# data[].attributes.headline
The Misunderstood Caribbean (25th November, 2017)

# data[].attributes.subject
The Misunderstood Caribbean (25th November, 2017)

# data[].attributes.body
Lange describes the Caribbean as a region comprising of several countries that are separated by the Caribbean Sea, as well as having similar historical and political backgrounds. Although each country has its specific set of customs and beliefs that sets them apart from the rest of countries, the Caribbean shares many cultural practices, spiritual values and beliefs- all of which constitutes the Caribbean identity. In the video presented, Adichie identifies that countries are often stereotyped wrongfully, painting an incorrect picture of its people and living conditions.
The same can be applied to the Caribbean, as its cultural practices and forms of expression, are often misconceived by many to be immoral and uncivilized. These include the prevalence of dancehall, soca and calypso music, "whining", J’ouvert, crop over and other carnival oriented festivals (fetes). Westerners have used social media and the television mainly, to portray the Caribbean as being home to uncivilised people, whose culture is overly sexual and degrades women. Such stereotypes and views on the Caribbean society, can be traced back to its colonial days, when slave masters would try to impose their culture, values, beliefs and practices on the enslaved. In so doing, slave masters were telling the slaves that they were uncivilized, and that their culture was inferior to the colonizers. The same is occurring in today’s generation, as the ethnocentric mentally of what westerners’ deem to be civil, has beenpassed down throughout generations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Please [contact us](https://www.ted.com/contact) and let us know what happened.

# data[].attributes.headline
Good Hair? ...The History of African Natural Hair and Society (25th November, 2017)

# data[].attributes.subject
Good Hair? ...The History of African Natural Hair and Society (25th November, 2017)

# data[].attributes.body
I decided to analyze the female population of the hall that I am currently residing at- Milner Hall, for this section of my portfolio. Upon observation, it was noticed that more than approximately 75% of the females on hall are not wearing their hair in its natural state. These females have a tendency to frequently wear wigs, weaves, braids or often have their hair relaxed, rather than displaying themselves with their natural hair. Of these females, more than approximately 90% of these females are of African descent. This led me to question the reason for this phenomenon.  Most women try to convince themselves that this trend results from them wanting to "change up" their appearance and manage their hair with ease. However, after studying Caribbean Civilisation I was able to link this trend to deeper issues that can be associated with slavery and the scorn and stigma placed against African hair.
During slavery, African slaves would often be looked upon with much disdain and disgust for the texture and styles of their hair, by their masters. This led these slaves to hide their hair at all costs and seek ways to conform to their master’s wishes to avoid punishment. Field slaves often hid their hair, while house slaves wore wigs similar to their owners’ (Thompson). Even in the Caribbean where there is an extremely high percentage of people of African descent, society has associated “good” hair with straighter more manageable and tame hair, such as those of East Indian descent and a mixed descent (mulattoes).
Such a misconception of society’s view on hair, has also impacted on people African descent- both male and female alike, in the workplace and schools.  Those of African descent are often stigmatized and targeted, through bullying and being threatened with suspension in schools, and are being denied of jobs, because of their hair texture and the styles they may choose to wear.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
India.Arie - I Am Not My Hair (Official Music Video) ft. Akon

# data[].attributes.headline
Caribbean Integration and the One UWI Initiative (28th November, 2017) 

# data[].attributes.subject
Caribbean Integration and the One UWI Initiative (28th November, 2017) 

# data[].attributes.body
According to dictionary.com integration is defined as the free association of people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. The university of the West Indies was established in 1948, with the sole purpose of integrating the Caribbean through educating its people. Having four major campuses- all at different geographical locations, it wasn’t long before fragmentation developed within the university- socially, financially and also its structure of governance. It was a result of the growing segregation between the campuses, why it was decided that something ought to be implemented to restore the integration among the university. This strategy began in 2015 when vice chancellor Hillary Beckles formed the One UWI task force, which initiated the One UWI movement.

Advancing with this movement through several well articulated strategies, will improve the UWI’s financial, educational and governance status.  Strategies such as having one main software for all four campuses, similar marketing techniques and having shared online lectures for courses, would all lead to the necessary cohesiveness in the university to be regained. By so doing the Caribbean’s shared culture and its identity would also be positively impacted as it would be strengthened from this coming together. As I have learnt in Caribbean civilization, with the combining of practices, customs and beliefs from each Caribbean country, the Caribbean’s identity which comprises significantly on Caribbean culture, is solidified. This togetherness in the Caribbean society, through education, seeks to break majority of the stereotypes placed against us and allows the region to surpass expectations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles explains the establishment of an internal, cross-functional team that will examine governance and administrative processes which relate to harmony across The UWI's four campuses

# data[].attributes.headline
Caribbean Civilisation 1001 To Me (28th November, 2017)

# data[].attributes.subject
Caribbean Civilisation 1001 To Me (28th November, 2017)

# data[].attributes.body
When it was first brought to my attention that I would’ve had to do Caribbean Civilisation this semester, I was honestly quite upset, as I had just left sixth form where I already did Caribbean studies. What was the difference? I was of the belief that the two were ultimately the same. However, upon attending the first lecture, it was brought to my attention that the two were extremely different. Caribbean Civilisation has opened my eyes to the limitless number of issues faced by the Caribbean, and the major role played by the colonial era to these current issues. I was also able to gain a greater appreciation for Caribbean culture and how a number of daily actions, events, and even our way of thinking, all constitute to the make-up of the Caribbean identity. I was also given the knowledge to identify linkages between the Caribbean’s history to contemporary issues and events.

The greatest challenge for me throughout this semester was remembering to attend my online lectures and tutorials, and also giving all of focus to these online sessions once logged in. Nevertheless, the ability to re-watch the online lectures at my free will, allowed me to overcome this challenge.

The expectations that I had for this course was met and greatly surpassed as its innovative way of incorporating technology into the course, made the course more accessible for me. However, one recommendation I would like to leave is to implement the ability for students to also re-watch online tutorials, like that of the lectures.

# data[].attributes.body
"Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com, Dictionary.com, LLC., date accessed: November 24, 2017, http://www.dictionary.com/browse/integration.

IndiaArieVEVO. "India.Arie- I Am Not My Hair ft. Akon." Youtube, Jun. 16, 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_5jIt0f5Z4.

Inniss, Kaiomi. “Clark University's Caribbean And African Students Demolish Stereotypes.” The Odyssey Online, Odyssey Media Group, Inc., Apr. 20, 2016, www.theodysseyonline.com/clark-universitys-caribbean-african-students-demolish-stereotypes.

Lange, Brenda. "The Caribbean Community." Chelsea House Publisher, 2009.

TEDGlobal. "The Danger of a Single a Story." TED, July 2009, https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.

Thompson, Cheryl. "Black Women and Identity: What's Hair Got to Do With It?" MPublishing, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.ark5583.0022.105

UWIRegionalHeadquarters. "The One UWI Task Force." Youtube, March 4, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_qjDyBPd8Q.