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#1 Power drives a single story. 10/21/2017

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#1 Power drives a single story. 10/21/2017

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Chimamanda N. Adichie’s aim to bring awareness to the common misconceptions produced by the acceptance of a single story is aided in her use of personal experiences to provide a sense of amusement and familiarity to the audience. We are often ingrained into idolizing Western culture from a young age through mass media, where socialization is at its greatest. The schooling system further reinforces this via various forms of literature, which have the ability to impact our mindset and behaviour. But what exactly is the Caribbean's effect on Western states? The power does not lie with us, but with them. Power ' gives you the ability to tell a story about another person and have it be the definitive story'. Chimamanda N. Adichie speaks of media portraying places like Africa to have ' beautiful landscapes, beautiful animals and incomprehensible people... unable to speak for themselves.' This is nothing more than a single story, woven into the minds of foreigners, propelling stereotypes ‘that are not always untrue, but rather incomplete.’ Underdeveloped Caribbean economies too, are seen as highly dependent on metropolitan states, usually because of our lack of resources and technological advancements, caused by incompetence in the structure of our society, leaving us mere "satellites to the core rich, industrialized West," Frank. A (1966). This single story fails to examine how under colonialism, colonies were used as factories, utilizing its resources to provide for "mother states". There is little acknowledgement of the true cause while deflecting focus onto the effects. Indeed several Caribbean countries have begun to thrive but many face immense economical strife as a result of colonialism. There needs to be what Chinua Achebe refers to as ' a balance of stories’, in which the acquisition of knowledge helps in conceptualizing more accurate conclusions about various people and places.

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Please [contact us](https://www.ted.com/contact) and let us know what happened.

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#2 Secularisation in the Caribbean. 10/30/2017

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#2 Secularisation in the Caribbean. 10/30/2017

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Plenary 8,” Religion Education and Caribbean Family Life: The foundation of Respectable Caribbean Society”, states that with the “ending of enslavement, missionaries gained a large following in their churches, filled up schools and communities that were tied to the missions and they were able to expand,” religion then, became a staple in Caribbean society. Religion can be defined as what binds a community together through various forms of beliefs and practices that teach morals and virtues. Through socialization, individuals learn language, culture and basic behavioral patterns which are then transmitted from generation to generation, creating value consensus which is basically “a general agreement about the things that are important to people in a society”, Chinapoo, et al (2014).  In his article, Secularization, Lechner,F (2003) states that, “Secularization generally stems from societal rationalization. In modernizing societies differentiation or rationalization eroded any lingering sense of organic unity anchored in a shared conception of the supreme. Secularization, then, came to represent the way differentiation “played out” in the religious sphere. Religion became one institution among others, operating in its own specific arena.” Therefore, it can be speculated that along with gradual Caribbean modernization, secularization may occur. However, Chinapoo, et al (2014), states that Caribbean religious organizations continue to be influential in the activities of the state. Consider their role in education: in Trinidad and Tobago there is an agreement called the Concordat that established the right of religious groups to work with the government to provide education to both primary and secondary levels. There’s also religion’s involvement in the provision of welfare services: for example, the Mustard Tree initiative of the Catholic Church in Jamaica provides assistance to the needy in inner-city Kingston. Religion is particularly powerful when issues such as the legalization of abortion, gambling and same-sex unions are being debated; they have so far successfully pressured governments not to legalize these activities. This religious involvement illustrates that secularization is yet to be a complete reality in Caribbean society.

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#3 Free movement within CARICOM. 11/23/2017

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#3 Free movement within CARICOM. 11/23/2017

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Under the Treaty of Chaguaramas (1973), Caribbean Community (CARICOM), originally known as the Caribbean Community and Commons Market replaced the former Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) and sought to “promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to coordinate foreign policy,” according to ‘The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica’ (2015). It also states that the Treaty of Chaguaramas was revised in 2001, giving way to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), “which would harmonize economic policy and create a single currency.” Prolonged by disagreements, the CSME was established in  January 2006 by all member states except The Bahamas and Haiti. In an article entitled, “Skill- Free Movement in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)” (2004), ‘the free movement of skills initiative originated in the 1989 Grand Anse Declaration, but the original concept has been modified over the years in order to facilitate the implementation of this mandate.’ This free movement of skills which is necessary in any truly single market and economy, removes the requirement for ‘work permits’ as well as ‘permits of stay’ for the University Graduates, Media Workers, Sports Persons, Musicians, Artists, Managers, Supervisors and other service providers, allowing persons to obtain employment in various members states. “Movement of People” (2003), states that the Treaty on the CSMS abolishes discrimination on grounds of nationality in all Member States. In most cases utilizing a travel permit only, most persons are able to travel to member states and have full liberty to ‘enjoy the same benefits and rights as regards condition of work and employments as those given to national workers.’ They are also free to come and go as they please ‘have access to property either for residential or business purposes.'

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Caribbean Community (CARICOM) - Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

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This course has aided me in understanding various factors that currently exist in our Caribbean society. From colonialism to creolisation, I have gained an in-depth understanding of how past experiences have shaped the Caribbean’s demographic diversity. Previously unaware of the  theory of neocolonialism which S. Halperin (2015) describes as ‘the control of less-developed countries by developed countries through indirect means (the indirect rule), I was able to utilize knowledge gained by the process of revisionism in this course to gain a better understanding. Our legacy in the Caribbean is one of tranquility and unity formed by the exact forces that fought to distinguish that. This course has removed what  “Chimamanda N. Adichie " has referred to as the “Danger of a single story”, providing a place for knowledge based learning and removing generally propelled beliefs and stereotypes that we encounter on a daily basis. It raises consciousness of various concepts and their basis such as westernisation, androcentrism and plural and plantation society in an enjoyable environment that provided a space for adequate learning and comprehension. My only major critique pertains to the plenary classes. Even though these may be necessary, they must be carefully planned out. Possibly 2 lectures can be held on separate days to reduce the amount of virtual traffic it may contract.

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“Caribbean Community (CARICOM) INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION.” Edited by The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, 2015, www.britannica.com/topic/Caribbean-Community.

Chinapoo, Carlton, Norma James, and Maureen Lee-Paisley. Cape sociology. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited, 2014. Print.

Frank, Andre Gunder. “Andre Gunder Frank, 'The Development of Underdevelopment.”Thinking about Development, Sept. 1966, pp. 27–38., www.colorado.edu/geography/class_homepages/geog_3682_f08/Articles/FrankDevofUnderdev.pd

Halperin, Sandra. “Neocolonialism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 23 Mar. 2016, www.britannica.com/topic/neocolonialism.

Lechner, Frank J., Prof. Lechner-Secularization. N.p.: n.p., 2003. PDF. 27 Sept. 2016.

“Religion Education and Caribbean Family Life: The Foundation of Respectable Caribbean Society.” Plenary 8. Plenary 8, 30 Oct. 2017, Jamaica, Jamaica.

Secretariat, CARICOM. “Caribbean Community (CARICOM) —Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.” Caribbean Community (CARICOM) —Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, www.caricom.org/.

Secretariat, CARICOM. “Skill- Free Movement in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) —Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.” CARICOM Caribbean Community. A Community to All, 2004, caricom.org/skill-free-movement-in-the-caricom-single-market-and-economy-csme/.

Secretariat, CARICOM. “Movement of People —Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.” CARICOM Caribbean Community. A Community to All, 2003, caricom.org/movement-of-people/.

“TEDTalks: Chimamanda Adichie--The Danger of a Single Story.” Performance by Chimamanda Adichie, TED, 2009.

“UWI Makes Amendments to New $500 Students Amenities Fee.” CNC3, 19 Aug. 2016, www.cnc3.co.tt/press-release/uwi-makes-amendments-new-500-students-amenities-fee.