Sylvia Wynter's Dream

A Walk Through the Ghetto

The lanes move unevenly, like a confused river, and the kennel of dogs barking echoes’ in the community. With a variety of stenches lingering in your nose, the only option is to make your body immune to the strong stillness in the air. Children playing football on the blazing concrete, temporarily distract them from the boredom that awaits them later in the night. The deafening sound of the bass can be heard a mile away. Dancehall music, a positive and negative pillar for this new generation embed in their head. The sound of water slapping the zinc rooftops, cooling it from the blazing temperature. Tree climbers reaching to the heavens for a ripe grab of sweetness. Miss Daisy hangs out the baby’s uniform for school Monday morning, singing, “Better days are coming, by and by, when we reach that city in the sky, sorrows will be over, joy will come at last, better days are coming, by and by”. 

With all the attributes the ghetto has to offer, there’s always something to talk about. Word on the street is Vanessa from the third lane is uptight and does not like to go outside, but the truth is she is anti-social and prefers her own company. John, who has a supporting family overseas is said to live alone without the help of anyone, and Mike, who is always seen in the night-time more than the daytime is said to be a potential criminal looking for a house to break into. What people do not know is that Mike has insomnia and takes long walks to clear his head from stressful situations. News can be easily spread, no matter the environment, but it is our job to know the truth.