Newsletters to feature companies and individual accomplishments or to keep you are one of my favourite things to do in my spare time. Documenting growth and wins inspire me. This newsletter was commissioned by Millenia Group; an architecture and engineering firm.
and although she is little, she is fierce - William Shakespeare
Jael Joseph Photo By Daniel Fadelle Visuals
Creating comes natural to me. For a while my only interest was radio. I enjoyed connecting with listeners through the various radio shows I hosted during my time in Dominica. Going live on Facebook became a regular thing for me, but many people were not into social media at that time. My love for video content would eventually manifest. I would take up writing seriously quite a few years later while in university. My content varies from educating and informing to entertainment and comical moments. My writing evokes imagery that stems from growing up in the Caribbean, a somewhat sheltered life to pieces on advocacy for equality, diversity and peace. I write poetry and short stories too. Enjoy!
I have always loved YouTube videos and spent hours viewing content from various tubers. I decided to start a channel that was all about me, with focus on my hair journey, my travel adventures and interviews.
I struggled with putting my thoughts down on paper for years. I never imagined that I could even be a writer. During my years at university, with the help of my instructors and professors, I was able to manage my thoughts and produce both fiction and non-fiction stories.
Covid-19 pandemic struck the world forcing everyone into isolation. I went into quarantine on March 13, 2020 uncertain of what would happen next. A call came to me one day via Facebook. This woman was requesting my help in bringing awareness to a cause. Her step-daughter had endured sexual abuse at the hand of her father and was now forced to stay home with him as the law could not protect her. I could not fathom that a man would want to hurt his child in that way and it angered me that the this virus would control us all. I was scheduled to write a poem of witness for my creative writing course, a plight for change, a poem of witness. This was my contribution.
Small Axe was the name of one of my father’s boats. He spent a lot of time with his boats and sometimes I thought he adored them more than me. The longest day I ever spent with him was when I convinced him to take me with him to a nearby island called Marie Galante. He would make regular trips there carrying produce for hucksters. It was a tough trip as we crossed the ocean channel. I don’t recall too many details of the trip except I vomited all the way there and back.
Years later I still remember the boat as it represented the relationship between my father and I. He was a very strict man who was not afraid to use the belt. I felt like he thought to beat me kept me in check, “for my own good” and that was his way to show love. He died before I could ever connect with him again like on that day. Writing this Letter Poem revealed how much I yearned for my father’s affection and through Small Axe, I realized it was always there.
My father, one of my heroes taught us girls how to do everything. It was never “women or men work”. He was always so impressed when I would help him with his fish pots or the time I built my own dog house. I used to wonder what life would have been if I had a brother. Years after his passing, my sisters and I got together to replace the roof of our childhood home. We did it all with the help of an uncle. Women today in 2020 are still fighting for equality. This was one of the shortest pieces I have ever written.
