GO-JAMAICA.COM CHAT WITH RENOWN ACTRESS AND
JAMAICAN CULTURAL ICON MS LOU
TRANSCRIPT OF LIVE SESSION
AUGUST 14, 2003

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:10:25 PM)
Hello Miss Lou! How do you feel about the negative attitude towards our Jamaican patios language? Do you think we ought ot recognize it as an official language similar to French Creole in Haiti?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:10:25 PM)
It is a language because this has been handed done from generation to generation. A lot of the words are Ashanti language the people are now called Ghana from the gold coast. A lot of the people who came to Jamaica were from Ghana, which was then the gold coast in Africa. In fact they were the people who were not settled in the slave pattern they were always rebelling but as my Auntie Roachie saying it surely vex her if then true when she hear people styling her language as corruption of the English Language . After all why they do not call the French corruption from which the English derive from. How come English derive and English corrupt.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:12:23 PM)
Hi Miss Lou! I'm not old enough to remember the days of 'Ring Ding' and the like but I still have great respect for you and your work. How have you been enjoying your stay must be tired I bet?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:12:23 PM)
Very tired a sort of sleepy, but my heart full with joy, mi head grow and happy with the Jamaican welcome. You feel the warm and comfort. I could not ever believe that it would have been as beautiful and over joy with love and genuine.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:14:33 PM)
do you have any plans to come back home? (when you get mi message you can wave, so mi can go tell people say Miss Lou wave to me).
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:14:33 PM)
Well you know, I feel so. After this welcome it could be. But I am sort of settled in Canada in medical side of it has been good to me and my husband. It is not easy seeing that I will be 84 in September to move. Even the Prime Minister has said he will help me pack my bags if I cannot do it.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:14:49 PM)
A VERY WARM WELCOME TO YOU MS.LOU, WELCOME HOME
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:14:49 PM)
Thank you dear.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:15:30 PM)
Miss Lou how have you felt to know that you have been a part of Jamaica's history
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:15:30 PM)
Me feel good. Very good and grateful and thankful.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:17:08 PM)
When did you migrate to Canada?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:17:08 PM)
In 1987 when my husband needed surgery. Although they had expertise in Jamaica they did not have the equipment. So he was diagnose from a heart attack. We found that it was so good that medical assistance we could get at that time and all sort of things happened at the time.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:18:15 PM)
Lawd Miss Lou me glad fe de honour u get from de government.
MissLou (Aug 14, 2003 7:18:15 PM)
We glad too mi dear. The honour was given to me from Jamaica and the People of Jamaica.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:19:16 PM)
Miss Lou, i grew up reciting your poems in speech festivals and even after festivals were finished i found myself reading them over and over again simply because your work tells a story... a story of the history of Jamaica and our people. You have played an integral role in shaping Jamaican culture and history and your written and spoken word will always be apart of us Jamaicans.
MissLou (Aug 14, 2003 7:19:16 PM)
Thank you for that comment my dear.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:20:02 PM)
A who dem people deh beside you? A yuh family?
MissLou (Aug 14, 2003 7:20:02 PM)
Family and friends. You see I feel that all Jamaican people are all part of my family.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:20:42 PM)
Can you just answer my questions Miss Lou. Any plans of coming back to Jamaica?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:20:42 PM)
We fi cannot be un for you. In the future it might work out so.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:21:03 PM)
Hi Miss Lou how are you ? Please keep up the good work
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:21:03 PM)
Thank you my dear and I shall try to and I will.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:21:29 PM)
IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU AS A JAMAICAN YOU HAVE BEEN A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR US JAMAICANS, WI PROUD FI BE JAMAICANS JUST COZ U IS ONE.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:21:29 PM)
Praise the Lord. That is good.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:24:00 PM)
Hi Miss Lou! Do you think it is still appropriate to be promoting patois now when the passes for English at the high school level are so low?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:24:00 PM)
Darling I don't know much about the passes of the English in High School. What I know is when I asked the children to sing a Jamaican lullaby and they sung 'Sweet and Low' and 'Rock-a-bye baby' and those were not Jamaican songs. But when I sing a Jamaican Lullaby , 'Clap hands til papa come home'.. Bye ne Bye baby fa fe sleep.
Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:25:16 PM)
MISS LOU ME A 42 AND ME BORN COME SEE U BWOY GOD GOOD. ME. SORRY ME PICKNEY DEM WONT B ABLE TO SEE U IN PERSON ONE DAY. BWOY U BRING BACK MEMORIES. U WILL LIVE FOREVER JUST LIKE MASS RANNY.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:25:16 PM)
Wonderful comment.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:26:30 PM)
Hi Miss Lou, welcome home . I can't say the same for myself, I'm living in ENGLAND now. . Hope to visit SOON.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:26:30 PM)
It is nice that you were able to greet me from where you are living so far from us. My dear it is a joy to be home and to get messages of many affections from Jamaicans all over the world.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:27:47 PM)
Miss Lou, in total how many poems have you written? And when did you begin writing poems in the Jamaican Patios?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:27:47 PM)
Well my dear I starting writing when I was 13 or 14 when I was sure that form of speech was a language. A plenty poems.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:28:18 PM)
Congrats on the many honours you have rec'd Miss Lou, - an mi really glad fi know seh dem a honour u before u inna de grave.......GOD BLESS AN KEEP U..GI U GOOD HEALTH AND LANG LIFE.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:28:18 PM)
Howd di and thenk you mi child.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:30:01 PM)
Great to hear u on Jamaican radio. I am now living in London but was privileged to appear on one of the ring ding shows in the seventies. Unfortunately, there is a lack of educational progress for black kids here in the UK. So they are missing out...would you consider putting some progress for us here in the UK?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:30:01 PM)
Darling I would love to. But today I am not be able to do so. I tell people I am retired. I still write and perform sometimes, but I can't take on anything at this time.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:31:28 PM)
Miss Lou it is really nice to know that at your age you can still make a positive impact on the lives of everyone that knows or hears about you. I pray for added strength and that there will be those who will take pages out the book of your life so that we can see a positive image displayed on our society. Long story short............. U Blessed!
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:31:28 PM)
Thank you my dear and God bless.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:33:28 PM)
Welcomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Ms.Lou I absolutely love your work and all that you as an individual stand for and also am proud that you are Jamaican. You have never let this country down. You are truly an ICON. this celebration of your achievements and all that you have helped Jamaicans to achieve has been long awaited. You make it possible for Jamaicans to be proud of our culture, our background, our past and our presence in theatre and just generally. wi luv yuh bad bad, wi boonoonoonus (a suh it spell) WELCOME HOME.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:33:28 PM)
Yes mi dear it spell right. Thank you so much and I so happy to know that you use the word booonoonoonus which is one of my favourite word.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:34:46 PM)
When will your poems be coming out in audio format?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:34:46 PM)
There are cd available at Sangster's Bookstores with my work.
(Get your Miss Lou books at Sangsters Books Store http://www.sangstersbooks.com....).
Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:35:14 PM)
Do you miss the Sunshine of Jamaica?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:35:14 PM)
Nuh mus'.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:37:54 PM)
How does Miss Lou propose that we as Jamaicans, legitimize and truly honour our Jamaican Patios while maintaining English as an integral part of our communication?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:37:55 PM)
Because English is a universal dialect. They are so many forms of the English language. In England for instead there are many dialects and no one ask them to give them up. In every language in the world there is a dialect. Yellow Bird is French Creole from Haiti and some one translate it in to English.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:38:49 PM)
I want Miss Lou to be a national hero.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:38:49 PM)
Thank you. It is a wonderful compliment as long as mi don't dead.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:44:49 PM)
Miss Lou, what schools did you attend?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:44:49 PM)
Plenty. Ebenzer, Calabar Elementary, I then got a scholarship to St. Simon College where I spent two years. I then went to Excelsior High, which I loved very much. After Excelsior I started writing and then I went to Friends College in St. Mary. Afterwards I started writing for the Gleaner. I went to RADA in London three month after I got a BBC contract for the year. I had a programme, which was for the general overseas and I developed a theme song as Mango Walk.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:45:34 PM)
Great work! Miss Lou I hope here is a poem coming Miss Lou come home or trip back home so on. as modern British as you can call us teen we know and appreciate good art & artists like you Miss Lou. keep up - 'te amamos'.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:45:34 PM)
Thank you mi dear.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:47:07 PM)
What would be your view or word of advice to people who still think that patios should not be used any at all?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:47:07 PM)
I would ask them to listen it again and respect the language for it has so many names such as Jama.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:49:29 PM)
What is your philosophy on life.......how have you maintained the longevity in this rough world of show bizz and still keep sane?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:49:29 PM)
The gift of laughter. I have proven that many time that the gift of laughter have been able to put things on the right track. When you can find the humour and during the bad times and you can deal with it. In Canada they awarded me a Honorary Doctorate and the manager asked me what I would like to talk about in my reply I said was the "Gift of Laughter".

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:50:01 PM)
Good evening Miss Lou. I am currently in Miami studying and I am so disappointed that I could not be in Jamaica to enjoy the national pride right now. What is it like to be home?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:50:02 PM)
Happy. It's so good to be home.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:51:06 PM)
You get any pitata puddin wid slush pan de tap since u come?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:51:07 PM)
Yes mi add some last night and the slush pon top name munllugs.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:53:53 PM)
Miss Lou ,when you and PJ sit down to chat you tell him sey time hard and tuff and him fi govern the country so poor people can benefit more,yu chat to him bout whey a guawn in a Jamaica.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:53:53 PM)
We discuss things like that. I think I don't talk too much about politics. I like to go think with the truth and since I have not been here for so long, it is difficult for me to discuss this. I know it is tuff and it is tuff all over the world. What I have found that the Jamaica people all over the world is happen to have them.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:54:47 PM)
SO MISS LOU ANY MORE PLANS FOR A NEW BOOK
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:54:47 PM)
Right now is memories. My life is sort of a life story.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:55:41 PM)
Miss Lou I have many online friends that planned to say a word to you today, but the power outage in the northeast US and Canada I am sure is keeping them off line so I would like to pass on their best wishes to you on their behalf
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:55:41 PM)
Thank you my dear. God bless and tell them walk good and good follow you.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:57:08 PM)
Miss Lou when I saw, your itinerary just before your arrival - I thought, lawd dem a go kill off the woman now with all dem function, but it seems as if your visit here has given you more vigour. Each day I see you - you look more "spritely". It looks as if your visit here has given you even more vitality. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for making us proud to be Jamaicans
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:57:08 PM)
Thank you my dear. I am proud to be Jamaican and we should be proud to be Jamaicans because we a kind and loving people.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:57:47 PM)
Howdy Miss Lou. I'm in the UK and so great to know you are looking so well. You are one of my favourite persons.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:57:48 PM)
Thank you mi dear and thank for staying up so late.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 7:59:40 PM)
A 56 A WE IN HERE AND I WANT MISS LOU TO ANSWER ME MISS LOU CONGRAGULATION BUT I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO MEET YOU IN PERSON. MY NAME IS ABBIE-GAYLE AND I'M 13.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 7:59:41 PM)
Abbie-Gayle I am so glad to get your little message and I wish I could meet me and you. If we don't meet this time but with you spirit we will surely meet another time.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 8:02:29 PM)
Congratulation Miss Lou!!!! I use to listen to the Miss Lou & Maas Ron Show very religious as a youngster, on the radio. Is it possible if we could get to listen to some rerun of it on the radio (probably on Power 106 FM)? Pleeease!!!!!
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 8:02:29 PM)
They have erase so many of the tapes but there are a very few available to do the reruns. The material that was used in those days have deteriorated over the years.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 8:03:49 PM)
Miss Lou, do you receive a lot of mail from Jamaicans? [My father has an autograph from you in 1948 at Jamaica School of Agriculture at Hope]
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 8:03:49 PM)
Yes I do.. When my husband died I got a lot of letters but have not gotten the opportunity to read them all.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 8:04:24 PM)
Miss Lou i listen to you from i was a little boy in Jamaica and i enjoy listening to you.i think you should be a Jamaican hero in Jamaica.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 8:04:25 PM)
Thank you.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 8:04:50 PM)
How is every thing, so much bad news coming out of Jamaica. Its good to read about you in the weekly Jamaica paper in London ok but I miss YARD BAD .
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 8:04:51 PM)
Yes so do I.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 8:05:46 PM)
Ms Lou i am so sorry i wont get to meet u before u leave. I am 32 yrs and i grew up hearing about Ms Lou from Ring-Ding days and its really a pleasure having u here with us. But would u seriously take up the offer of coming back home ?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 8:05:46 PM)
I might jus.. We fi you can't be fi yu.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 8:06:15 PM)
My daughter who is 4 years old absolutely adore you.
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 8:06:15 PM)
Give her my love. Mi love children yu se.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 8:06:50 PM)
HI MISS LOU, CAN I MARRY YOU?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 8:06:50 PM)
koo yah!!!!!

Question (Aug 14, 2003 8:07:52 PM)
Miss Lou me ear nuff boout y but neva get fi see ring ding you can do one fi me before you leave please
MissLou (Aug 14, 2003 8:07:52 PM)
There will be a ring ding tomorrow being taped and listen out when it will be aired.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 8:08:54 PM)
Miss Lou...I heard Allan & Dorain on RJR one morning talking about you and the energy that you have displayed in attending all the civic ceremonies and events that have been planned for you and sometimes participating, your energy should I assume come from your "gift of laughter" would definitely prove what my mother always say "laughter makes you you".
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 8:08:54 PM)
And it keep yu young. too.

Question (Aug 14, 2003 8:09:16 PM)
Miss Lou what the secret for you looking so young?
Miss Lou (Aug 14, 2003 8:09:16 PM)
The Gift of Laughter mi dear.

MissLou (Aug 14, 2003 8:10:35 PM)
Well I never like to say good-bye but I like to say walk good.

Ends.