Sylvia Wynter's Dream

“Jack of all Trades, Master of None, Forgetter of Some”

In the vibrant streets of Manchester, Jamaica, lived a remarkable man named Harold Murray. Harold may have been the ideal example of a man who raised his own family in the community and became successful through hard work. Sales and marketing came naturally to him and they were evident in his every move.

From an early age, Harold showed great potential and determination. Having grown up in a small family where his mother was a foreign worker, Harold gained knowledge on the value of discipline and determination. Although life was difficult, he forced himself to surpass limits and did not rest until he gave his family a better opportunity in life.

Harold had many friends who considered him a charming person. With his friendly smile, he appealed to people drawn from various social levels, who flocked to his store. He had this natural ability of making everybody feel important. He began with one very small haberdashery located in St.Elizabeth.

 With his easy going and engaging nature, he quickly won the hearts of the community. The demand for his items grew, and so did his ambitions.

With unwavering dedication, Harold expanded his business, and moved back to Manchester to set up another haberdashery close to his new home in George’s Valley. He was soon the talking point in the community. He was loved because of his achievements, simple upbringing, and generosity. He became a pioneer in his community by opening the first business and inspired other people to follow in his footsteps. Now, due to him, the neighbourhood is booming with many different shops and bars. This was a testament to his creativity and entrepreneurial vision.

With time, Harold’s business grew bigger, and he became an important person among the other business people around him. People appreciated him for his quick thinking, entrepreneurship, and firm commitment to his staff. In spite of achieving enormous success, Harold was never arrogant, and he never forgot where he came from, and always gave back to his community. His family also increased with the growth of his business. He had a good life, with his beautiful wife, Jane, always standing beside helping him in all these efforts. They had one daughter, named Sarah, who was brought up under much love and care and later on took after her parents.

In spite of being very busy, Harold never failed to find some time for his family. He also had another four children from other marriages. He brought all of them joy, entertainment, exciting adventures to remember for a lifetime. He taught his children work ethics, perseverance, and the strength of an unbridled imagination, which were very valuable among those people who were struggling in that time period.

But over the years, there emerged a change that was gradually becoming more and more pronounced in Harold. Sometimes he would miss little details, place other items wrongly, or not be conscious of time. Initially, these events appeared trivial but later on were frequent and threatening. As family members grew more concerned for Harold’s health, they decided it was necessary to get medical consultation.

It was soon after discovered that Harold was suffering from dementia, a diagnosis that not only shocked him but his friends and family as well. It was like at that very moment, Harold could feel his entire identity slipping away, leaving him with only thoughts of anger and frustration.