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Entry 3: Identity and Political Preferences.

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Entry 3: Identity and Political Preferences.

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Oppression of Africans and Indian groups in particular where prevalent through the European "white bias." These two groups were often mocked by the whites for being different in terms of their skin colour, language, dress and customs. They were seen as dirty and impure and were often made to assume "white identities" and manners of dressing (mostly done to the enslaved persons) which prompted racial differences within their own groups as members tried to assume their "whiteness" and looked down at those who did not do the same. This was a mechanism of attempting to attain social mobility and be socially accepted by the whites. In modern society, race relations suffer from negative stereotypes assumed to each group as a result of post emancipation times . Unfortunately, the mindsets of the white superiors inevitably passed down to current generations by where East Indians see Blacks as being lazy, irresponsible, promiscuous and corrupted by Western ideals. Blacks convey East Indians as submissive, prone to domestic violence and heathenish for not adopting  western ways (specifically Christianity as their religion).
Consequently, in Trinidad, with two main political parties namely the PNM (People's National Movement) and the UNC (united National Congress), the former being Afro-Trinidadian based, while the latter being based on an Indo-Trinidadian platform, when elections arrive, societal tension strengthens, furthermore after a party is named the victor. This can be explained through the fact that each party is dominated by its respective race therefore members of society who do not belong to the particular group feel disenfranchised as they believe that their needs will not be met.

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In an article written by Mr. Trevor Sudama  in a well known newspaper dated Monday August 17th 2015, he states that people will always be grouped according to an array of factors such as physical characteristics, socioeconomic background and cultural traits. As such, stereotypical generalizations emerge which are then accepted by the opposing racial group which psychologically and innately is perceived as an upper hand or form of dominance when these offensive slurs are repeated. This alters one's state of perceiving another group and unconsciously may pre determine one's polling decisions due to their own ethnic allegiance. Ethnic appeal has been sought as a "low blow" used by politicians in order to gain voter mobilisation. However, even through the progression of time, voters are stuck in a never ending cycle of trying to attain ethnic equity.

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HISTORY, POLITICS AND RACE RELATIONS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

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HISTORY, POLITICS AND RACE RELATIONS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

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Entry 1: Introduction:
When the concept of "The Caribbean" comes to the mind, the generalized, scenic sun sea and sand comes into the mind's eye. The Caribbean region is associated with relaxation, unity and harmony as regarded by the vast majority of those who are not local to the islands. As depicted in modern film industries, rarely will one ever see the reality of lifestyles that truly occur in these islands but instead opt to portray an almost simplistic and backward form of livelihood. However, while these picturesque ideals are formed of the Caribbean, there is indeed a contrasting level of discord that unfortunately occurs in these islands, namely Trinidad and Tobago when coming to issues of politics and racism evidently leading to a lack of social cohesion. This portfolio henceforth attempts to illustrate and discuss the island's unique history, the political arena and how it affects race relations amongst the local population.

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The following clip is a spoken word piece Written and produced by Meera S. Kalloo. This piece portrays a common mindset local people have especially around election time in Trinidad and Tobago. The words/ lyrics are provided in the following entry

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Divided by the colour of our skin

Measuring each other by the colour of our sins

Either we yellow and mellow or red and ready.

Regardless: we know we're fighting steady.

Children cant pitch their marbles in peace but instead big trucks passing in to pitch in a piece of politics ticking in their minds how They so divine and the "a vote for me is a vote for integrity"- and-"lets bring back sweet TnT, but only, only if you vote for me"

But you mi dear Pickni,

Regardless if you name UNC  or voting for Uncle Rowley-

The colour of your skin would be staned the colour of ink on your finger if they ever knew that a coolie gyal like you

Indian to the bone before "Trini" - raise your finger to vote for Keith Rowley.

Seems like the colour of our skins skins speak louder than our words and show our abilities,

Which leader would fly out for vacations while the other one drink out the bottle of treasury.

Backward mindsets pulling us out of the ever sought unity.

Born and bred into who to vote for as you hit that 18- mark

Like Play whe… play today… we go pay…. We go pay…..

You shoot first and ask answers after,

You never voted for someone you racially slurred a "nigga"

Even if their ideas were bigger and brighter than their skins, these racial divides could never let a country win.
Discord more concentrated than Welch's Grape Juice when we should be Fruta Fruit Punch, Punch, Peanut Punch..... Seamoss  bringing us out of remorse.... FULL FORCE
Enlighten us with Discourse so we can break the divides of Welch's Grape juice mentality to buy a humble Fruit Punch.

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Deadlock: Ethnicity and Electoral Competition in Trinidad and Tobago 1995-2002 by Selwyn Ryan. St. Augustine, Trinidad: SALISES, UWI, 2003. ISBN 976-618-033-4. 357 pp.

Ramesh Deosaran. “Race in politics.” Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday : newsday.Co.tt : 17 Nov. 2013, www.newsday.co.tt/commentary/0,186616.html. Accessed 21 Apr. 2017.

Sudama, Trevor. “Ethnicity and voting patterns.” NEWSDAY, 17 Aug. 2015, Accessed 21 Apr. 2017.

Buddan, Robert. The foundations of Caribbean politics. Kingston, Jamaica, Arawak Publications, 2012.

Premdas, Ralph Rikhinaud. Ethnicity and elections in the Caribbean: a radical realignment of power in Trinidad and the threat of communal strife. Notre Dame, IN, Helen Kellogg Inst. for International Studies, Univ., 1996.

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In conclusion, Trinidad and Tobago and by extension the rest of the region have the capability to truly become harmonious and homogeneous if locals understood the concepts brought to us by our History to explain the ways in which our societies work. This course, Caribbean Civilisation has enlightened its eager students inclusive of myself of the injustices served to the Caribbean region but has also provided the underlying ways of rectifying these problems through revisionism. The qualm of political rivalry could indeed be quelled through the application and full understanding of knowledge.

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TUTOR NAME:  CHARISA- MARIE ALEXIS

TUTORIAL TIME: FRIDAYS:12-1PM

TERRITORY: UWI CAMPUS STA

COURSE: FOUN 1101: CARIBBEAN CIVILISATION

TOPIC: HISTORY, POLITICS AND RACE RELATIONS IN TRINIDAD AND    TOBAGO.

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Entry 2: History and Trinidadian Population.

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Entry 2: History and Trinidadian Population.

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The first influx of labour for plantations within the region were from various European Nations. However as they proved incompetent, succumbing to heat and disease, among other complications which came with the work involved in plantation tasks, a force of florced labour was sought out, also known as the enslavement of the people of West Africa.  After this second wave of labour, indentured labours from China and India among others were contracted to work in the islands. This provides the evidence for Trinidad being "the melting pot" to which it is commonly described due to it unique racial and cultural composition.
However, while one may be inclined to assume that this melting pot should be a factor of unity within the society, M.G Smith posits that the different groups within the society are basically forced into becoming a unit within a public sphere but keep rigid cultural difference in their private domains especially with regard to religious beliefs and customs. This social composition was also apparent within the slave society where the strength of the group's loyalty to its ethnicity determined the level of cohesiveness displayed as a nation