DIASPORA | New Jersey’s Middlesex County's Historic Flag Raising Honors Jamaica's 63rd Independence

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, New Jersey, July 30, 2025 -Against the New Jersey skyline, three colors danced in the summer breeze—black, green, and gold threads weaving stories of resilience, hope, and home. On Friday, July 25, the Middlesex County Administration Building at 75 Bayard Street became more than a seat of local government; it transformed into a beacon of cultural celebration as the Jamaican flag ascended its flagpole in honor of the island nation's 63rd Independence anniversary.

The ceremony, orchestrated by the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey (JON-J) and community leader Mayor Elsie Foster, drew together a tapestry of voices that reflected both the journey traveled and the road ahead.

As county commissioners Charles Kenny, Clara Azcona-Barber, and County Surrogate Claribel Cortes looked on, their presence spoke to something profound: institutional recognition of a community that has woven itself into the very fabric of New Jersey life.

Voices of Heritage and Hope

The evening's keynote speaker, Hon. William C. McKoy—a Jamaican-born former councilman from Paterson's Third Ward—painted vivid portraits of the diaspora's contributions. His words cascaded through the gathered crowd like a gentle Kingston rain, reminding listeners of Jamaica's rich tapestry: doctors saving lives in New Jersey hospitals, lawyers advocating for justice in American courtrooms, and political leaders shaping policy from municipal councils to congressional halls.

"We are changemakers," McKoy declared, his voice carrying the cadence of both adopted homeland and ancestral soil. His praise for organizations like JON-J resonated deeply—entities that bridge worlds by providing scholarships, legal assistance, and medical resources to students both in New Jersey's suburbs and Jamaica's rural parishes.

The ceremony's most poignant moment came during the recognition of this year's scholarship recipients: Dillion Jenkins, Sekai Jones, Lukeson Ashburne, Jaden White, Kushawn Decartaret, and Sahyra Whittingham.

These young scholars represent more than academic achievement; they embody the dreams of grandparents who crossed oceans and parents who planted roots in foreign soil while nurturing memories of blue mountains and azure seas.

Mayor Elsie Foster leading Middlesex County to once again demonstrate its commitment to diversity and inclusion by continuing its proud tradition of raising the Jamaican flag on the occasion of its 63rn anniversary of independence.

Cultural Rhythms and Remembrance

Poetry flowed from Rusel Bruff's lips like honey, while pannist Jahlani Roberts' steel drums sang melodies that could transport listeners from New Brunswick's concrete to Port Royal's shores. These cultural presentations weren't mere entertainment—they were acts of preservation, keeping alive traditions that risk dissolution in the diaspora's daily hustle.

Dr. Laing led the invocation with the gravitas befitting someone who understands that ceremony and spirituality intertwine in Caribbean culture.

Natasha White's masterful emceeing wove the evening's diverse elements into a cohesive celebration, while Jacqueline Lewis—JON-J's former president—delivered gratitude that acknowledged not just the evening's success, but decades of community building.

More Than Symbolic Gestures

Mayor Elsie Foster, herself a proud daughter of Jamaica now serving New Jersey's Highland Park, understood the ceremony's deeper significance. "Middlesex County is one of the most diverse counties in New Jersey," she observed, her words carrying the weight of lived experience.

The continuous recognition of the Jamaican community here transcends politics—it's both historic acknowledgment and meaningful validation.

This flag raising stands as Middlesex County's unique commitment among New Jersey's 21 counties. While others may celebrate diversity in word, Middlesex demonstrates it in deed, year after year, creating space for the black, green, and gold to fly alongside the Stars and Stripes.

Twenty-Seven Years of Community Building

Behind this ceremony lies JON-J's remarkable 27-year journey from cultural preservation group to recognized community institution. Under current president Valerie Bailey's leadership, the organization has evolved far beyond its 1998 origins, when 18 individuals gathered to honor spelling bee champion Jody-Ann Maxwell.

Today, JON-J operates with seven county chapters, providing disaster relief spanning from Caribbean hurricanes to New Jersey emergencies, funding college scholarships for local youth, and supporting underserved schools across Jamaica.

Their mission—empowering Jamaicans and descendants to maintain cultural identity while building bridges in business, civic, educational, and religious arenas—has created measurable impact on both sides of the diaspora divide.

The organization's "FACE" approach—focusing on food, family, assistance, celebration, and emergency—demonstrates sophisticated understanding of community needs. During COVID-19, they collected hundreds of laptops and iPads for Jamaican students while raising $7,000 for medical equipment, proving that diaspora organizations can respond to crises with both heart and efficiency.

Independence Echoing Across Borders

As Jamaica prepares to mark August 6th—63 years since breaking colonial chains—this Middlesex County ceremony joins a global chorus of celebration. From Kingston's National Arena to Lauderhill's performing arts centers, from Times Square galas to Boston community gatherings, the diaspora's voice harmonizes with the homeland's songs of freedom.

The national theme, "Be Proud. Be Bold. In the Black, Green and Gold," resonates particularly powerfully in spaces like Middlesex County, where pride manifests through civic engagement and boldness translates into institutional recognition.

Future Unfurling

As the ceremony concluded and the flag continued its gentle dance above New Brunswick, the evening's true achievement became clear: another generation of young Jamaican-Americans had witnessed their heritage honored in their adopted home's highest offices.

Those scholarship recipients—Jenkins, Jones, Ashburne, White, Decartaret, and Whittingham—carry forward not just educational opportunities, but living proof that cultural pride and American success need not exist in opposition.

In Middlesex County's continuing commitment to raise Jamaica's flag, we glimpse a future where diversity isn't merely celebrated but institutionalized, where diaspora communities aren't just welcomed but woven into the governmental fabric itself.

The black, green, and gold flying high above New Jersey soil tells a story still being written—one flag, one ceremony, one community at a time.

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