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Dated: 1/12/17
The video explains how Freedom of movement is essential for the establishment of a single Caribbean market and economy.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvwfEp69p3o&t=195s

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CARICOM File - Freedom of Movement Episode 2

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A snippet from the Documentary "Empire of Cricket"

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A snippet from the Documentary "Empire of Cricket"

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Dated: 1/12/17
The video highlights how the victories of the West Indies were treated as region wide accomplishments by the Caribbean people.
Link: mhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcPlfET-Bw

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Bravo West Indies - Champions! The best documentary on West Indies Cricket!

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Banner informing on the First Peoples Holiday

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Banner informing on the First Peoples Holiday

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Dated: October 9th
Recently in the year 2017, Trinidad has decided to celebrate a new holiday known as "First People's Holiday". It was a celebration in honor of the first inhabitants of the islands. It consisted of a week of activities that highlighted the history behind then people and to give a new and deeper perspective on their civilization. This is an excellent example of revisionism at work as it as it allows for more stories to be told beyond the "Single Story".

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Williams, Jack. “Cricket and Race”. Berg, Oxford International Publishers Ltd. 2001. p. 1.

Secretariat, CARICOM. “Vision, Mission and Core Values.” Vision, Mission and Core Values —Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, caricom.org/about-caricom/who-we-are/vision-mission-and-core-values.

Jordon, Tim. "Empire of Cricket." Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JcPlfET-Bw

Lashley, Cathy. "CARICOM File - Freedom of Movement Episode 2." Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvwfEp69p3o&t=195s

Fire in Babylon. Directed by Stevan Riley,  Passion Pictures, 22 July. 2011.

Admin. “First Peoples Heritage Week 2017 Calendar of Events.” Santa Rosa First Peoples, 30 Sept. 2017, www.santarosafirstpeoples.org/first-peoples-heritage-week-2017-calendar-of-events/.

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Screenshot of a post I made to the discussion forum on my elearning 

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Screenshot of a post I made to the discussion forum on my elearning 

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Dated: 17/11/17
I commented on the song "Rally around the West Indies" by David Rudder after listening to a Lecture on Sports and Culture. This shows how I am able to apply my new understanding of cricket and it social implications to the issues brought up in the song.
Link:  http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=27245

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Does a single Caribbean Identity exist? It is hard to say for sure that there exists a common identity shared among all members of the Caribbean. Each island, despite sharing similar attributes, vary from one another in social stratification and ethnic separatism. However, strides have been taken to achieve unity between the islands and this includes the formation of CARICOM. Notably, one of CARICOM’s many goals is to promote “a Community which is a unified and competitive force in the global arena.” The Free movement of skills act “entails the right to seek employment in any Member State and the elimination of the need for work permits and permits of stay.” The free movement act helps to foster a single Caribbean identity. As people are allowed ease of access to job opportunities throughout the region, the lines distinguishing one nationality from another become blurred.  The idea that you can only identify with one island, with little mixing, becomes less potent in the minds of the people. Through continuous movement, Caribbean people can become more nationalized and feel more connected to other countries. They start to adopt the characteristics of other islands creating an entirely new culture that feels more unified. The idea of free movement and CARICOM itself does however mimic European culture so it is debatable if we can consider this a true Caribbean accomplishment. Even to this day way are still looking towards Europe for guidance and inspiration.

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“In the late Victorian period and for at least the first half of the twentieth century, cricket was taken to encapsulate the essence of England and had a key role in how the English, particularly the economically privileged, imagined their national identity, but this was very much a white identity.”(Williams, 1) Cricket, that was originally an instrument used by British colonizers as a means to impart aristocratic/Eurocentric values to discipline the masses, has become an essential part of the Caribbean identity. Cricket has long since surpassed being a simple game brought by colonizers and has transformed into a symbol of Caribbean pride, togetherness and ability. This is due in great part to the West Indies Cricket team and how their accomplishments on the world stage has helped to shape Caribbean pride. On the very campus of the University of the West Indies you can see how cricket has brought people from the various islands together. On an evening stroll, you may find boys and girls alike engaging in a makeshift game of cricket. Their nationalities ranging from Trinidadians, to Grenadians, to Guyanese and more. Regardless of their place of origin they can find common ground in the enjoyment that comes with playing cricket. Cricket is not just a sport, it is a unifying force in Caribbean. It acts as a bridge connecting the many Caribbean islands. We see them become one when under the banner of the West Indies cricket team. It is to this effect that cricket is the closest we have gotten to establishing a single Caribbean identity.

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Coming into the course, I had little understanding of the reasons behind many of the issues regarding the Caribbean. I had never before questioned what it meant to be a “Caribbean person” and what determines whether or not you are one.  I believed blindly, without further research, in the ‘single story’ taught to me about the existence of only Arawaks and Caribs. Despite hearing time and time again the retelling of slavery and the slave trade I had never once stopped to consider the effects it may have had on Africa. Most disappointingly, I had never cared for cricket regardless of the great social implications it brought for the Caribbean. The documentary titled “Fire in Babylon” in particular left a strong impact. Never in my wildest dreams could I, who sighed in exasperation at the very mention of cricket, have thought cricket could mean so much to the Caribbean people. It was inspiring to learn of the harsh defeats they endured in Australia only to come back with renewed determination winning them their games between India and Britain. I now feel pride towards the West Indies cricket team knowing that their roots are planted in the resolve of Caribbean people determined to overcome all obstacles. In hindsight, I see that I lacked the proper initiative to seek out a fuller understanding of an issue and the critical thinking skills needed to appropriately form opinions and judgments on topics. I learned to appreciate revisionism and a skeptic mind when it comes to forming opinions on a topic in which I do not have the full story. I have now developed a new passion for learning about the history of the Caribbean and the issues that still affect it to this day.

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Having watched “The Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda N. Adichie the concept of a “Single story” leaves a strong impact. She describes the this concept as a preconception placed upon a person, a people or an entire nation based solely on a single narrative which often is told through the perspective of the most powerful rather than the most authentic. Throughout the Caribbean Civilization course many of one’s previous preconceptions regarding various aspects of Caribbean history have continuously been shattered. The topics covered encouraged revisionism for issues in which various students have fallen for the “Single Story” or have developed a somewhat Eurocentric viewpoint. When defining a Caribbean Civilization many students only knew of the “Arwaks” and the “Caribs” believing them to have been the only existing groups at the time when in actuality the ethnic diaspora in the Caribbean was much more mixed. Even more so the titles of Arawaks and Caribs were degrading names given to the already existing people on the islands by Europeans. From back then to now you can see the story being told is the “Arawak” and “Carib” version of the story popularized by the Europeans, the one’s with power. Many students also knew of the effects Chattel slavery had on the Caribbean but when asked to point out how it affected Africa, they found themselves stumped. Never had they considered the effects it had on Africa, the African side of the story. The origins of these preconceptions can be traced back to the education system. To this day these topics are being taught in a school environment and it is deplorable that many secondary institutions still foster the spread of subjugated knowledge. As such, anyone can be the victim of the “Single story” but it is only through a healthy amount of skepticism and the pursuit of many perspectives that we can come to appreciate the full story.