Maverick of Business, Xavier Murphy
Founder of Jamaicans.com
Photography by Brianna Murphy.
Jamaicans.com connects the island to the rest of the world and the rest of the world to the island. Holding a prized position within modern Jamaican culture. The platform showcases citizens’ achievements and celebrates the culture with a vault of recipes, travel tips, entertainment news, and articles playfully examining the fundamentals of the Jamaican language.
“Until the lion tells their side of the story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter. You have a story to tell, so tell it.”
Xavier Murphy, founded Jamaicans.com in 1995, inspired by this ethos. As the internet emerged as a go-to resource for connections, information, and learning, Xavier noticed a gap and decided to fill it. Twenty-eight years later, Jamaicans.com is one of the key reference points for information about Jamaica online. “We all want the same things. To live, love, and be respected. The internet and technology have made the world a smaller place, in a good way. You can learn about so many cultures.”
After graduating high school in Jamaica and moving to Florida, Xavier coded the first site using content from his print newsletter Nuff Respect. In taking this initiative, Xavier brought together two vital elements: reverence for his community and his experience working with electronic marketing on information server platforms like AOL, Prodigy, and CompuServe. By incorporating a chat forum on Jamaicans.com, an online community centering on Jamaican culture was formed. The bonds created by adopting this early form of social media have allowed the platform to survive at critical moments over the years.
Community allowed an early obstacle for Jamaicans.com to transform into an achievement. Xavier explains that the site’s need to scale up occurred simultaneously with the dot-com bubble burst in the late 1990s. Despite the crash, visits to Jamaicans.com increased, creating higher running costs, and increasing capacity. In response, forum members raised money and held parties to cover online hosting fees. “This was all before GoFundMe!”
Communal values are also at the heart of Xavier’s vision for a better Jamaica. "What I would like is simple: for everyone to be uplifted, not just those who already have, but also the have-nots. Ultimately, it's about respecting each other, fostering unity, and growing the community." A personal achievement for the founder is all the lifelong friendships and marriages that have come from interactions on Jamaicans.com. “Community moulds you and makes you who you are in life. This is why giving back is important whether it’s a not-for-profit, mentorship, or ministry.”
Now, with a team running daily operations, Xavier steers the vision for Jamaicans.com alongside a board of directors. Content on the sites continues to play a pivotal role in fostering exchange. The Jamaicans to the World video series speaks to Jamaicans living and working in the diaspora. The series is a resource and inspiration for islanders to dream big and travel with vital tips and special interviews with globe trotters like Romaine Welds, who has visited every country in the world. Plans are also underway to scale up the platform’s Best of Jamaica Awards, established in 2004. “If you are someone excelling as a person of Jamaican descent, the platform is where we will showcase you to the world.”
Interview by Tega Okiti.
