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