youthman

English

Etymology

youth +‎ man

Noun

youthman (plural youthmen or youthman)

1. (Jamaica, nonstandard) A young man; youth.
   • 1860, The Household Monthly - Volume 3, page 258:

     His first campaign in Italy made the name of Napoleon known to all Europe; and there the youthman ended, and the warrior and statesman began.

   • 1992, Revue noire, page 28:

     The hypnotic movements of the dancing youthmen, and the young women who were now joining them, were to her like the strong flames of a nomadic band's camp fire, and that warmed her.

   • 1994, Shodhak - Volume 23, Part 1, Issue 67 - Part 3, Issue 69, page 93:

     Students and youths in schools and colleges of Calcutta observed that day with mourning: they attended their institutions bare footed, protested with fasting and wore mourning badges. The schools were closed for two or three days. His photographs had an immense sale, By and by, the youthmen began to wear Dhoties with Khudiram Bose's name ...

2. (West Africa) A man who has reached the age of adulthood but has not attained an adult social status (living independently with a stable livelihood, marriage, and family).
   • 1987, Levi Tafari, “Liverpool Experience”, in The Race Today Review:

     Now when the youthman reach out pon the street some dangerous people the youthman meets. The conman a try to trick the youthman The informer what a wicked performer.

   • 1994, Manfred Kremser, Ay Bobo: Afro-Karibische Religionen - Part 3, page 108:

     Noting 'mi falla rude boy fashion, take some advice fram di reporter man' he assumes the role of a critic (probably one of those people like the present writer, desperately attempting to do the impossible - explaining a subculture): 'one ting mi learn going inna Brixton certain youthman dem no ave ambition but before dem get a job an get a occupation - wha dey do? - en up inna corner dem a watch Batman - an den?

   • 2008, Lansana Sheriff, Youthman (song):

     I feel sorry for the youthman today/ The system is bad for the youthman today/ Every day and every night they suffer/ The youthman want to sleep but no place/ The youthman want to eat but no food/ The youthman want good dress but no good dress/ The youthman want to buy but no money/ The youthman want to work If no work, how do you expect him to eat?

   • 2015, Marc Sommers -, The Outcast Majority: War, Development, and Youth in Africa, →ISBN, page 13:

     Using the case of male urban youth in Monrovia, Utas describes the rise of Liberia's youthmen: “Due to economic crisis and increasing dependence on the central state in the 1980s an ever-growing number of young people in urban and semi-urban environments were excluded even from the possibilities of becoming adults.

3. (Caribbean) A young musician from the ghetto who agitates for social change.
   • 1986, Jiří Valenta, Herbert J. Ellison, Grenada and Soviet/Cuban policy:

     Rallies and marches were organized to awaken "social consciousness," and productivity poems, similar to those written in Eastern Europe in the early 1950s, carried the same message: So youthman, sister woman Co-operate, organize, unite, be wise Then we go cleanup this land!

   • 1989, Bim - Volume 18, Issue 72, page 70:

     Some must lead while others follow, and paradoxically enough, out of the same bankrupt, visionless system has emerged the 'youthman', buoyant with enthusiasm, brimming with new ideas, committed to the concept of self-reliance and industry, sensitive to societal needs, yearning for an opportunity to use his initiative in the interest of national development.

   • 1997, Norman Craig Stolzoff, Wake the Town and Tell the People: Dancehall Culture in Jamaica:

     Typically, recording studios are located in ghetto areas and attract youthmen from the surrounding ghetto communities.

   • 1997, Steve Barrow, Jonathan Buckley, Reggae: The Rough Guide, page 172:

     But sheer number of fiercely competing producers meant that ever more youthmen were given the chance to move from the dancehall audience to the studio.

   • 1997, Roy Mc Cree, Godfrey St. Bernard, Behind the bridge, page 143:

     But any youthman on the block can tell them that there are no longer "badjohns" in this country: the "baddest" man is the puny youngster with a gun that's bigger than him.

   • 2006, Vibe - Volume 14, Issues 1-6, page 86:

     But he's quick to point out that not everyone has gone astray. "There's a whole barrage of righteous youthman out there," he sings as hundreds of hands rise in solidarity.