This young man has taken the title Poor and Boasy to create his identity. In addition, he is rejecting any negative connotation associated with poor or 'boasy' and reinterpreting it, giving it new meaning and dignity.

Poor and Boasy is the name of one of the contestants in the Magnum Tonic Wine-sponsored Kings and Queens of Dancehall competition aired on TVJ. The other contestants are RC, Tiki and Destiny. But it is Poor and Boasy who has captured the hearts and minds of the public and I dare say the judges: Miss Kitty, General Degree and Skatta. He is doing what Chris Martin did in the Digicel Rising Stars competition.

Poor and Boasy proclaims with pride that he grew up in the cemetery and earns a living by wiping windows and windscreens. He said his friends cannot afford to vote for him because they have no telephone instruments so it is other persons who have been voting for him, giving him the opportunity to make it to the finals of the competition. He is confident and talented.

Negative connotations

This young man is remarkable in that he used two words which have negative connotations to describe himself. To be poor could be seen as demeaning; as a person who is deprived and underprivileged; a person of a lower rank; a person who is often seen as inferior to others. And to be 'boasy' could be perceived as offensive, meaning that a person is arrogant and overconfident. Poverty and humility are often two sides of the same coin, however, this young man has minted his coin with poverty and arrogance. Yet, Poor and Boasy is only describing his present reality, that is he is poor and simultaneous supremely confident. Poor and Boasy is a title of honour.

This young man has taken the title Poor and Boasy to create his identity. In addition, he is rejecting any negative connotation associated with poor or 'boasy' and reinterpreting it, giving it new meaning and dignity. He is following in the footsteps of George Liele, the first missionary to the enslaved in Jamaica, who performed a similar undertaking in appropriating the name Anabaptist (which was a name of scorn) and wore it as a badge of honour. He was also following the footsteps of the Native Baptists who used 'native' in a positive way.

Poor and Boasy is a distinctive and 'boasy' title. The one who bears it is proud of where he is coming from and he is confident of where he is going. He is a symbol of all the other three contestants who are all talented and have the swagger.

The contestants are also mature and wise. There was a 'verbal clash' between the female deejays Tiki and Destiny, and after the clash the hostess, Empress, told them to shake hands, but instead, they embraced. There was warmth between the contestants. What a great example for other deejays.

The main sponsor, Magnum, along with The Star and the Ministry of Health, should be commended for affirming these persons and also classifying them as potential Kings and Queens.

The contestants often have profound messages. They have spoken about safe sex and empowerment of women, etc. And last week, Poor and Boasy sang that he had a message for the prime minister. He told the PM that he was born in suffering but he does not want to stay in the gutter. What a message to the PM after the performance of the minister of finance in the Budget Debate.

Minimum-wage earners

The issue is, will this 2009-10 Budget help windshield wipers like Poor and Boasy to have a brighter day? Will the minimum-wage earners such as security guards, store clerks, fast-food servers be better off because of this budget? I am afraid that the persons who are poor and 'boasy', will suck salt with GCT.

Most Jamaicans are poor and 'boasy' and they need an opportunity to use their talents, creativity and determination to flourish. Long Live King Poor and Boasy.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: the Church in Nation Building'. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.