| Over the past several decades, close to a million | | | | various concerts & parties, J'ouvert in the early |
| Jamaicans have emigrated, especially to the United | | | | morning hours on Labor Day; and later on Labor Day |
| States, the United Kingdom and Canada. This | | | | Monday, the various mas camps 'broke out & whine' |
| emigration appears to have been tapering off | | | | for the Judges' panel in front of the Brooklyn |
| somewhat in recent years, however the great | | | | Museum. |
| number of Jamaicans living abroad has become | | | | In Toronto, the Jamaican community makes up |
| known as the "Jamaican diaspora". Due to | | | | nearly 7% of the city's 2.5 million people, and includes |
| Commonwealth law and Jamaica's history with Great | | | | a Little Jamaica neighbourhood. Other Caribbean areas |
| Britain, most Jamaican emigrants have followed a | | | | in the city are located in York, Scarborough and |
| path first to the UK, and then if they do not remain | | | | Rexdale. The Jamaican community influences the city |
| in the UK, on to other Commonwealth countries such | | | | in a huge way. The world's largest festival, called |
| as Canada. Today that trend has changed with more | | | | Caribana (the celebration of Caribbean culture) is an |
| Jamaican emigrants going directly to the United | | | | annual event here. Jamaica Day is in July and the |
| States, Canada, other Caribbean nations, Central & | | | | Jesus in the City Parade attracts many Jamaican |
| South America, and even Africa (most notably Egypt | | | | Christians. This festival is held downtown every |
| and Ethiopia) without having to pass through the UK | | | | September, shutting down Yonge street - the |
| first. | | | | busiest main street in downtown Toronto. Reggae |
| Concentrations of expatriate Jamaicans are large in a | | | | and Gospel now have made it into Toronto's |
| number of cities in the United States, including New | | | | mainstream. |
| York City, the Miami metro area, Atlanta, Orlando, | | | | London has a strong Jamaican diaspora. Close to 4% |
| Tampa, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. In | | | | of Londoners are of Jamaican heritage. Many are |
| Canada, the Jamaican population is centred in | | | | now at least second if not third or fourth generation |
| Toronto; in the United Kingdom, Jamaican | | | | Black British Caribbeans. Also a further 2% of people |
| communities exist in most large cities where they | | | | in London are of mixed Jamaican and British origin, |
| make up the larger part of the British | | | | the largest mixed race group of the country and the |
| African-Caribbean community. | | | | fastest growing. This is testimony to how well |
| New York City is home to the largest Jamaican | | | | integrated the Jamaicans are into London and British |
| diaspora community of all, with a large community | | | | society . One of the largest and most famous |
| along Flatbush, Nostrand and Utica Avenues in | | | | Jamaican ex-pat communities is in Brixton, South |
| Brooklyn—centred around the | | | | London. More large Jamaican communities in London |
| neighbourhoods of Prospect Heights, Lefferts | | | | are Tottenham and Hackney in North London, |
| Gardens, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Crown Heights, | | | | Harlesden in North-West London, and Lewisham in |
| Canarsie, and Flatlands. The Bronx, Queens and | | | | South-East London. The highest concentration of |
| Westchester also has a significant Jamaican ex-pat | | | | Jamaicans are in the Inner-city South London |
| community. Flatbush, Nostrand, and Utica Avenues | | | | boroughs. Other Jamaican communities include the |
| feature miles of Jamaican cuisine, food markets & | | | | areas of St Pauls and Easton in Bristol, Chapeltown in |
| other businesses, nightlife and residential enclaves. | | | | Leeds, Moss Side in Manchester, Toxteth in Liverpool, |
| Throughout the summer months of June, July, | | | | Burngreave in Sheffield and Handsworth in |
| August and early September, there are a variety of | | | | Birmingham More recently many resort and wild-life |
| plays, dance performances concerts, festivals | | | | management skilled Jamaicans have been trending |
| representing Jamaican & Caribbean culture; and | | | | emigration toward such far-flung nations as Thailand, |
| culminates during the last week in August leading up | | | | Madagascar and Indonesia. The nation continues to |
| to Labor Day Monday in September with the Parade | | | | have a severe problem with barrel children--those left |
| Carnival along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. Events | | | | on their own by parents seeking a better life abroad. |
| include a Children's Parade, Steel Pan competition, | | | | |