Orville Taylor | North Street: Past instructing present and future

Blame my parents, St Patrick’s Primary and certainly North Street, starting with St George’s College (STGC), and you will understand why I embrace anything that is for the betterment of the population on the whole. A simple motto, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, ‘For The Greater Glory Of God’, it set a framework upon which not just individual, but public resources must be based. Enhancing others’ lives is consistent with the Christian principles of nation building.

Doubtless, this pre-emancipation newspaper has already sealed its place in history. However, two institutions, one emerging from out of the other, have been carrying on a mandate, not written by man but expressed through great men.

To deny its greatness, during the centenary of the founding of Kingston College (KC), would require a level of hypocrisy, even beyond the capacity of political tribalists. This institution, the brainchild of Bishop Percival Gibson and his sister, came from his experience as a student at STGC. Gibson was acutely aware of the high degree of stratification and the legacy of slavery, which kept the majority of the population relegated to positions of inferiority. Building on the Georgian principle of looking out for your fellow man, an entire institution was established, which offered greater opportunities and widened the scope for boys from his own background.

MISUNDERSTOOD

Often misunderstood by sycophants who miss the larger and more profound message from Gibson, some totally take their school’s motto to be the basis for ego tripping and one-upmanship. Far from that Gibson’s philosophy, the founding principles of KC were not simply that men should be strong and unrelenting when they fall, and thus should always rise again ( Fortis Cadere, Cedere Non Potest), but underlying that fortitude must be a good purpose. In that regard, Gibson never strayed from his original roots; because, not only was it important to be strong and unrelenting, but most significant, it should be the use of that strength and energy to uplift either one’s generation or the generation after. Therefore, kudos to the KC ‘man dem’, who pour their hearts and energy into ensuring that not only that the school maintains a prominent place, but that current and future boys, and therefore the rest of Jamaica, benefits.

It is fortuitous and pleasantly coincidental that both STGC and KC celebrate milestones in 2025.

Some KC people are extreme in their love for their alma mater and wear purple at times when it would seem inappropriate. Indeed, there are a few who found ways of wearing violet, lilac or lavender, at a sporting event simply because a great Olympian like Davian Clarke was running at an international track meet in Jamaica.

Events for KC are well publicised, in true fortis fashion, and last week, I somehow had the impression that some parochialist STGC old boys were following the same kind of behaviour and were wearing light blue and white.

Just imagine my shock and deep consternation, when was hit with the realisation that the T-shirts and other delicate light blue and white garb were in homage to a foreigner, who is admittedly one of the greatest ever to play the game of soccer. But he was playing against Cavalier, a Jamaican team; a team with a lot of young men, with aspirations of playing in the black, gold and green. Messi, a homophonic coincidence of the state of affairs, is an icon and a crowd draw. However, no one needed an altar on which to worship this idol, when a little encouragement and celebration of the brave youth who against all odds, put up the kind of fight that made North Street footballers legendary.

With the ISSA Girls and Boys’ Athletic Championships just a week away, it is critically important for us during the 175th anniversary of STGC, the KC 100th, and interestingly also the centennial of the last time STGC won Champs, that we use the past to instruct the present and the future. Do not be mistaken! I have zero problems with football fans turning up at the stadium to watch the great Lionel Messi. But then, what kind of man or woman for that matter, celebrates a goal by anyone at all, against a sporting organisation, homegrown and populated by domestic players?

BIT OF HISTORY

Well, here is a little bit of history for you, and a demonstration of how we need to blend admiration for foreign heroes and Jamaican national pride.

Messi is not the greatest. And we had the greatest grace our stadium. Edson Arantes do Nascimiento the ‘Black Pearl’, Pele, made his last visit here as a player in 1975 for the New York Cosmos. That was 50 years ago, we can celebrate that too.

Yet, four years earlier, he came, representing the famous Santos, who Jamaicans idolised so much that we named a team, based not too far from Cavalier, after these Brazilians.

In similar fashion as the Cavalier men played last week, with great pride and did not give Messi too many chances, so did our Santos in 1971 as The Pearl dribbled and kept them busy.

In his final minutes on the pitch, Pele got loose and was heading to goal. But defender Billy Perkins did not see the Brazilian’s name in the Bible or his image on the cross. Determined not to be humiliated by the King’s wizardry, or pick up a ‘salad’, Perkins tackled him as if he stole something from his backyard. And just like that, Pearl’s appearance became a cameo.

Perkins is an old boy of both STGC and KC.

As we use history to connect the past with the present and future, I must commend STGC for its ‘Pioneers of Tomorrow: A Knight’s Dialogue’ series of speakers who return to inspire the current students and others, from all schools in the general vicinity. On March 25, there is Jason Sharpe of Cafe Blue, the first in the chain.

We have enough heroes to emulate; my only light blue is from North Street.

Dr Orville Taylor is senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology at The University of the West Indies, a radio talk-show host, and author of ‘Broken Promises, Hearts and Pockets’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and tayloronblackline@hotmail.com.