Dr. A-L Tells: What to Read & Watch- Lionheart Gal: Life Stories of Jamaican Women

Welcome to my blog series Dr. A-L Tells: What to Read & Watch, where I get to share with you some of my favourite finds from books, films, & other gems that resonated with me so deeply I just had to write about them! In each post, I’ll keep it short & sweet with a 500-word-ish review of something I’ve recently read or watched, often centring Black people, identity, & diverse experiences around the globe.

This series mixes my personal reflections, feelings, & academic insights to offer a fresh take on stories that capture the richness & complexity of Black voices worldwide. I’m here to explore the layers of culture, history, & identity while unpacking how these narratives hit home for me on both intellectual & emotional levels. So, whether you’re in the mood for a thoughtful analysis or just a solid recommendation, I hope each post brings a quick but meaningful spark to your day! ✨

In this post, I dive into Lionheart Gal: Life Stories of Jamaican Women (2005) by Sistren with Honor Ford-Smith.

---

I first came across Lionheart Gal in Jamaica, & the title immediately caught my attention. In many ways, this book provided the context I needed for my experiences in Jamaica, especially the time I spent in the countryside. It became a lens through which I could better understand the people & places I encountered.

The book is mainly written in patwa/patois, which took me a little while to get used to- but soon enough, I was captivated by it. The rawness, honesty, emotion, & vivid descriptions transported me into the lives of each woman whose story was shared. It wasn’t just a collection of narratives- it was an archive of oral histories, preserved in print. I felt as though I was listening to these women speak directly to me, offering life lessons & wisdom with every turn of the page.

What struck me most was how Lionheart Gal encapsulated the essence of Jamaica. It delves into historical events, personal circumstances, & recurring patterns- such as migration to the bigger towns & cities, finishing school early, the complexities of motherhood, & the concept of the theatre company Sistren, to which each of the women sharing their stories belong. The power of such narratives is undeniable; each chapter title reflected something profound, & I loved how each one had its own story to tell.

The introduction & afterword were incredibly useful as they framed the broader context of the book. They helped me see the connections between generations, particularly my own. The stories made me reflect on how life might have been for my grandparents- or even further back- had they stayed in Jamaica. It gave me new insight into the experiences of Jamaican women through their eyes- an understanding I never would’ve achieved by simply observing from the outside.

The glossary at the end was another highlight. It offered a deeper look at how language evolves & how patwa/patois has become a significant part of English slang. It was a familiar feeling, one that resonated with me, especially as it influences youth culture. As I read, I recognised places I had visited during my time in Jamaica, & suddenly, the stories felt even more intimate & real.

I also gained a deeper understanding of Sistren- women deeply engaged in cultural work through theatre- via my involvement in the “Groundings with My Sisters” event, which I mention in this post. That event was a turning point for me, revealing the deep entrenchment of race, class, sexuality, & gender in Jamaica. The book offers an unflinching look at the binary that (once & perhaps still) separates the working class (typically dark-skinned Blackness, poverty, teenage pregnancy, dependency on men) from the middle class (whiteness, lightness/racial ambiguity, independence, opportunity) in Jamaica. It made me wonder: where would I fit?

Lionheart Gal is more than just a book. It’s a gift- raw, honest, emotional- a vital piece of oral history that should be passed down through generations. It’s a bridge connecting us to our Jamaican grandmothers, mothers, aunties, & beyond. It reminds us of our Jamaican-ness in all its forms, grounding us in our roots, no matter how disconnected we may sometimes feel from them.

You can buy your copy of Lionheart Gal here now!