VOICES OF JAMAICA: EXPLORING RACE, IDENTITY & MEMORY

DALE MAHFOOD was born in Jamaica to parents whose roots run deep into the island’s past. He has lived in London and up and down the United States Eastern Seaboard, from New England to Florida, where he graduated from Florida International University with a master’s degree in English education. His latest novel is When Trees Fall: Book One of the Wood and Water Saga (Rockstone Publishing House), and he's currently working on Up From Mountains, the second book in the series.

GEOFFREY PHILP was born in Jamaica. He is the author of Archipelagos (Peepal Tree Press Ltd.) and seven earlier poetry collections, two books of short stories, and two novels, including Benjamin, My Son, which was nominated for an IMPAC Dublin Literary Prize. Philp’s poems and short stories are widely published, appearing in Small Axe, World Literature Today, The Caribbean Writer, Wheel and Come Again: An Anthology of Reggae Poetry, The Oxford Book of Caribbean Short Stories, and The Oxford Book of Caribbean Verse. In 2022, he was awarded the Silver Musgrave Medal for outstanding merit in literature.

SAFIYA SINCLAIR was born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She is the author of the poetry collection Cannibal and the winner of a Whiting Writers’ Award, the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ Metcalf Award in Literature, the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature in the poetry category, and the Prairie Schooner Raz-Shumaker Book Prize in poetry. Cannibal was also selected as one of the American Library Association’s Notable Books of the Year, was a finalist for the PEN America Literary Awards and the Seamus Heaney Centre’s Poetry Prize, and was longlisted for the PEN Open Book Award and the Dylan Thomas Prize. How to Say Babylon: A Memoir (37 Ink) is her latest work.

SHARON CORINTHIAN, originally from Jamaica, is a multifaceted talent residing in Boca Raton, Florida. Her early challenges as an immigrant ignited her passion for words, leading her to become a poet, blogger, and radio host. Corinthian has contributed to platforms like The Caribbean Current and My Love For Autism, and hosted radio shows spotlighting noteworthy individuals and poets. As a spoken-word artist, she's performed at events such as P.A.L.A.S and Jerk Fest, one year winning the latter's poetry contest. Her words also graced occasions in honor of prominent figures, including a commission for track Olymics legend Usain Bolt. On the entrepreneurial front, she co-founded the Caribbean Medley Organic Juice Company and now runs Sweet Madam Blu Mellow Munchies, an organic cookie business. With every endeavor, Corinthian seeks to inspire, uplift, and echo resilience. Connect with her journey on Facebook and Instagram.