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Stuff West Indian People Like, Vol. 2
Back with Volume 2. No need to massage it for you, let’s jump right in. There will be more foreplay next week, I promise.
Rum
The foundation of every West Indian’s booze collection is their favorite rum. Rum is not only the spirit of choice, but serves as the remedy of choice as well. Got a body ache? Sap some rum on the affected area. Got a fever? Take a shot of white rum. Neosporin, Viagra and Tylenol have all lost revenue within the West Indian community because of rum. On the flip side Coca Cola has probably made a mint off of all the West Indians that keep it stocked to mix with their rum. If rum were ever made illegal, there would a riot in every city that had a heavy West Indian population. Don’t believe me? Ask Hunter and Bunji:
Carnival
The Superbowl is probably the most anticipated event of the year for most Americans, but for most West Indians, it pales in comparison. I remember as a youth having my outfit for carnival already picked out months in advance. While BIG was talking about sewing tigers on his shirt, I was saving every penny I came across to cop my carnival threads. The beauty part is whether you are home or abroad, you can depend on finding some sort of Caribbean festival within driving distance. I’m not even going to get into whose Carnival is the best because that’s a never ending argument, and I could possibly be tracked down and assaulted for my views. I’ll let y’all battle that one out amongst yourselves.
Random Gold Jewelry
This trait is usually more prevalent amongst older West Indians. No matter what the trend in jewelry, you can always count on running into West Indians that insist on wearing three rings on each hand, several “handchains” and gold chains. Is it just me or does every West Indian own a tiny gold chain with a crucifix on it? It really could be just me, but I doubt it.
Swearing
Everyone swears, this is clearly nothing unique to West Indians. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say most West Indians I know curse more than your average person, primarily because we can get away with it and have it written off as random foreigner mumbo jumbo. “Bumboclaat” and its friends “rass” and “blood” are only the tip of the West Indian creativity iceberg. (Note: These are primarily Jamaican curse words and all West Indians are not Jamaicans, thus this vernacular is not universal, so don’t use it as a means to identify. That conversation will end promptly with a “Haul yuh sc*nt” and a sucking of the teeth.) Older West Indians are not only very comedic with their choice of curse words, but apparently have knowledge of parts of your mother’s anatomy previously unknown to science. Most people leave verbal quarrels with West Indians more confused than offended. “I probably should be mad, but I have no clue what he said…”
And the list goes on. But hopefully I’ve shed some more light on your West Indian neighbors and have helped you understand them a bit better. I mean, you’ll probably never really understand, but at least when you bump into your West Indian friend on a random summer or fall day covered in baby powder, mud and motor oil, you won’t be too shocked. Either they just came from a parade, or they’re a mechanic on the weekends. Whatever the case, now you know, and knowledge is power. I’ll be having my rum now…
Git mau mau,
…you can stop laughing now, Cheekz.
49 Responses to “Stuff West Indian People Like, Vol. 2”
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Thanks for repping w/ the Mount Gay XO…best rum on earth; Crop Over is the best hands down; everyone questions my bangles and I get compliments on my tiny chain w/ the cross regularly; and C U Next Tuesday is our fav cuss word! I remember asking my mother as a little girl what a bare c*nt was….hahahaha
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Oh how I love my people. The rum thing is so true. Even the most religious of the great aunts and grandmothers have a bokkle of rum in the cabinet just in case a…it doesn’t even matter. It just needs to be there.
Mesh clothing needs to be on this list. Maybe that’s unique to Jamaican men, but I don’t think so. You can spot a Delroy or a Donovan a mile away because it’s likely that he is wearing a red, green and gold see through mesh top.
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max Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Yes! The mesh undershirts! That’s a classic.
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The Honorable Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele LLC, Destined for Greatness Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 8:53 am
I still have one somewhere actually.
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As a Trini myself, I co-sign and approve this post. We also like to say the word “Tree” instead of “Three”. Oh yeah, it is widely known and accepted that eh no Carnival like Trinidad Carnival!
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The Honorable Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele LLC, Destined for Greatness Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 8:54 am
You sure you’re not from Tobago? No shots, just asking, because of all the TNT people I’ve met, no one ever claims the second T and you’ve got to figure eventually you’d have to meet someone from Tobago.
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RiPPa Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:12 am
HA!
You got me… I was born in Tobago.
But mek no mistake, we’n like dat… alla’we’s Trinbagonians.
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BK'sFinest Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 9:07 am
“We also like to say the word “Tree” instead of “Three”. Oh yeah, it is widely known and accepted that eh no Carnival like Trinidad Carnival!”
As my lb is a Trini, i’ll go ahead and second both of these comments. Long live COOL ISLAND BREEZE!
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The Honorable Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele LLC, Destined for Greatness Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 9:11 am
You sure he’s not from Tobago?
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CHeeKZ Money Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 9:43 am
“that eh no Carnival like Trinidad Carnival!”
**Shaqface**
I know some Brazilians, Haitians, Guianese and Antiguans who disagree. Not to mention Barbados, Grenada and Colombian. No dissrespect to the central american countries or Mardi Gras, but they can’t do it like us.
I will say that Trini has the best carnival music.
Carnival in T&T, is so special for ALL OF WEEEE!
(I hope I didn’t screw up the words).
Lets be honest. The real answer of who has the best Carnival comes down to who has the best looking women. We all have a different answer to that question…
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Smiley Face Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:40 am
“Guianese”
don mek mi eye pass yuh!! ah who de teach yuh to spell it so…yuh gon talk bout we den spell it right…
G U Y A N E S E… *wink*
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iLoveit Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
Tehe
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emti Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
I’m half Antiguan/half Trini
and hands down the best carnival is Trinidad
they invented it, they made it an art and an institution
no one can argue with that
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max Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Everybody knows that Trinidad has the most beautiful women. Everybody knows that!
Especially those dougla gyals….
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Add tea to the list too. With Carnation milk.
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max Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Or “condense” milk!
I swear I was like 30 years old before I knew that “condense” milk and “condensed” milk were the same thing!
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 9:39 am
Or “evap” milk for “evaporated.” loves it.
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RiPPa Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:14 am
This made me laugh because is true!
LOL @ “condense”
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KnattyBuxtonPaku Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
How about the fact that it took me years to realize that “mek-hase” actually meant “make haste” in “English”. lol Like it seems so simple now but during all the years growing up I just never thought to connect the two. I didn’t even know what “mek hase” meant, all I knew was mommy wanted something done and I better do it quick if I didn’t want her to start “sharin licks”! LMAO
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Smiley Face Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:41 am
LMAO!!!! You know how many strange looks I get at work b/c of the way “I does take tea”….priceless.
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I’m not West Indian. But I feel that growing in Brooklyn and being one of few “regular black folk” qualifies me to speak.
West Indians love anglosaxon names that you havent heard in awhile. Donald’s and Donovans. Hyphenated names for the girls.
It is not you when it comes to the tiny gold chains. Older West Indian men will where the top of the shirts unbuttoned so that tiny gold chains can be seen amongst grey hairs
You can always spot a West Indian based on how they dance and can often times differentiate between the Islands based on that.
Only West Indians can tell where someone is from based on their accent
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The Honorable Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele LLC, Destined for Greatness Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:06 am
“I’m not West Indian. But I feel that growing in Brooklyn and being one of few “regular black folk” qualifies me to speak.”
You are more than qualified my friend. Brooklyn cats have certified Ph.D’s on West Indians. I know you’ve sat on the stoop @ 1am just before the labor day parade watchin’ heads build floats in the middle of the street and all the other randomness that can occur living close to West Indians…
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Smiley Face Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:43 am
“Only West Indians can tell where someone is from based on their accent”
LOL, I’m only laughing because my fiancee always asks me how I know!
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wadadli365 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 12:18 pm
Agree, only Awe nuh fu suwa
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Wray and Nephew or die?!
Aww this post has got me excited for T-dot & NYC carnvial.
Due to my Jamaican upbringing I’ve never been forced to play mass but I want to this year…break the mold
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CHeeKZ Money Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:22 am
T-dot is amazing. B/c they have every culture repping their. Outside of New York, its amazing how many West Indian people move to Toronto (such a cold place).
And by NYC Carnival do you mean the Labor Day Parade down Eastern Parkway? The one that always ends in a gun shots? If you are lucky, they will be in the air. If you aren’t, its b/c someone’s puma got smudged. SMH. I wouldn’t let my kids go to that ishh. Puerto Rican Day and Dominican Day parades are waaay better.
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max Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:33 am
T-dot is amazing because it’s home of your favourite blogger??
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emti Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
hahaha what max said
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Goddess Intellect Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Hey Max, a homie sent me your link last week…love your blog!!
C’mon Labor Day parade is not that badddd…you just need to make sure you dont get too close to the Reggae float or any large swarms of Jamaicans or declare that you’re from out of town, thats alllll….ok goddammit its dangerous but I aint never scared NEVVVVAAA
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wadadli365 Reply:
July 2nd, 2011 at 12:19 pm
sorry, A PARADE is NOT A CARNIVAL, do not INSULT your “intelligence”.
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This list really beats out Volume 1. I swear RCLS took that picture himself on what he was just drinking yesterday. although I’m worried about how many stars I see on that Barbancourt (4 stars? where they do that at?)
Good LATimes article on the importance and history of Haitian Rum: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/09/world/la-fg-haiti-rum9-2010feb09
RCLS is killing with the Haitian cursing.
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The Honorable Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele LLC, Destined for Greatness Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:18 am
LOL…
I also picked up “bouzen” and “masisi” yesterday as well.
That Creole Rosetta Stone is the sh*t!!
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Oh yeah, as for the cussin’…
Add…
“Whey de arse is dis!”
“Haul yuh mudda cunt!”
to the mix.
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The Honorable Award Winning RightCoastLexSteele LLC, Destined for Greatness Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:23 am
LOL…TNT to the bone, eh?
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shicaboop Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
it’s Trini d bone……..don’t get it twisted!
Ppl from Tobago are more conservative but Trini carnival is the best because of the 2 or 3 months of partying that leads up to the actual carnival days.
If you want to know about rum just listen to Chutney music…it’s rum infused lyrics
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There’s nothing like having some Wray poured on your chest before bed to clear that congestion. What’s better is once your asleep, kinda, Pops grabs the rest of the bottle to have a few “short ones” with “Uncle Trevor” and “Pop aka Vernon” in the basement.
It’s dual purpose! Eff the sizzurp culture, they have it backwards!
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BLaCk Bruce WaYnE Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 10:58 am
Would Buckley’s also qualify as well?
With my moms being a pharmacist in the realms of East Flatbush (not to be confused with the usual street pharmacist), I’ve noticed there tends to be a high request for Buckley’s.
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Seattle Washington Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Buckley’s would qualify, but Wray’s is an overproof rum not a medicine. You can pick it up at your local grocery store along with a six of Guinness Extra Stout. Not that Draught shit.
And yeah. They poured rum on my chest and it worked better than any Tussin or Vicks ever could.
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Awwww sweet sweet Mash
don’t forget the guilt of treating someone like “maga dawg”
or telling someone to plug out the tv and close off the light
man I miss home *sigh*
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@ BBW
Yep! You are absolutely correct, Buckley’s is that ish! One bottle of Buckley’s can last for years because it’s so effective in one dose. It taste like liquid vick’s vapo-rub, but it gets the job done.
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Hilarious….one thing I would add is, I have YET to meet another carribbean person that doesn’t LOVE to make fun of people. And by love I mean most of us can make a career out of it.
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
March 24th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
“Look pon her…” “Him look seh…”
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Ahhh how i love my west indian people. Reading this list and the other comments makes me realize just how much West Indian ish i’ve come to accept as a regular part of life without even realizing that everyone doesn’t do it. lol Condense milk or carnation milk in your tea and Buckley’s when ur sick…I couldn’t even fathom any other way to handle these things. lol
Don’t forget Ferrol, or is that strictly a Guyanese thing?
On the jewelry, me and each one of my sisters own gold chains with the little crucifix since childhood, plus I got one of those bangles with my name in the block letters. I can definitely spot other West Indians by the style and type of jewelry they are wearing. I kinda pride myself on that ability lol
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Rum is life… just face reality! LMAO
and lolol at ur Creole Cussin!
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I can’t stop laughing!!!!
You forgot “sucking their teeth” or “chupsing their teeth”
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Both of my parents are from Trinidad and thanks to this post I love this blog even more. Honorable mention goes out to cuss words or phrases like, “WDMC”. Add a comma and the letter D and it becomes “What de mudda cunt, dread?” Ah, sweet T&T.
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You ain’t lied!!!
So i’m Nigerian but moved to the West Indies 3yrs ago and trust me it was a shock to say the least, but i’m loving every minute of it now. I still have trouble deciphering some lingo, so some people might think i’m being rude when i don’t respond but……
now i’m Limin hard on the strip with my rum punch every friday night, jammin to soca!
And why isn’t brightly (blinding) coloured attiration a part of this list? And Daggering? And randomly lighting a blunt before breakfast?
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i am a west indian (born and raised in toronto) and i approve this message.
(but where is pt 1?)
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