Family Drama: The Caribbean
Shortly after Liberia was colonized by former slaves, there was also an influx of Caribbean immigrants to the country, mainly from Barbados and Trinidad. As a result, I am Liberian but my father’s grandmother was a Barbadian-Liberian. Actually, a huge part of diaspora history that we never learn about is the moving around of Black people during the decades after slavery, and how those movements played a role in what we feel for each other today. As you know, many former slaves from America settled in Liberia and Sierra Leone, former slaves from England settled in Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone. Some of France’s former slaves moved back to what is now the Ivory Coast and other francophone countries, some Africans and African-Americans moved to Europe, Caribbeans moved EVERYWHERE, from the US to Europe, and back to Africa as some of my father’s family.
During this movement, because the Caribbean still traded with the US and was closer geographically, Caribbean immigrants settled in the northeast in places like New York and New Jersey to find work. African-Americans and Caribbeans have a different relationship than African-Americans and Africans because of the above stated, because they share the history of former enslavement (remember that Willie Lynch was supposedly a Caribbean slave-owner), and because they have co-existed in American inner-cities for a longer period than African-Americans and Africans, and have thus learned to live with one another understandably, a point that I think can also be reached between Africans and African-Americans. I also think the following three men have something to do with it.
The Three:
<–Marcus Garvey (Jamaica)
<–Bob Marley (Jamaica)
<–Colin Powell (Jamaica)
In college the ASA (African Student’s Association) and the CSA (Caribbean Student’s Association) were sometimes two in one. There was competitive rivalry with soccer games, both groups celebrated similar (much of the same) music, both shared the experience of being an “other”, being teased, and most come from parents that were ridiculously strict when it came to receiving and excelling in an American education.
However, while having a conversation with a classmate one day (Caribbean), I opened my eyes to something that I had managed to miss amidst my observations of the diaspora. First, not only did some racist things (stereotypes) escape her about African-Americans (lazy, don’t care about education, women are “loose”), but she HATED that one of her friends (also Caribbean) had dated an African-American woman, supposedly been cheated on, and that she had to now tell him that she advised against it in the first place. After I told her that it was absolutely the wrong thing to say to him after he’d already been cheated on, I asked her why she advised him against it in the first place. She insisted that the two groups just had completely different morals. Later on after departing with her, I made a mistake and called one of my African-American friends my Caribbean friend’s name (since I had just been with her). My African-American friend thought that I was referring to one of my African friends (same name) and winced. When I explained to her that I was talking about the other named friend whom I’d just seen, she laughed, and even seemed to take it as a compliment.
So why, despite the fact that some Caribbeans harbor the same sentiments (fears) towards African-Americans as some Africans do, are Caribbeans a more accepted immigrant group among African-Americans?
Geography:
The West Indies are much closer and less expensive to get to than Africa. Therefore, if Black people were educated wrongly to believe that all Jamaicans had dreadlocks and all Haitians were dirty, the countries (and truth) were more accessible. One can travel easily to the West Indies to see the truth for themselves, rather than depending on schoolbooks and television to educate them. The location of the West Indies also makes it easier for more Caribbeans to immigrate here than Africans, opening African-Americans up to a larger and more diverse experience of the culture and people, and dispelling various stereotypes and presumptions as the years rolled on and co-habitations increased.
Appearance:
We are not taught how diverse Caribbean countries are. West Indian familial ties do not only trace back to Europeans and Africans, but Chinese, Native-Americans, and Indians, have been settled across the Caribbean for centuries. The mixing and marrying of many of its members are similar to those of African-American history, therefore making the two groups physically resemble each other more than their African counterparts. It is easier to believe that someone that looks like you may understand you than someone that doesn’t.
Language:
Most Caribbean countries, with the exception of places like Haiti (French), are English-speaking. Most African countries and people have native languages that they learned either with or before they learned English. Language, of course, is fundamental to communication. Many Caribbeans do not have different languages to resort to when they choose to exclude other cultures from their communication. If what you think and feel for someone must be said, then what is misunderstood is easier resolved. In rooms and settings with non-Africans, Africans may resort to their languages as a safe place, because we (I’m perpetrating, I only speak English) may feel displaced. In a place so far away from home, language is an element of your national pride and identity that never excludes you. Through fear, alienation, and sometimes even anger, our languages make us feel safe and at home.
Also, although sometimes some Caribbeans may speak with a deep and somewhat undecipherable accent, it is still an accent that is considered different and even sexy, and thus plays into the exoticism of West Indians, moreso than most Africans.
Oh! I almost forgot. I mean, The Four, including:
<–Stokeley Carmichael (Trinidad)
What is important is that we do not lose who we are, but still attempt, always attempt, to know more about each other. This goes to all three groups. We are all undoubtedly connected, and ALL of our histories were disjointed. So who am I? Who was I? Who were we? Where are my people going? How are they doing? What caused the sentiments we have toward one another? And more importantly, what can I do to play a role in our redemption, our progression, and the realization of who and where we were always meant to be.
Tags: African Family, African-Americans, Bob Marley, Caribbeans, Colin Powell, Marcus Garvey, Stokeley Carmichael
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July 14, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I have to say that I don’t think Caribbean Blacks are more accepted by African-Americans. If you visit my blog I posted about my experience growing up as a Jamerican (or Jamaican American) and it has not been pretty. Here is the link: http://jamericanmuslimah.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/black-west-indian-and-african-american-tension-my-two-cents/
I think on the surface, yes some African-Americans enjoy reggae music, may travel to the Caribbean and may seemingly get along well with African-Americans but there is a great deal of tension. Just journey to South Florida or NYC and you’ll see it. Of course I don’t think it is hopeless (after all, I’m here!)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had AA women tell me that they think Caribbean men are controlling, abusive, possessive and crazy. By the same token I’ve been privy to plenty of conversations where Caribbean people have talked about African-Americans all being on welfare, the men refusing to work, AAs always complaining about racism etc.
I also have to say that there are ways that Caribbean people use their dialects to talk amongst ourselves. I don’t think most African-Americans can understand us when we really get going (unless they’ve been around Caribbean people their entire lives). Yes, some people love the accent this is true. But again, no one likes it when others start speaking in a language or dialect that others do not understand. As I mentioned in my blog, some Caribbean have gone out of their way to separate themselves from AAs (since phsyically we may resemble one another). They do this by trying to maintain their accent, constantly referencing their Caribbean heritage (under the guise of patrioism of course), and clinging to stereotypes about AA people.
Anyway, I wish it were as simple as you described. My life certainly would’ve been easier…
July 14, 2008 at 9:19 pm
A………….AA…………..Caribbean are all black ………..we need to use our energy and force for the betterment of the Black Community
I went to an HBCU in the Nation Capital ,and Caribbean and African seemed to be getting along pretty well.One would see those two groups walking and working together .
We Black do not have nobody to blame but ourselves ,it is time to smell the Capuccino ……………
L’Union fait la Force !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For My AA Family speaking in our language is not something we can control,thats our normal reaction .It takes us awhile to start thinking English,our first thoughts are in our own language or for French speaking African in French ,and then we would translate in English ……………It is not because we are talking to each other that we are talking about you ,or saying something bad about you .Also we should not do that ,but sometimes we might slip …………Work with US
July 14, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Excellent article! As an African-American, I have felt the resentment from Caribbeans and Africans. A beautiful woman from Trinadad once told me that she would never date an AA man, because we’re “dumb, lazy, and arrogant”. I have heard the same from Africans as well. A lot of them asssume that I am just another dumb AA until they get to know me and my friends.
In fairness, I have heard AA’s make bad comments about Africans. I think AA’s think better of Caribbeans than Africans, because of the media and news. Whenever CNN or PBS shows African countries, they only show the worst (war, poverty, starvation). They never show anything good about the continent.
On the other hand, when they show the Caribbean islands, they show beautiful beaches and smiling faces; never violence and poverty.
I personally believe that all of this stereotyping needs to stop on all sides. We are all missing out on good relationships and friendships because of it.
Judge people as individuals, not as a group. Don’t fall for the ‘divide and conquer’.
July 15, 2008 at 11:26 am
Hello Birima:
I LOVE your blog! I was introduced to it by Moderator2 with whom I co-blog over at http://stuffeducatedblackpeopletalkabout.blogspot.com/
Having friends from Africa and the Islands, I must say that some of your comments are dead on about people’s attitudes and misperceptions.
I am heartened by the fact that your tone is towards unity and finding more common ground.
I agree with the Jamerican sister who says that her experiences were different because she was in a different region of the country. I also agree that some island folks can “pour on the patois” so thick that you will THINK they are speaking in another language! I believe it is a comfort zone for them. Mod2 and I have discussed the root of the problems that some Non American born blacks have with those of us who are. Opening up dialogue between our two cyber communities may not solve all of the problems, but hopefully it can narrow the chasm.
I would like to see a post on this blog on “Partying African Style” I’d like to learn more about the all night “Funerals” some West Africans host here in the states?
Why do some Africans and Island folks see our (black American) parties and celebrations as inferior or lame?
I would also like to see posts about the opinions of Africans as to what they think African American’s have done RIGHT (if anything) We did have a civil rights movement that many people in the rest of the world admire and emulate…Okay, so it appears some of us have been sleeping on the job lately (Oops! Is that going to play into the stereotype that we are lazy?!) Surely there must be some mix of admiration along with the disdain. Often at the root of heavy criticism is some envy. Is that a remote possibility?
Again, I applaud your blog, the layout and content are excellent. I only have one request: Can you adjust the commentary print so that it’s larger? All of us are not under 40!
July 15, 2008 at 1:45 pm
It is not my blog ………………but i am sure SAH got the message
July 15, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I stand corrected! Thank you. SAH I LOVE your blog! See all comments in my previous post.
Moderator/1 Stuff Educated Black People Talk About
July 15, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Moderator 1, Thank you for the support. It’s always appreciated. I plan on discussing a number of things on this forum. And there is absolutely love and respect along with the “disdain”. I believe it was MLK who once said “Where there is no disappointment, there is no love.” The three groups are hard on each other because perhaps they expect more from each other.
July 29, 2008 at 1:58 am
I used to live in the west indies w/my grandparents.
I remember coming back to the states & my friends would tell me how “disciplined” I was. lol
And as far as the languages - My mom’s side of the family is from Antigua. They speak english but its really hard for American’s to even understand. So my mom my had to develop an American accent that she uses when she speaks to people who aren’t West Indian. I have other friend’s whose family members are from all over the W.Indies & do the same thing. It can actually be insulting because they are speaking english yet people will still ask that they speak english.
August 20, 2008 at 4:47 pm
“…who am I? Who was I? Who were we? Where are my people going? How are they doing? What caused the sentiments we have toward one another? And more importantly, what can I do to play a role in our redemption, our progression, and the realization of who and where we were always meant to be.”
Indeed! Great post!