Leave Fae Ellington alone

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I see many Jamaicans cursing Ms Fae Ellington for her commentary on the disgusting lyrics on the Hill and Gully Riddim.

Sadly, many people are illiterate and ignorant as to who Fae Ellington is and the role she has played in upholding Jamaica's culture.

Ms Fae Ellington is a distinguished journalist, broadcaster, actress, cultural icon with a career spanning over four decades, and has received numerous awards for her contribution to Jamaica's culture. She is one of Jamaica's most astute contributors to Jamaica's culture. She has not just performed, she has protected and continues to protect what we hold dearly as culture and heritage.

She has advocated for the right for a place for the Jamaican Patois, a language which many deem degrading and backward.

She has mentored many young Jamaicans and acted in numerous cultural roots performances. She embodies and lifts up our cultural traditions with elegance and strength.

To the illiterate and ignorant who seem to think she has no place to speak on the nastiness and vulgarity that has been sadly mistaken for "culture", please educate your ignorance and illiteracy.

Ms Fae Ellington is a Jamaican cultural icon who has a place beside greats such as Louise Bennett, Ranny Williams, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley, Glen Campbell, Edna Manley, among others.

If anyone has the right to speak up about the nastiness and disrespect shown to a song which was long seen as a part of our culture and heritage, Fae Ellington has earned that right.

I doubt any of those who are critical of her commentary will ever make Jamaicans or Jamaica proud in the manner she has done. Long before the nastiness, vulgarity and lewdness in dirty lyrics and behaviour, there has been a Fae Ellington.

Big up yuh self, Ms Fae Ellington, Order of Distinction.

M.B.