John Amos, a seasoned American actor who has been in films like Good Times, Roots, and Coming to America, shows no signs of slowing down, although he is now 83. Amos and his son KC hope to join forces on a project in Jamaica that would highlight the island’s creative community.
Amos, KC, and director Ricky Lee have been in Jamaica for some time now and were recently invited by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange to attend the opening of sporting facilities in Discovery Bay and Browns Town. During the event, Amos addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of young people’s contributions to the arts.
“I think [that] through the arts, we can show the young people how they can make a contribution, how they can find meaningful and gainful employment and express themselves artistically,” he stated.
Amos expressed his desire to work with his son, an accomplished filmmaker, on a mini-series in Jamaica that will positively impact the future of young people who want to be involved in the arts. He believes that Jamaica’s rich culture and history deserve attention on the world stage, and he hopes to be part of the effort to bring it to the forefront.
“We can have a positive impact on the future of the young people who have shown an indication that they want to be involved in the arts in Jamaica. Jamaica is very rich in its culture and its history, and I hope to be part of the effort to bring that to the world’s attention,” he said.
Minister Grange acknowledged Amos’s accomplishments, calling him one of the most outstanding black actors and commending his role in the groundbreaking series Roots.
