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When Ramon Nichols was a boy, the words 'dutty jancrow' could flatten one's spirit in a heartbeat, often hurled across schoolyards, muttered by adults, or carved into reputations one couldn't shake.

Now, he's turned that same insult into the heart of a children's book about pride, resilience, and knowing your worth. The Proud Little Dutty Jancrow: Embracing Who I Am tells the story of a small, muddy bird mocked for looking like a johncrow - the Jamaican term for vulture which is often used as a slur for being dirty or disgraceful - but who learns to stand tall without needing to change.

"I know what it feels like to be judged for being different or thinking differently," Nichols told THE STAR. "This book is for every child who's ever been left out or labelled in a way that stuck."

While the storyline might invite comparisons to classics like The Ugly Duckling, Nichols said his book pushes beyond familiar transformation tropes and speaks directly to Jamaican cultural realities.

"This story doesn't aim for transformation into something prettier. The message is, 'you don't need to change to belong, you're perfect just the way you are'," he said.

The decision to use dutty jancrow, a term Nichols thinks many Jamaicans consider too harsh for children, was deliberate, and he admitted it was meant to provoke reflection.

"We're so used to running from words that hurt, we forget how powerful they become when we reclaim them," he explained. "I wanted people to feel uncomfortable when they saw the title, because that discomfort is the mirror. It forces us to look at our own biases, but through the eyes of a child."

This conversation matters deeply in Jamaica, where bullying and social shaming have long been part of the cultural landscape. While social media has added new layers of pressure, the issue itself is not new - children have always faced teasing and exclusion based on appearance, class, or simply being 'different'. Historically, terms like 'dutty jancrow' have functioned as both insult and warning, shaping how communities police difference and belonging.

To make heavy themes accessible, Nichols uses playful rhymes like " young and stout, that's the truth without a doubt", blending humour and simplicity with emotional depth.

"The goal was to make big ideas feel light and fun," he said. "It's an easy way for deeper messages to connect in an energetic way."

Nichols expressed hope that his book helps parents reflect on the messages they give their children, not just in words, but in examples.

"This isn't just a storybook, it's armour," Nichols said. "I want kids to walk away knowing you don't need to be anything but yourself to stand tall."

Interestingly, while the book's provocative title has sparked chatter, the reactions from readers have been overwhelmingly positive.

"Strangers have thanked me for writing this book," Nichols said. "I didn't expect all the feedback to be positive, but everyone who's actually read it has connected with it. Ironically, many people can't seem to look past the title. I guess we really do judge a book by its cover."

Looking ahead, Nichols hopes his book sparks not just conversation, but change in schools, homes, and cultural spaces where young Jamaicans are still navigating the old wounds of teasing and exclusion.

"These stories remind kids they don't have to fit a mould to be loved," Nichols said. "They help build connections between parent and child, and between the child and their own sense of self."