Marcia Jackson chases her dream

Inspired initially by Jamaican icon Louise Bennett, then later by the works of dub poets such as Mutabaruka, Malachi Smith and Linton Kwesi Johnson, Marcia Jackson has begun her journey to become a renowned dub poet herself.

Born in Portland but raised in St Elizabeth, Jackson won the Miss St Elizabeth Farm Queen competition in 1999, a year after placing second in that parish's Festival Queen competition.

And although she holds an associate degree in art from Eastern Florida State College and is currently pursuing a nursing degree at the same institution, Jackson's love for dub poetry has swayed her to that art form.

"I'm also inspired by some of the new poets on the scene, like Richie Innocent, and I am eager to make my contribution to dub poetry," she said.

Her first recorded contribution came in May 2015 when she released her debut spoken word album, Money Few.

The 10-track album, co-produced by her and Verbal Arts Production, features thought-provoking tracks such as Piece A Land, Jamaican Proverbs, and Beat This One.

"Working on the album was a tremendous experience for me as a poet," she recalled. "This is my first recorded project and I'm very happy with the response it's getting."

Faced with the perceived barrier of being a female in a male-dominated field, Jackson remains unperturbed and has made her album available on leading online music platforms, including iTunes and Amazon.