By Francis Quamina Farrier

ELDERLY and elegant, and with every intention to win, 77-year-old Joycelyn Thompson of Guyana, made all the Guyanese in the audience immensely proud of their roots at the recently held Miss Senior D.C. Pageant.

She was contestant number three in a line-up of eight, in the pageant which was recently held at the University of the District of Columbia Theatre of the Arts, in Washington, D.C. The theatre building is almost the size of Guyana’s own National Cultural Centre and is manned by a highly professional body of staff. The show was reminiscent of Guyana’s own popular Miss Renaissance Pageant staged by Ms Negla Brandis over the years.

It is events such as this Miss Senior D.C. Pageant in which Guyanese take centre stage in a foreign land and, in this case, literally take the Golden Arrowhead high, that proves that every Guyanese living abroad, is in some way, an ambassador for the ‘Motherland’.

Joycelyn Thompson was born in Guyana in 1941 and migrated to the United States in 1962 where she enrolled at the Cortez Peters Business College, and later attended Howard University; an institution of Higher Learning principally for African-Americans and other people of colour from many countries around the world. Guyana’s own Dr Cheddi Jagan was one of the many Guyanese who studied there.

During her earlier years in the USA, Joycelyn Thompson did studies at the Howard University, the George Washington University and the George Meany Centre for Labour Rights and Women in Leadership. Her post-studies working life commenced with the position as a Research Associate and later as the Assistant Civil Rights Director. That and many other senior positions over the years, gave her the opportunity to make sterling contributions to the ongoing development of her adopted country. Over the years she travelled widely to countries such as France, Israel, Kenya and Sweden where she also did advanced studies.

Being a people’s person, Joycelyn formed a dance group in 1986 called “The Golden Agers” and later an intergenerational programme where seniors and youngsters shared experiences. Her community work also included involvement with the YMCA as well as the Caribbean American Intercultural Organisation and a few other organisations which serve the elderly. With that wide and very active background, Joycelyn Thompson was a fit and proper competitor for the Miss Senior D.C. Pageant 2018. She was the only one of the eight competitors who was not born in the United States.

Introducing herself to the packed auditorium at the UDC Theatre of the Arts, Joycelyn did herself and Guyana proud. She was an immediate crowd favourite and even though she was not crowned Miss Senior D.C. Elegant 2018, she did win some of the prizes. She was adjudged Third Runner-Up, the prize for selling most tickets and Ads, and of course, the Best Evening Gown prize.

Speaking with some of the Guyanese who were in the audience, a group from Wakenaam Island in the Essequibo River said, how they were proud of Joycelyn for the way in which she presented herself on stage. “We girl really big-up we Guyana,” one said with a broad smile on her face. Joycelyn herself told me how pleased she was to have had the opportunity to represent Guyana indirectly, at such an event.

In an invited comment, Guyanese-born, Maryland-based Gwenette Davis told me how much she enjoyed the show. “I am glad that older folks are brave and with tenacity. It gives motivation to others with their actions and statements,” she said.

The former Bishops’ High School student who says that she is proud to be a senior herself, was extremely pleased with the way Joycelyn performed her dance routine with the Guyana flag in hand, displaying our rich Guyanese culture. She concluded that “Their philosophy of life as expressed by those senior contestants will be helpful for younger people who need role models.”

Reflecting on the many varied talents which I encountered during the 15 years of producing my Radio Programme Series, The Eighty- Plus Club, and since becoming a senior myself, it is heartening to know that in our world community, there are events and opportunities for seniors to showcase the talents and abilities which they have possessed for decades, since their youthful years. It is known that there are those in Guyana who discriminate against the elderly, and would prefer to have them locked away from the mainstream of society.

We know of that calypso of gone-by years with lyrics which state, “Ole fowl, ole fowl, go ‘way from me.” We are also aware of a very powerful and influential individual who, some years ago, openly expressed his view that elders should “Go one side. They had their time.”

Unfortunately, some elders do allow themselves to be bullied and subdued, but others like Joycelyn Thompson, with the help of those who respect seniors, continue to live their lives to the fullest, including wearing the most attractive attire, and having the most attractive personalities. There’s no holding them back.