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The Caribbean is made up of many different ethnicities and races, the Caribbean culture was also created from past events that took place in the Caribbean. The term, “Caribbean” has many different definitions from various perspectives. Ways in which the concept of the Caribbean is defined by researchers are through Geological, Geographical, Historical and diasporic meanings. The above mentioned are explained as follows.

The Geological Caribbean can be defined through the Caribbean Plate. Some researchers agree that the islands which lay on the Caribbean Plate is considered part of the Caribbean and a Caribbean country or island. Countries which are not associated with the Caribbean Plate in any way, are not considered part of the Caribbean. Islands located on the plate are, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados and more. This definition does not apply as a certain or widespread definition, as there are other forms of defining and explaining the Caribbean to individuals globally.

The Geographical Caribbean are the countries within the gap of North and South America. This chain of islands forms an arc, known as an archipelago. It is situated on the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Many researchers state that once the shores of an island are washed upon by the Caribbean Sea, it is known to be a Caribbean island. Although some may agree with this, others disagree as they would focus on the past activities that occurred in the different islands, which made these islands, the Caribbean.

The concept of defining the Caribbean as a Historical Caribbean, has to do with the past activities and events that occurred before present day. These events that brought about this definition goes back to the time with Columbus, the Europeans, Enslavement, Indentureship and more. This will be further discussed in the history portion.

Lastly, is the Diasporic Caribbean. The Diasporic Caribbean refers to the individuals who have migrated away from the Caribbean to larger countries, such as North America, Canada and the United Kingdom and more. They are referred to as diasporic because although they left the Caribbean and no longer live there, these individuals still practice and maintain the Caribbean traditions at their new homes. They may develop new traditions of their surroundings but still incorporate their old Caribbean practices and traditions. They may do such through the cuisines, for example; roti, pelau, channa and more. In this, they may also promote the Caribbean through their original language, clothing and music.

Although there are various ways to describe the Caribbean, the statement “All ah we is one,” reflects the people who share the same values, lifestyle, culture and history. They remain loyal not matter their circumstances and stand together as one.

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The Caribbean was once occupied by the Tainos and Kalinagos. They lived peacefully without war or harmful diseases. They kept to themselves and planted their crops, hunted and built their homes.

The history is what makes the Caribbean what it is in today’s society. It was all created by the past events that occurred. These events all began with Christopher Columbus.

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“By the beginning of the seventeenth century, European colonization had reduced the Caribbean islands to a blank canvas. In truth it was not so much a blank canvas as one had been thickly painted by a series of hands, scoured and scraped, then smeared with a rough bloody cloth, and cleaned again of yet another attempted landscape.” (Higman, 97).

From the time Columbus ‘discovered’ Hispaniola and with the arrival of the Europeans, the Caribbean had changed drastically. Due to the illness brought about by the Europeans, such as small pox, influenza, malaria and more, many indigenous people had died. With the coming of the Europeans, also came their way of life, traditions and cultures. The indigenous people had gone through cultural erasure and was forced to adopt the religion of Christianity. If they refused, they would have been tortured and killed. Many committed suicides at the beginning of the enslavement ear due to the harsh living conditions and treatment. The act of infanticide also occurred because of mothers believing that death was better than becoming a slave. This may have resulted due to the mothers having mental issues.

With the desperate need of labourers, the Europeans sort to enslave Africans, breaking up families and economic growth. These Africans came on the Middle Passage. They were packed one on top each other, with very little breathing space. Many became crazy and jumped off the ship, some had died due to the conditions and some suffered from extreme claustrophobia.

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With the ending of the enslaved Africans, Indentureship came about. The Indians and Chinese were now offered to come into the Caribbean for a ‘better life’. Much information was kept from them on the working conditions. The Indians and Chinese came to work on the plantation for a minimum wage, under a contract of a five to seven years period, and could be renewed at the end. However, after the contract expired, some chose to remain on the plantation, while others ventured out and created their own small plantations and businesses.

With the bringing in of all these various types of races, the Caribbean was formed, the reason of the Caribbean being multi-cultured and multi-racial in our society.

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What is identity?

“In ordinary language, at least, one can use “identity” to refer to personal characteristics or attributes that cannot naturally be expressed in terms of a social category, and in some contexts certain categories can be described as “identities” even though no one sees them as central to their personal identity. Nonetheless, “identity” in its present incarnation reflects and evokes the idea that social categories are bound up with the bases of an individual’s self-respect.” (Fearon,2).

In the Caribbean, identity was formed throughout the years of the past events that took place. Everything that occurred and left a footprint in the Caribbean became part of the people and its society. Through the events such as; Slavery, Indentureship, Colonialism and more, the Caribbean was formed and identified.

Some factors that form identity would be; religion, race, history, gender, geography and more. Through the mixing of races during the period of slavery, the Caribbean became a multi-racial society, with people of all colours. As individuals in the Caribbean would have the same history, they may be identifying themselves as a whole, hence, “all ah we is one.”

However, due to the racial individuals, and the enslavement period, some may believe and state that they identify to be more of Caribbean dominance than others. This can relate to the colour of one’s skin and heritage background. “At least some of the apprehension about Caribbean identity is founded in an insidious racism that eventually came to justify the continued subjugation of an African slave labour force in the New World.” (Safa, 115).

Caribbean identity is a topic that is discussed by many. For example, in the book ‘Una Marson’, there shows evidence of identity. “The claims to a shared identity are founded on perceived cultural and anthropological affinities such as food, music and social institutions (family, kinship).” (Garcia, 56). Throughout this book, there are many instances, where “Una Marson” keeps her devotion and loyalty to her home country and to her African descent. “The poverty and hopelessness motivated Marson to further work toward her country’s self-determination and nationhood, and she expressed this in her work.” (Tomlinson, 27). Although she had an income and a job in England, she never gave up on her country of Jamaica.

According to the Plural Society Thesis, claims that the division is not only based on race but other aspects, that there are diverse groups that can co-exist under one institutional framework. There is also the Plantation Society Model which states the planation ear brought about inequality and discrimination, which lead to colourism, pigmentocracy in some Caribbean countries. Criticism shows that, “it paints the picture of a passive population at the mercy of European powers.”

Many individuals will determine their Caribbean identity in various ways through their experiences, however, if they share similar way of life and values and practices, they can consider themselves to be of one society, no matter their appearance.

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Culture has many definitions. A board definition of culture would be that, it is the shared belief of a particular society which includes its values, beliefs, norms, practices, behaviours and traditions. There is no definite meaning of the term, ‘culture’ as it depends on the individual defining it based on their perspective.

The Caribbean is considered a ‘Melting Pot’, due to the various races and ethnic groups settled. It is the mixture all practices and beliefs brought about in the past. Everyone, if not, the majority of individuals, shares and participates in each other’s lifestyle.

“If Caribbean people have been constrained in their political and economic relationships, it is perhaps these very constraints that have generated the conditions for innovation and creativity that mark Caribbean cultural forms—from language, religion, and music to family structure.” (Yelvington).

With the mixing of individuals, came different foods, music and dance together. Many persons claim that these items are from the Caribbean, while others will state, it came from the homeland and brought here by the slaves. These core items may have been brought by the slaves but the modification and enhancement came from the Caribbean people and the mixing of life and culture.

“Caribbean music—reggae, calypso, salsa, merengue, rhumba—has gained worldwide notoriety and acceptance and influenced other musical styles. Performers such as the Mighty Sparrow, Celia Cruz, and the late Bob Marley have achieved worldwide fame, and to these names could be added many others.” (Yelvington).

Dances such as Indian and Spanish dances made its way into the Caribbean through the events of the past life of the Caribbean. It is still to do this very popular among the islands and throughout the world. Examples of Indian forms are: Kuchipudi – Andhra Pradesh, Odissi – Orissa, Sattriya – Assam and many more. Spanish forms are: Salsa, Tango and so forth.

“Creolization is evident in syncretic Caribbean religions and their uses to oppose the established order. These include santería (sometimes called regla ocha or lukumí) and palo monte mayombe in Cuba; vodou in Haiti; the orisha religion in Trinidad; obeah in the English-speaking Caribbean; and Kumina, Myal, Revival and Rastafarianism—with its explicit evocations of Africa—in Jamaica. Caribbean music and art forms, such as Carnival in Trinidad and Cuba and Jonkonnu in Jamaica, are complex outcomes of the creolization process that include African-derived, European-derived, and even Amerindian-derived strains. Such art and stylized play involve resistance and opposition.” (Yelvington).

The Caribbean gained all its traditions and people from, all over the world through the enslavement period. It can not be defined to one particular race, practice or label. It is a mixture of cultures and different people that makes the Caribbean the place it is today. The people are the ones who bring the islands festivities together to become one.

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THE ART OF DANCE.

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Bollywood Chutney Spanish Soca Dance 2014

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THE MUSIC OF THE CARIBBEAN PEOPLE.