This was written following the recent passing of my mother, another Jamaican matriarch with the Trench Town people in mind. Her life teachings are reflected in most of the substance of what appears here. She was an only child with an independently stubborn and unwavering personality. She was a person who would think and act decisively on her feet.Mama, you taught me to put a meaning to life’s lessons and to seek for answers, not just accepting anything willy nilly. I have written about the many issues we would often discuss with some possible solutions. I have included a plan for the uplifting and development of Trench Town. I have shown how America can end Racism.For those youths we see so often shot down in the streets of the ghettoes, there is “Who is running the code.” “Rise Trench Town Rise and Welcome to the ghetto” gives full credence to a life we once lived amidst the crime and poverty.Mama you taught me how to triumph over adversity and rebound with strength of unparalleled spiritual force. I am my mother in every way as from her loins I came. Your works over the many years on this planet speaks. The issues and concerns we often ponder I have stated here. Observing mama over the years, I have always wondered where she got the strength to do what she does and surely but slowly the answer came clear to me that her strength came from her pure spiritual belief in the power of the Almighty God through which and by which all things are possible.Mama all that I am comes from you and God. Rest mama rest!This book is a testament and tribute to my many travels and works with the peoples in America, Jamaica and Canada. It is a compilation of many experiences I have had with the people over many years. I have had the greatest privileges of learning from the people on ground zero.This is a sociology book written in the style of a social documentary and historiography of the ways and means of a people. It is a series of books within a book. It is a synopsis and a journal of life as we live it minute to minute, day by day. This is my signature writing style.
Ras Cardo is the man from Trench-Town who created, coined, and invented the word-REGGAE-in 1962 at the back of his tenement house. He is the chief architect and foundation legend in the origination of many of the songs and teachings of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Junior Braithwaite and others during those times. He was the man behind the inspirational force of these youths in those times. He is an original wailing wailer and reggae pioneer. He is the man behind reggae music.Because of him many can now make a living in the music genre.Ras Cardo is Reggae´s historian empyrean. He is the sine qua non of Reggae. He is multi-talented, gifted and diverse.Ras Cardo has been a close friend and trusted confidant to many of the now known Trench Town reggae greats. He was a part of the Trench Town Third Street musical foundation including people like Joe Higgs, Alton and Hortense Ellis,Bob Marley, Peter, Junior Braithwaite and many others.By his vital writings all others have become aware of how a musical genre he named has now completely redefined Jamaica and the world.Some are using his creation for the wrong reasons. He warns- the consequences will be dire.By his many works, he has put Trench-Town and Jamaica in a position of prominence, and poor peoples causes to the forefront. No more will the status quo keep them in isolation and downpression in poverty. By his works the University of the West Indies now sees it fit to have a Reggae faculty, something they would never have entertained during his time there.Still they do nothing to help the trench town people. They want the spotlight for themselves, but unjustly.By his example many academicians, literary agents, writers, reporters, professors, research students, reggae enthusiasts, reggae wannabees, Bob Marley admirers and imitators,continue to police his works to get crucial historical information on what it was like for them living in Trench-Town during those times before, during, and after the music began. Ras Cardo is aware of their schemes and intentions.He has given some of his truths about reggae to noted reggae and Bob Marley archivist- Roger Steffens who lives in Los Angeles and is also a member of the Grammy committee(NARAS). Roger uses Ras Cardo´s book- A reggae education- on his tours and lectures about Bob Marley.The real social impact of Reggae is now taken seriously worldwide. Ras Cardo Trench-Town Reggae is now a revelation and revolution.Some have given Ras Cardo the names- Historian, and Social Documentarian. His latest book-Love in Black and white-(C)2009- is a testament to this.Ras Cardo now has a plan for the development of Trench-Town like no other. His plans are ready to uplift the Trench-Town people and all poor people starting with Trench-Town. He will never forget the place and all his brethrens who have struggled,suffered, and died for this music. He knows their true livity because he was there with them in those times. Trench-Town is for the people and when he named the music there in 1962 of course the world did not know who did it. The author-Steven Davis could not have known this truth. He was never in Trench-Town with us. Ras Cardo kept it close among his trusted brethrens and watched the reggae imposters have a field day. Only a few close friends knew about it then. Some say they did not know where the word came from, well of course because Ras Cardo and his brethrens had not told the world yet. So I hope they can now correct their misinformed books. We see today where the music industry keeps deceiving and misleading the people about the origination of reggae and who were from the begining. Ras Cardo has the truth. He was there.So far no one has dared to confront his truths. The deceivers keep in hiding. Ras Cardo say to all of them- TELL THE CHILDREN THE TRUTH. It is impossible for them to tell the truth when they do not have the truth and so they keep on spreading lies and deceptions.People like- TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS-did not invent reggae. Yet he keeps silent and accepts the adulations fraudulently. He has failed to tell his children the truth. He was never in trench town with us.He keeps living a lie like so many.So many falsehoods abound on the internet about our Reggae Trench-Town heritage and yet none of those who claim they know about us want to accept Ras Cardo´s challenge about his livity. Some claim that they have the worlds´ greatest Bob Marley archives yet they still hide from Ras Cardo because they were never from Trench-Town. They started hearing about Bob Marley in the mid -1970´s. Ras Cardo grew up with him from boyhood days,-YOU DECIDE. When Bob first walked into trench town Ras Cardo and his friends were already there to help and show him love.He owns the historical copyrights to this music, its origination and foundation and that of the Original Wailing Wailers which comprised himself, Junior Braithwaite, and others. Do not confuse this with other so-named groups. Ras cardo can show you how himself and the brethrens coined their group´s name before Bob Marley came into Trench-Town. The Library Of Congress USA has the paper works to prove it and so does he. He has done a legion of works for the Trench-Town people. He is responsible for telling the world about all the Reggae-unsung Heroes in his seminal book-A Reggae Education- Scotts Official History of Reggae, released in (c)1993- A Reggae Education.Ras Cardo is aware of what many in the music business today is trying to do to the rasta name and foundations of spiritual Reggae Music.They are like fools,because they fail to see the truth that reggae is more than the music. The vampires are trying to steal and to change Reggae into something they can control for themselves. This will never happen. The music is only the vehicle which brings the message, that is why so many are trying to desperately alter the true course and message of reggae and rastafari. Some Jamaicans are trying to sell out the reggae culture using slackness in the dancehall music.They will never be successful in doing this.Today, Ras Cardo stands as the Keeper of the Trench-Town Ark of the Reggae covenant. He is iconic and empyrean. Many who have heard of him try to construct enigmatic narratives around him, some mundane, some provocative, some misleading, but none which accurately describes him in the works he has done for the people. He is a coveted symbol of Reggae genius, truths, and creativity.He has the true history and has shared some of it with those who claim to love Bob Marley and to have his crucial works. Ras Cardo knows that his Trench-Town archives is second to none. The alpha and Omega.Ras Cardo urges all artical rasta messengers in this time to stand firm as we enter the last days.Many will try to fight I and I down for the truth but in the end truth will prevail. Those who try to police the works of Ras Cardo must know that it is for the people. Now Cardo has given Jamaica a new name-RASTANATION. Reggae and Rastafari has taken Jamaica out of the hands of imperialistic,colonialistic,and repressive regimes as it tries to realign it back with Africa the mother of all civilisation. Trench-Town has done wonders with its ghetto genius and so Ras Cardo and his brethrens must carry on the message of the prophesy.When he mentored Bob Marley they knew that,this day and time would come.Ras Cardo is an academician, author,social documentarian, historian, poet, humanitarian, forensic scientist, radiological expert technology consultant, and patient advocate for poor peoples rights.He is a servant of the people.He is acutely aware of all those who are trying to destroy his creation and those who relentlessly deceive and steal from the poor peoples including those in Trench Town. Reggae is for all the people to bring love and peace to a troubled world. Ras Cardo urges all ghetto youths to-STOP THE VIOLENCE. You can see some of his works and blogs everywhere.Check out his works on the New York Times site-