Presidential candidate Joe Biden announced his choice of Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the first Black woman and the first person of Jamaican and Indian descent to be nominated for national office by a major party. Today, Boardlane TV is on location in a large Jamaican community in West Palm Beach, Florida to get reactions from Jamaicans on the street.

Boardlane TV: Good afternoon, sir. You are live on TV. We want to know how do you feel about Kamala Harris being America’s first potential black VP?

Desmond: To tell yuh di troot mi proud seh a fellow yaadie get di VP pick enoh. But as yuh dun know, Jamaicans will endorse anyting Jamaican – a coulda wan toe nail! Mi jus hope shi wear wan a dem plaid bandana skirt and tie up har head wid di flag a di convention fi big up wi culture. An from now on… State dinna haffi have jerk fowl and nuff Red stripe. A soh di ting set!

Boardlane TV: (smile) Good thoughts. Thank you. How about you miss? How do you feel about this pick, given that she is of Jamaican descent?

Carmen: (Cheering) Browns Town St. Ann to be exact! BRAP, BRAP!! Jamaica to the worlllll!! Issa good look. Yeah! Since wi cyaan get ridda di blasted Covid inna Florida, might as well wi get some good news fi a change. PAMELA TO DI WORRRLL wi seh!!!!!

Boardlane TV: (interrupting) Actually her name is “Kamala”

Carmen: (KMT) Lady, Kamala …Pamela …same difference! Shi a wan a wi! Wi noh watch name.

Boardlane TV: I hear you. Ok, let me get to another by-stander. Sir we are asking about the news that Joe Biden picked Mrs. Harris for VP. What do you think about that?

Gerry: Sistren, troo mi is a man weh love my Sunday rice and peas, mi was rooting fi di Rice lady enoh but Kamala is not a bad pick still. Shi tough like rackstone an it look like if yuh noh mine sharp shi wi tell Pence bout im klaat an mek im bawl feem mumma. Biden can put di Rice lady as secretary of di State of di Union.

Boardlane TV: (confused) Say what now? Secretary of the what?

Gerry: Of di State of di Union, mam. Shi woulda do good deh soh. Mi firmly believe dat!

Boardlane TV: Alright then. There is no such post but thanks for your comments, anyway. Let’s hear from you young man. What’s your take on the VP pick just announced?

Spoogy: Let mi speak to di current VP. (Clears throat) Mike Pence… COME GWOPE! Yuh days numbered bredrin! Kamala ago wipe di floor wid yuh bombawt top lip an sink yuh balls wid har 5 inch pike heel boot. Rasta, yuh noh waan face aff wid dis yah killa spider name Kamala. (Laughing) RUN PENCE!! DITCH PUTIN B!TCH AN RUN FI YUH LIFE!!

Boardlane TV: (Laughs) Very funny sir. Thanks for chatting with us. Let’s get in one more comment. Miss, can give our viewers your true feelings about the Biden/Harris ticket?

Dorris: Lady, mi soh glad Biden kill two bud wid wan stone – im pick a woman an shi black. Mi did a set feem backside if im neva do dat yuh si … caah as yuh well know, a promise is nutten but a comfat to a blastid fool!

Boardlane TV: You didn’t trust that he would pick a woman as he stated?

Dorris: NO SAH! Yuh know how dem can mek pramise an den dem tun round pull di wool ova yuh yiye. Wos like how mi did have a dream seh im did pick Bernie Sanders an di two a dem ketch a big stroke right before the convention an wi neva have a soul fi run gainst Trump. Mi jump outta mi sleep same time. Lady, like how fi mi heart weak… dat dream siddung pan mi head fi days! Mi noh tap fret yuh sheg!

Boardlane TV: Wow! That sounds like a heck of a nightmare. So there you have it folks. You heard it from the people on the streets. Seems to be a lot of enthusiasm around Harris as a potential VP. It’s now on to the battle for the White house. Until next time, this is Wendy reporting. Have a pleasant day.

© Written by Joelle C. Wright June 12, 2020

Books by the author:
“A Soh Wi Do It!”
 “A Soh It Goh!”
“A Soh Dem Gwaan!”
“A Soh Life Goh”