OUR PEACE OF HISTORY
Promoting Peace through the Arts
This is a unique project that brings together youths and elders to
produce exciting nuggets, adding much needed voices and colour to the
body of Britain's historic works - and by extension, works across the
globe.
Archer Publishing 2009 is honoured that "Life According
to Maas Roy" is the 1st production by this
extraordinary,
visionary project.
This book has exploded onto the world market like none other - and
continues to blast holes in what you thought you knew and felt plus add
a twist of sharpness and spice to the bittersweet tales it tells of the
intertwined history of Britain and Jamaica.
So if you're interested in military
stories, need to understand how a Black man ended up in Cyprus, are
looking for a gift that reflects Black History, wondered whether Black
men make good single parents, how the underdogs of the world can
achieve success and help develop their community - and more - then this
is a publication that's worthy of a spot on your bookshelf. And of
course, it makes a great gift.
Co-authored by a dynamic father and
daughter team, "Life According
to
Maas Roy" marks
The 50th anniversary of the official
end to the conflict in Cyprus
Claudia Jones' establishment of what
was to become London's Notting Hill Carnival
The 20th year since Maas Roy's return
to Jamaica
And the year that saw the 1st
ever Black US president in living memory
From a man who only recieved 7 years of education, this
is an exceptionally enjoyable read for all age groups and levels of
literacy.
You'll be amazed at how you've been moved by and between such a
mind-boggling range of topics. You'll be left with endless topics for
discussion and will surely want to buy copies of "Life
According
to
Maas Roy" as gifts for family and friends!
"Life
According to Maas Roy" tells that story --
and much more.
Young Stanley Roy Archer's hopes don't come to pass because the mother
country has an entirely different set of plans for him. He's drafted
into National Service for her majesty's armed forces - but of course,
there is another option: go to jail!
This master griot tells how he's sent to the conflict in Cyprus and
serves along the notorious Murder Mile. He survives and on his return
to Civvy Street, he falls in love, marries -- and ends up being the
type
of strong Black father we rarely hear about, raising his daughter
alone. What happens to them and how does he cope? Herein lies a
valuable insight into parenting.
Eventually, he returns to his homeland - Jeffrey Town, St Mary in
Jamaica - but with no plans to retire. He's a man of the soil and can't
wait to plough the land. Here is a new world farmer who has agriculture
in his blood and is driven to live off the land. And knowing that
he has come to own the very land his father worked on - almost
like a slave - only brings further pride and joy.
But with a gross level of poverty staring him in the face each day, the
man who is to become 'Maas Roy' decides that he needs to work with the
community in a very hands-on capacity. He shares his vision of
community development with fellow villagers and is able to vastly
improve on the basic facilities and infrastructure they'd been forced
to endure since he was a child. Why, in 1989, should the tiniest
child still have to fetch water from the river before leaving for
school? It was time to tackle the Jamaican Water Commission and any
other official body that stood in the way of progress for Maas
Roy's neglected community.
Today, as he fast approaches the age of 80, Maas Roy loves to
remind one and all that he's now on borrowed time as he's long past
three score and ten. However, he still stands tall amongst his
community and donates an incredible level of energy to make his
and their vision of progress a reality.
"Life According
to
Maas Roy"
IBSN 978-0-9563334-0-7
AVAILABLE FROM:
Waterstones, Islington Green | Tel:
020
7704 2280
The Big Green Bookshop, Wood Green |
Tel:
020 8881 6767
