Oral history interview with Sydney March

Sydney March, a Jamaican musician and writer, spoke of his memories growing up in West Kingston, Jamaica, including his schooling in East Kingston, playing cricket, and music clubs. He spoke about his connection to Jamaican culture and his roots; freedom in Jamaica; and race in Jamaica versus United States. He explained his thoughts on education, and separation and isolation in the United States; and the importance of learning about all cultures. March explained he migrated to Washington, DC to attend Howard University, and why he still lived in Washington, DC area. He described the political atmosphere while he attended Howard University; and spoke about prominent figures at Howard University, including Stokely Carmichael, Donald Byrd, Eric Williams, and Sterling Allen Brown. March spoke about the Jamaican and Caribbean community in Washington, DC, including night clubs and reggae music, and on Howard University campus, where Jamaicans spoke Patois and played cricket and soccer together. He explained there was not much unity between Caribbean and African American communities on Howard University campus at the time, the lived experience that separated the two communities, how long it took for African Americans to connect to Caribbean culture, and the evolution of culture and identity. March also spoke about ska, reggae, calypso, jazz, rocksteady, and R & B music; Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, and their philosophies; when and how he started playing music; the musicians he listened to; learning and playing music, and the music scene in Jamaica, London, New York City, and Washington, DC; the various instruments he played; the musicians and bands he played with; some of the venues where he played music in Washington, DC; reggae DJs, including Tony Carr, and impact on rap DJs; DJ battles; Rastafarian performers; and Bob Marley's influence on reggae music. March explained Rastafari and reggae are not synonymous. He also spoke about the Jamaican posse; guns and drugs in Washington, DC; shootings at venues where reggae bands performed; and Operation Caribbean Cruise. Finally, March talked about his writing work and publications. Interview is in English. Digital audio files include white noise and static; interviewee's voice is intelligible for the most part.