auditorium, tired and wondering if I should go home, a large number of Black people began coming in. And once the program started I knew why I was there. Orlando Patterson was having a discussion with rachel manley. She is the daughter of Michael Manley and granddaughter of Norman W. Manley. These two men were giants in the history of Jamaica and it's struggle for independence from the colonization fo Great Brittain. My late brother Ken, who lived in Jamaica often spoke with me about Michael Manley and his difficulties both at home and abroad trying to gain democracy for his countrymen. It was a very moving evening and I will now try to get Ms. Manley's books to be further informed.

# Posted by Eve Winer on 4/22/04; 8:14:21 AM - --