“I never see nothing of Fay all day. In truth I don’t think she that bothered ‘bout Independence. But she not the only one. Seem like maybe different people have their own reasons for thinking that Independence was a good thing or not. For some of them Independence was the sign that we finally free. We finally drive out the old slave masters. The British gone and slavery is over. For others, like Norman Manley, we was finally taking charge of our own destiny. Jamaica was growing up, taking responsibility for ourselves. Jamaica had come of age. Then some thought that when we cut our ties with England then maybe we make some better ones with America. And on top of that, there was those who wasn’t in favor. They felt safer under the British or more like they thought Her Majesty would carry on look after us better than we could look after ourselves. And of course, there was those who just didn’t care one way or another. I think that maybe where Fay at, indifferent about the whole thing because she didn’t think that Independence was going to improve her life any.” Pg. 114
This passage occurs in the context of Jamaica’s Independence in 1962. In the midst of celebration, Pao reflects on what “Independence” might mean for those around him, particularly Fay. Young narrates Pao’s thought process in spurts— starting with an unassuming statement, “I never see nothing of Fay all day”, Pao begins to ruminate on the reasons why Fay is not present for the celebrations on this seminal event. Much like with her silence and absence in their personal relationship, Pao creates an inner dialogue / monologue trying to figure out Fay and her deeper motivations. Sentence structures often begin as conjectural / suppositional in this passage, such as “In truth I don’t think….”, “I think that maybe where Fay at…”. This feeling of hesitation may point to the tentative implications of Independence, the way people see it differently.
Pao tells the reader that for some, Independence was really it, the touchstone of final freedom for Jamaica (“The British gone and slavery is over”). Then, for others (Pao makes specific associations with these ‘people’ such as Norman Manley), Independence meant that the fate of Jamaica, whatever it may be, was finally in their hands. Pao breathes some life into Jamaica as a nation, almost humanizing and giving agency as a being: “Jamaica was growing up, taking responsibility for ourselves. Jamaica had come of age.” Some people would consider Independence as a bridge to “better ties”, or other ties with America. Then, Pao talks about how there are some people who just didn’t see Independence as a positive outcome: Either they preferred the protection of British rule, or felt an anxiety for their own rule.
Finally, the passage returns to where it started in a cyclical manner, to the subject of Fay— that she probably just doesn’t care about the entire matter, because it wasn’t going to do anything or make any positive changes to her own life. This draws out the idea that with Fay’s social standing, wealth, and support, she may feel like she lives in isolation to some degree, that not much matters beyond her own quality of life. Pao finds out later that Fay’s dissociation comes from the fact that either way, she will have to continue living with her mother’s desire and efforts to be white in a society where racial dynamics still dictate a large part of life. Fay will have to continuously contend with the fact that she herself will always be too much of something and too little of another.
It is important that Young really tried to portray this insight into the nuances of how many Jamaicans felt towards Independence, and where freedom really begins or ends. Whereas Jamaica may have politically separated from British rule, to decolonize the minds, language, behaviors, and larger structures that are still present in Jamaica is a matter that might extend far beyond this particular moment in history. This passage provided some perspective(s) on this as Pao steps back from the festivities and commotion in the streets on Independence Day.