Book Title: The Manley Memoirs

Author: Beverley Manley

Publishers: Ian Randle

Reviewer: Shernett Robinson

The Manley memoirs is a must-read. Not so much because it is written by one of Jamaica's most popular women, radio personality Beverley Anderson Manley, but because the issues raised and dealt with - with much candour - relates to Jamaicans spanning all spectra of the society.

From the little girl in the rented houses in sections of east Kingston, Rollington Town and Franklyn Town - areas described starkly of stinking drains and sewage comingled with the sweet nectar of mangoes, and the ever-present Jeyes and Dettol - to the fairy tale of marrying her knight in shining armour - Anderson Manley has lived the dream of every black Jamaican girl.

The memoirs chronicle the life of a typical Jamaican child in a family so much like the one next door, with a mother who is bent on providing a better life for her children and takes the route of education - a case of deferred dreams being realised through her children.

Anderson Manley spoke of a mother who was not the easiest of parents, but was the best of parents. The recurrent theme of a father who had various 'sweethearts' and a love for alcohol and a pay cheque that may reach home - if mamma has her way, speaks to real issues and realistic resolutions to these issues. But the most important lesson taught and learned is the strength of a woman.

Mrs Esmine Pearson Anderson taught her children (girls especially) financial independence and to be unapologetic about it ... "Looking back on my mother's life, the most extraordinary thing about her was her determination to be financially independent. She always told us that in addition to marrying a man who can support us, we girls should eventually own a house in our name ..."

While we are pleased that Anderson Manley has proven to be a strong black woman who has not disappointed her mother in that regard, the meat of the matter is her relationship, marriage, divorce and life with one of Jamaica's more beloved, if not the most - politician and a political giant in the history of the region - Michael Manley.

Her relationship, which spans one of the most volatile and controversial decades of Jamaica's political life, spoke of her love for this man, her love of country and a belief in a struggle for the rights of the Jamaican people - a belief she shared with her husband. Those of us who were children in the seventies have fleeting and sometimes warped view of that period, but through this book are able to see with some dispassion, a period when so much happened; the revolution in women's rights, the rights of every Jamaican and a sense of pride have been captured and celebrated.

Manley the husband

Even her relation with Manley created much stir. The fourth wife of an ageing playboy, who has lived a colourful personal life very publicly, Anderson Manley had all the cards stacked against her from the get go. Despite her exposure in the United Kingdom and her job at the now defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, she wall ill-prepared for life with Michael Manley, 17 years her senior. From the social inadequacies ... "I watched him as he slowly picked up an escargot with the odd cutlery. I followed suit. But with my best efforts, as I tentatively attempted to squeeze the odd apparatus and grasp the escargot with its tentacles, the escargot slipped out ... it simply took flight ending up across the table ..." to the sometimes cruel criticism from her own peers, she had her work cut out for her. Naively, she believed love was enough.

'trophy wife'

Anderson Manley was also considered the 'trophy wife' for Michael Manley, who it is believed helped to rekindle what many had considered a dying political career; he was unable to connect with the masses.

Having a wife who looked like the mass of the people endeared the 'white' man to Jamaicans in an almost hero-worshipping crescendo that has never been duplicated by other politician in the history of Jamaica. To the people, Manley was suddenly 'black'... "he used to say if there was anything he could do to become black, like the majority of Jamaicans, he would ... "

Anderson Manley spoke frankly of the infidelity of her husband and the constant rumours swirling about of his relationships with women, some in their immediate circle, the confirmation and her final acceptance that her prince indeed has feet of clay. She spoke with candour and without malice of her decision to stop being committed to her marriage. The affair with D.K. Duncan, the subsequent break-up of the marriage with Manley and the moving on are issues many women - across all social classes - can relate to.

the activist

It is so easy to be caught up in the fairytale romance, the loss of innocence and what must have been 'exciting times' in Anderson Manley's life. But that should not be over shadowed by Manley, the social activist.

Anderson Manley's love of country is most obvious in how she used her office of 'First Lady' to push for women's affairs and the plight of working class women in this country. She spoke with pride of large masses of women being given jobs for the first time and being able to empower themselves to be better providers in homes oftentimes devoid of male influence/support.

lobbying efforts

But it was through her lobbying efforts for early childhood education - a seed planted by Dudley D.R.B. Grant, the father of the movement, that she was able to assert her influence as the prime minister's wife. Through her office she was able to take the message of the importance of early childhood education across Jamaica and got to know the women in particular. It was through hers and others' efforts that the Jamaica House Basic School was built - a model school, to be replicated across the country.

find their own space

Anderson Manley showed many Jamaican women that they should not be defined by their men, but must find their own space and work at it. Despite being married to one of the most powerful men, she ensured that she became an educated independent woman, whose life was an example for so many young Jamaican women to emulate.

Lessons, I imagine, she learned at the foot of her mother, Esmine Pearson Anderson.

Beverley Manley, (left) writer of 'The Manley Memoirs' chats with guest speaker, Dr Glenda Simms at the launch of the book at Jamaica House, in St Andrew on Sunday, June 1. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer