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by Shiniqua Antoine

Under circumstances of choice or force

They look on to see what’s behind our polished glass door

Shouting “Let me in, I need help!” letting us know all the pain they’ve felt,

Some hear “Opportunity awaits!” some just need to be in a stable state

A stable state of mind to find themselves and nurture their inner divine

Some, not to sip on fine wines and cheeses but to work so hard the ground ceases to feel rocky

But a state of comfort, that reassures them “Yes, this is better” and the road becomes softer and softer

Charismatically speaking, the world needs a bit of tuning,

I mean, the journey is not really easy, and sometimes desperation is the main case

When that big bad word named ‘LEGAL’ is standing right in front their face

The taste of bitterness, now goes down very sweet as chills constantly flow up their feet

When the Officer ask “May I see the papers” and all of a sudden they get Alzheimer's

And the heart palpitates like Tyson Gay running his heart out for the relay

So they feel they can do the same,

Run! Jump! And Hide, till the coast is tame,

Sigh, what a shame that could be for someone who carries the name

Diaspora.

Perhaps the right way is always longer

And according to Jeremy Bentham, the world needs order

So for those who were granted access,

It could still mean plenty comess

Especially when Trini can’t speak Spanish

Nor can’t understand the Rastafarian Chant

“JAH I PROMISE”

So the road is still a little sticky

But they mess up so freely

That’s just the perks of doing things correctly.

Now that I’m done giving perspective

I must mention it’s a pleasure

To help weather a storm and relate to a cry for help

I mean, because of them, I saw a little foreign

I imagined myself in places when things got boring

Seeing the Venezuelans walk up and down

I decided to take a Spanish class

So I as a Trini surely give them a pass

Because I can understand the complicated life of a

Diaspora.

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Though I may have had an understanding of Diaspora from previous knowledge obtained from my form six Caribbean Studies class, I have never interacted with such persons or examined how their background would affect there lifestyles in the countries they reside.
My perception of the topics explored in Caribbean Civilisation began one evening I was having a conversation with my lab instructor who was born in India but now lives in Trinidad. As we were both equipped and set to leave for home, it initiated the conversation on what we were going to eat later that day. She had planned to go home to make roti for her husband and kids which i later learned that she does it every day. As I am a Trinidadian who loves roti, I found it very intriguing that she actually prepares flour and other ingredients every morning for her family and this was one of their norms in India.
Though I understood all that she was saying, it took a while for me to grasp her dictation because of her Indian accent. She later mentioned that it was difficult for persons to interpret her speech which led me to the realization that it was a major issue for her. She herself has a hard time interpreting the Trini-tongue as she explained that if she were to work in a company and they asked her to turn off, she may have turned on to the highest degree. We laughed at her silly joke although we knew it was a serious point.
With all that being said I instantly thought of how migrating to another country may not necessarily bring you all your expectations with respect to your career. Sometimes you are limited to what you are able to grasp effectively. I was able to gain this new perspective of being a part of a diaspora.To end, I have written a simple poem to further express my views on diaspora. It also reflects the experiences immigrants may face daily.

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It's always a bitter-sweet feeling for me learning that I am obligated to do a history course in my educational life thus far, mostly due to the undeserving treatment of people of color during the era of slavery.  Though the stories are intriguing , it brings a dismal mood and reluctant attitude towards the topic.  However, my portfolio focuses on the Caribbean and and how Caribbean Civilisation has helped me to understand the Cultural dynamic, specifically in Trinidad. At first I was a bit detached from the course due to the unfamiliar use of online tools to access lectures and submit assignments. However, as the semester progressed I adjusted and gave the effort required for me to be on top of my game. My tutor was really nice, she did an excellent job in relating the information which always grasped the class' attention.  All in all, Caribbean Civilisation has indeed impacted my general thinking on society and the phenomenon of Revisionism  has also shown me the association between History and an Historian.

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Enjoy this lyrical contribution by TnT's very own, David Rudder.

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Hello. My name is Shiniqua Antoine. I attend the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine and I am pursuing my BSc. degree in Biochemistry and Chemistry. I am a Trinidad native and this assignment brings genuine excitement simply because it is always amazing when I learn of my history and how it has impacted all aspects of my identity and my country. Though there are the negative influences of our past, my intent is always geared towards exploring the positives.