29/03/2024
My person of the week Ramon BigHouse Henry
Last night, I finally decided to watch “ The Last Dance,” a documentary about Michael Jordan's journey to the top of the NBA mountain. As I sat there in amazement, many memories flashed in my mind. I recalled enjoying basketball in the 1990s following Steph and Chandi (two of my children who played basketball) and the Chicago Bulls. I became a fan of the game.
When I entered this country in New York, Michael Jordan was the newcomer, the top player in the NBA. Entering from New York, however, there was a more significant buzz about a young Jamaican player named “The Patrick Ewing,” who I was forced to watch over Michael Jordan. Heck! A young Jamaican in a city of Jamaicans? Pride!! Both players were newcomers with high expectations of success in the NBA.
Over the years, I fully supported two kinds of individuals or teams: an underdog and a newcomer. I don’t bet because I generally lose. Instead, if I win on the newcomer or the underdog, I settle with feeling internally fulfilled. It’s probably the reason I watch every Clippers game. I love the team and hope they win a championship, but they never do. Frankly, I must admit, I am a broken man when that team loses when I expect them to win. That’s been going on for thirty-plus years. The team just can’t get over the hump.
I hope I set that up the right way, and you will be able to follow my story from here. I am sure you know by now that I grew up humbly in Oracabessa, St Mary. Several families are unforgettable because they were neighbors, friends, and schoolmates; others are people you hold in high regard. Errol “Bulby” Henry, Mr. Puttoo Henry's son, was one who, most of us as boys, regarded highly. He left the town and became a soldier and always remembered us as kids upon his return weekly. We were proud to see him come home driving a JDF Lorry with other young men on board who looked up to him as their superior. Those were times we looked at Bulby with reverence. We still do.
About two years ago, I met his son; no one needed to tell me that it was Bulby’s son because he resembled my nephew, as I remembered him at that age. They are brothers. The reason he caught my eye was not because of the resemblance to my nephew but because he was doing something I hadn’t seen in Oracabessa for a long time. He truly loved to advance children and spent much time with them: farming, volunteering, teaching, coaching, and constantly speaking to them. His Name is Ramon Henry. He calls himself “Bighouse”.
With all that, he felt he could better serve the youth and the community if he became their political representative. I believe it was then that my “newcomer” interest kicked in. I followed everything he posted on Facebook to understand who he was as a community leader, but more so, what type of politician he would become.
As the days, weeks, months, and years rolled, he intensified his work, coaching football and track and field and putting his students first to give them hope and advance their exposure. In the fall of last year, I noted he put himself up for political office; he would run in the upcoming local government elections recently held. Frankly, I was proud of this young man to know he was bold enough to take that step. I continued to follow him.
Ramon is a newcomer and an underdog because he is not the incumbent. However, his strategy and his work in the community paid off. The people of Oracabessa elected him as their new councilman. He won the election convincingly over the other candidate.
Watching the Last Dance with Michael Jordan last night helped me write this article on Ramon. When Michael first entered the NBA, his teammates took some time before they believed that this newcomer, one man, could change the losing culture of the Chicago Bulls. He did. If Ramon continues his work in his community, understands his role as a political representative, continues to change lives, and becomes more knowledgeable of his role as a people leader, he will succeed beyond his vision.
My internal fulfillment is in high mode. The Clippers haven’t won a championship yet, but Ramon Bighouse Henry gave me hope in believing in more newcomers and the underdogs. Thanks, Brighouse.
