Oral history interview with Dr. Randy Palmer 

Dr. Randy Palmer, also known as Ransford W. Palmer, spoke about his school and education in Jamaica, his athletic participation in high school, his parents and siblings, the disciplinarian in his family, the role of religion in his life, family heirlooms and memories, and his mentors and teachers when growing up in Jamaica.  He explained the name "Palmer" means traveler.  Palmer described his childhood, including fishing and playing cricket, in the village he grew up in Jamaica.  He talked about the holidays and traditions celebrated by his family; gift giving and receiving; the historical and political circumstances he remembers growing up in Jamaica, including shortages during the war and political campaigns; and his civil service work.    Palmer spoke about his decision to leave Jamaica; preparation for the trip, including last moments in Jamaica and mementos he bought with him to the United States; migration to the US by plane from Kingston to Miami to Chicago to Milwaukee to attend Marquette University; first impressions of and experiences in the US; and his path to US citizenship. He described his experience as an undergraduate, graduate, and PhD student at Marquette University and Clark University, including his jobs, financial circumstances, and student parties which included Caribbean music and food dishes.   Palmer spoke about teaching and living in Finger Lakes region of New York, central Connecticut, and Washington, DC, including Catholic University and Howard University; and the differences between Catholic University and Howard University as a professor. He detailed the books he wrote on the Jamaican economy, economic relationship between Caribbean and the US, economic issues in the Caribbean, and the movement of Caribbean peoples to North America and Europe. He explained Jamaican and Caribbean impact on economy and communities in the Washington, DC area; and the importance of being politically active. Palmer also spoke about maintaining Jamaican culture and heritage, particularly music and food, in the US; how often visited Jamaica and how he kept up with things happening in Jamaica; encountering racism and how he dealt with it; his work as president of the Caribbean Studies Association; and his wife and children. Interview is in English.  Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee's voice is intelligible for the most part.