Usain Bolt is perhaps the most recognized Jamaican alive on the face of the earth. Widely regarding as the fastest man in history and the greatest athlete of all-time.
Although he has been widely accepted and cherished everywhere that he goes in the world, in his homeland Jamaica not so much.
Usain Bolt Pays DJ To Play Vybz Kartel And Stop Playing Alkaline
In a rare interview with famed journalist Ian Boyne, Usain Bolt opens up about his struggles of dealing with racism and classism during his rise to fame.
“Especially when I started out,” Bolt said. “It was more shocking than anything else. That was how I ended up buying my house. I was living in a complex and I had issues with a few of the lighter-skinned people.”
“When it started happening to me, I had to rush and build my house,” the sprint legend added. “A lot of them, because dem go school and work years and years fi reach, and me jus come up and because of sports mi get everything, dem nuh happy.”
Last year alone Usain Bolt made JM$2.5 billion which is the equivalent to US$21 million, according to Forbes magazine. Bolt has an estimated net worth of US$40 million.
In case you missed the interview you can watch it below.
Last year Usain Bolt and Sean Paul wife Jodi Jinx Stewart got into it on social media after she called him out for being a horrible neighbor.
“Between the bikes … , loud, horrid music, parties and screams, I honestly wish he would go back to where he came from. He’s a horrible neighbour. I cannot wait to move,” a furious Jodi Jinx wrote on Facebook.
She later apologize to the sprinter after learning that he was not even in the island at the time of the commotion.
Such a shame to see self hate so embedded into Jamaican culture. Skin bleaching is absolutely disgusting.
Bolt, I’m sure it has more to do with your antics than skin color.
Clearly you have not had any experience in Racism and or Classism against you like he did, because if you did, I bet you would not be that sure that it is his so call Antics rather than is skin color.
What kind of response is that? And even if I didn’t have any experience with racism and/or classism your comment basically aided my lack of experience. Thanks for being so stingy and not educating me on why I shouldn’t write Bolt off. As a matter of fact, why isn’t Bolt dating chicks his color then?
You honestly don’t know the history and legacy/culture of Jamaica’s prejudice toward the people of the darker hue.
I am probably the biggest Bolt fan, and it has nothing to do with his color. I still agree with Selena here that late night partying isn’t something I would want living next door to me either. Maybe he has experienced racism, and I am sure he has but I am still thinking that if he is causing a commotion in a formerly quiet neighborhood that is probably a big factor.