Oral history interview with Cedric Lynch

Cedric Lynch, an assistant principal at a public school, spoke about his parents, who were farmers and self-employed, and his siblings; his mother and Jamaican mothers as the disciplinarians in the family; the importance of religion to his family; Bob Marley, the evolution of reggae music, and dancehall music; legacy of Marcus Garvey; Caribbean and Jamaican cuisine; Rastafarianism; and where he worked before leaving Jamaica to attend Howard University. Lynch detailed his experience as a student at Howard University and as a public school teacher, including how he disciplined students and what he would change about Washington, DC public schools and the educational system. He talked about Jamaican and Caribbean students adjusting to the American school system, the challenges the students face in school, and academic work differences between Jamaica and Washington, DC. Lynch also talked about his book, which documented the evolution of Caribbean immigrant organizations; the importance of Jamaican organizations to Jamaicans in the US and Jamaica; immigration challenges and his decision to become a US citizen; why Jamaicans tend to be self-employed and/or business owners; Jamaican women as domestic workers; use of the partner system instead of United States banking system by many Jamaicans; importance of identity; Jamaicans reluctance to share information about themselves; Jamaican posses; and how Jamaicans are stereotyped. Interview is in English. Digital audio files include very loud white noise and static; interviewee can be heard for the most part.