Oral history interview with Jackie, a female selector from Jamaica

Jackie, a female selector from Jamaica, spoke about her parents and siblings; her mother leaving Jamaica to go to the United States; being raised by her father and relatives in Jamaica; growing up in the ghetto and attending grade school in Jamaica; and why she migrated to the United States. She explained how she became a disc jockey, her introduction to dancehall music, and how she selected music for different crowds in Jamaica. Note, she identified herself as African Jamaican. Jackie spoke about her GED class, discrimination, and barriers, including language and employment, in the United States. She also spoke about music, including dancehall, reggae, and calypso; music lyrics; violence at dances and relationship to dancehall music; differences in music and where music is played in the United States versus Jamaica; non-Jamaicans trying to be like Jamaicans, and not actually understanding Jamaican culture; maintaining contact with family and friends in Jamaica; eating Jamaican food in the United States; and Rastafarians. She explained she only has time for furthering her career in cosmetology; why she does not play music as a disc jockey in the United States; the difficulties living in the United States as a foreigner; and how her employer treated her, including threats to call immigration. Jackie was interviewed by Ann A. Walters. Interview is in English. Digital audio files include loud white noise and static, and a little sound interference or distortion. Interviewee's voice is intelligible for the most part.