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