A Brief History of GraceKennedy Ltd. in 20th Century Jamaica with Fred W. Kennedy
Strictly Facts: A Guide to Caribbean History and Culture
06/28/23
•47m
About
Comments
Featured In
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.
There are few Caribbean-owned businesses that have withstood the test of time like GraceKennedy Ltd. has for over one century. In this episode Fred W. Kennedy, grandson of one of the original co-founders, joins Strictly Facts to discuss his family's legacy with the company from the viewpoint of his father, Luis Fred Kennedy, who led the major conglomerate for over 50 years through pre- and post-independence Jamaica, the subject of our guest's new book Firstborn: The Life of Luis Fred Kennedy 1908-1982.
Fred W. Kennedy was born and raised in Jamaica. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and a Master and Doctor of Education from the University of Toronto. After thirty years of serving as an educator and principal, Fred turned to writing Jamaican historical fiction. He is the author of Daddy Sharpe (2008) (the story of Jamaica’s National Hero, Samuel Sharpe) and Huareo (2015) (the story of a Jamaican Taino cacique). Firstborn is his first published work of nonfiction. He wrote his father’s biography “to celebrate the relationship of love and trust that we shared” and as “a tribute to him in praise of his contributions to the national development of Jamaica.” Fred remains connected to the company as Chairman of the GraceKennedy Foundation, which funds educational, environmental and health initiatives in Jamaica. His interests and hobbies include Caribbean history and literature, cycling, tennis, travelling, boating and fishing. He and his wife Georgianne share their time between his native Jamaica and adopted Canada, where their three daughters and families reside.
Connect with Strictly Facts - Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | WebsiteLooking to read more about the topics covered in this episode? Subscribe to the newsletter at www.strictlyfactspod.com to get the Strictly Facts Syllabus to your email!
Want to Support Strictly Facts?
- Rate & Leave a Review on your favorite platform
- Share this episode with someone or online and tag us
- Send us a DM or voice note to have your thoughts featured on an upcoming episode
- Donate to help us continue empowering listeners with Caribbean history and education
Produced by Breadfruit Media
Previous Episode
Caribbean Music, History and Social Justice with Dr. Danielle Brown
June 14, 2023
•39m
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.
Celebrate Caribbean-American Heritage Month and Black Music Month with Strictly Facts this June as Dr. Danielle Brown joins the show for a discussion on Caribbean music and its capacity for influencing education and building social change that spans from the shores of Trinidad and Tobago, with a brief history of Parang, to the Caribbean diaspora.
Danielle Brown, Ph.D. is a multi-disciplinary artist-scholar and entrepreneur. She is the Founder and CEO of My People Tell Stories, LLC, a company based on the premise that people of color in particular, and marginalized people in general, need to tell and interpret their own stories. Brown is the author of the music-centered ethnographic memoir, East of Flatbush, North of Love: An Ethnography of Home, and the companion Teacher Guidebook. Brown advocates for social justice in music and uses the arts to educate people on the history and culture of the Caribbean and African diaspora at large. For more information, visit: www.mypeopletellstories.com. Follow Danielle on Instagram and Facebook.
Connect with Strictly Facts - Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | WebsiteLooking to read more about the topics covered in this episode? Subscribe to the newsletter at www.strictlyfactspod.com to get the Strictly Facts Syllabus to your email!
Want to Support Strictly Facts?
- Rate & Leave a Review on your favorite platform
- Share this episode with someone or online and tag us
- Send us a DM or voice note to have your thoughts featured on an upcoming episode
- Donate to help us continue empowering listeners with Caribbean history and education
Produced by Breadfruit Media
Next Episode
Strictly Facts' Summer World Heritage Sites Recommendations
July 12, 2023
•8m
Send us a text message and tell us your thoughts.
Looking for somewhere new to travel to this summer while still learning something new about the region? Check out our recommendations for some of UNESCO's well-preserved World Heritage Sites in the Caribbean, where history, culture, nature, biodiversity, and legacy all come together. See the full list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites here. Be sure to let us know on social media if you plan on visiting any of these sites this summer!
Connect with Strictly Facts - Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | WebsiteLooking to read more about the topics covered in this episode? Subscribe to the newsletter at www.strictlyfactspod.com to get the Strictly Facts Syllabus to your email!
Want to Support Strictly Facts?
- Rate & Leave a Review on your favorite platform
- Share this episode with someone or online and tag us
- Send us a DM or voice note to have your thoughts featured on an upcoming episode
- Donate to help us continue empowering listeners with Caribbean history and education
Produced by Breadfruit Media
If you like this episode you’ll love
Promoted