PUM PUM SPEAK©
sounding off with the posse
WRITTEN IN RESPONSE TO THE CONTINUING CENSORING OF OUR GROUP'S NAME
TO: THE EDITOR
THE GLEANER COMPANY LIMITED, NORTH STREET, KINGST0N.
December 8, 2002
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUM PUM AND
PUNANY
by SANDRA JOY ALCOTT, Attorney-at-Law
Pray tell me, what
is the difference between Pum Pum and Punany? Correct me if I am wrong, but
both terms as far as I am aware, are Jamaican euphemisms for the female
genitalia, the vagina. Is it that ‘Pum Pum’ is rawer, dirtier and nastier than
‘Punany’? In the article, ‘Off the page: poetry steps into the limelight’,
written by Tanya Batson, published in the Sunday Gleaner, December 8, 2002, the
P… P… Posse is mentioned. I am the founder of the Pum Pum Posse, a poetry group
that explores ALL issues relating to human sexuality, including child abuse,
incest and rape. The same article mentions the Punany Poets, an American based
group who will be coming to Jamaica this month to perform here for the first
time, with special guests, the Pum Pum Posse. The Punany Poets, through erotic
poetry, promotes safe sex and communication between couples. The group’s
founder, Jessica Holter, was motivated by the death of rapper EZ, who died of
AIDS, his death jolting the hip hop community.
For the most part, our own society turns a blind eye to sexual transgressions,
preferring to focus on raw sexuality or homophobic utterances in various
arenas. In my poem, ‘The Good Wife’, I explore various issues including spousal
abuse, infidelity, child abuse, drug abuse and AIDS. The poem, based on true
events, speaks of the good wife’s involvement with a renowned musician from whom
she contracted AIDS. The musician died receiving tremendous accolades for his
wonderful contribution to the Jamaican music industry. The fact that he was a
victim to AIDS remains unspoken. It is this silence that is helping to spread
the virus with devastating consequences. I have performed the poem on several
occasions. For the most part it is ignored. At the time I wrote and performed
the poem I was unaware that the molested child referred to, had also contracted
AIDS. I am told that she died in August of this year.
Yes, as the article confirms, the Pum Pum Posse does portray erotic material and
we do far more than that. As usual, the audience, (including those who have
neither seen nor heard performances) choose to tune in to erotica, often missing
the important messages that are being given.
Why the double standards? In the article ‘The changing face of poetry’, written
by MEL, the group name ‘Pum Pum Posse’ was published in full in the Star,
September 6, 2002. Yet, the Gleaner article of the same date, written by Mel
Cooke, headlined its article ‘PPP swoons on the Love Boat’ and referred in its
entirety to the P… P…. Posse. The censoring of the name of my group has caused
other media houses to follow suit. On a subsequent radio interview I was not
allowed to use the term ‘pum pum’, even in reference to my group. (On previous
occasions I had interviews on the same station that allowed me to use the term
‘pum pum’. My interviewer referred to the Gleaner article of September 6 as the
reason for the change in policy.) In the same interview I was permitted to say
‘punany’ and ‘vagina’ with reference to the poetic movements of the same name.
‘The Vagina Monologues’ by Eve Ensler has been broadcast via various media
internationally with no censorship whatsoever of the word ‘vagina’. So again, I
ask the question, why the double standards. Is it that although ‘punany’ is a
Jamaican word, the poetry group has its origins in America and, consequently,
American endorsement therefore rendering the word ‘punany’ acceptable? If the
Pum Pum Posse came out of the United States would ‘pum pum’ then also be
acceptable?
Further, Ms. Batson made reference to Hedonism’s ‘decision to use local talent
for the evening [of sensual poetry held in August], rather than import a group
such as the Punany Poets’. To the contrary, the Punany Poets WILL be performing
at Hedonism 111 in December, 2002, as well as in Ocho Rios and Kingston, and
they will also be conducting a series of workshops there as part of their Love
Industry tour.
What is crystal clear to me is that Jamaica is one of those societies where the
majority prefers to ignore the ugly side of sexuality and, at the same time, is
afraid to embrace and acknowledge the sexual beauty of its own people. The
incidences of sexual abuse in various forms are condoned and perpetuated through
silence. Spirituality and sexuality are the core forces of creation
When the Church and society recognize this, then perhaps our people will be more
open about these
issues, thereby helping to protect our children and promoting the healing of
scars left by sexual improprieties ,fostering healthy family relations and the
general healing of the nation.
The Pum Pum Posse will continue to speak out about our sexuality: the good, the
bad, the sad, the ugly, as well as the wonderful and the beautiful. If a survey
be honestly conducted, hardly any family in Jamaica has been unscathed by sexual
misbehaviour. How many entertainers are addressing these issues? The Pum Pum
Posse is that voice. Pum pum is Jamaican. Wake up to ‘Sex Edutainment’! Why
should any word for the female sexual organ be banned? This is the birth
passage through which we all come. Until you can tell me the difference between
‘pum pum’, ‘punany’ and ‘vagina’, then unwarranted censorship should be
eliminated.
SANDRA JOY ALCOTT, aka Sajoya.
P.O. Box 281,
Kingston 5.
Email:
pumpumpoets@hotmail.com &
pussykyatt@hotmail.com
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