In Land of My Birth: A Historical Sketch of the First Forty Years of the People's National Party of Jamaica, Leroy E. Cooke, a patriot, revisits the history of his country and pens an engrossing narrative that showcases the journey of the first forty years of the first political party in the country, the People’s National Party. While this narrative explores how the party was born, its mission, its leadership, and the challenges it has faced over the years, it is also a story of a people, a tale of independence and pioneering leadership. It is a story of discrimination and injustices orchestrated on the poor Jamaicans by the white minority. I have known about Jamaica only through music — thanks to Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff — but what I knew about this country was very superficial, until I stumbled on this book.
Leroy E. Cooke’s book is packed with information, and while it takes readers through some of the most important moments in the country’s history, it allows the reader to feel the scars of the Jamaican people, to visit its locales, and to feel the soul of its people. The author has a great sense of history and leaves the reader in no doubt that this book is well-researched. It features powerful references — speeches, newspaper clippings, journals, and other historic works. Land of My Birth: A Historical Sketch of the First Forty Years of the People's National Party of Jamaica examines the work of the first political party and unveils the challenges that must be overcome to move the country into the future. This is an invaluable tool for politicians, patriots, and anyone who wants to know more about Jamaica. Apart from being a fascinating history, it is a work that reveals the culture of the people.