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The saying that one must know the past to understand the present is an important concept to understanding Caribbean identity today. The Caribbean, is rich in culture and  history which shaped our beliefs, way of life and how we interact with each other today. To understand the Caribbean’s social realm one must first review its history.

Caribbean history is one that is characterized by migration, death, slavery, oppression and resilience. Caribbean societies were born out of forced immigrant labour systems based on ethnic and cultural differentiation, which set the stage for much of the complex social reality which emerged since the first encounter between the indigenous inhabitants and the Europeans (Reddock & Barrow, ch. 5). This encounter lead to slavery, indentureship and colonialism which provided a united set of shared experiences for a large group of people which shaped the Caribbean identity as we know it today.

Caribbean identity is made up of the cultures (which includes ethnicity), beliefs, qualities, religions and the shared history of a large group of people. This essay aims to explore the impact the history of Caribbean development had on Caribbean identity and to determine if that impact was positive. The essay will illustrate how the introduction of Europeans to the Caribbean and slavery have contributed more negatively than positively to Caribbean beliefs, actions and culture which makes up ones’ identity.

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Firstly, caribbean history is one that is plagued with issues of colourism and racism.

Colourism is an important topic in today’s society because of its effects on large groups of people and it can be traced back to slavery. During slavery, black people who were fathered by their white masters often gained privileges based on their lighter coloring (Harris, par. 2). They were called Mulattos and in some cases were selected to work as House Slaves while blacks of darker hues were routinely sent to the fields. Furthermore, some masters who acknowledged these mulattos as their offspring would sometimes send them to England to gain an education. This practice explains in part the belief that blacks of lighter skin were more intelligent when in reality, they simply had more educational opportunities (Harris, par. 2) . This hierarchy perpetuated a divide that is still prevalent in society today.

There is a tendency in the Caribbean for darker skinned blacks to marry lighter skinned blacks. Black men have been quoted saying “ I want a red woman or a little pretty browning” As a result, in the Caribbean we have a society of black men and women who believe they are inferior and are not beautiful enough. Subsequently, they conform and try to make themselves as “white” and therefore as acceptable as possible, by using hair straightening products and skin bleaching creams. A documentary done in Jamaica, featured interviews with citizens who bleach their skin, which aimed to uncover the reason why individuals bleach (Video Link 1). Some individuals said they bleach in order to get a “high colour” and that it made them beautiful while the rest were adamant that they did it just to brighten their skin tone and that they saw themselves as beautiful before. Additionally, leading dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel, who revealed he bleached his skin said in an interview that he does it because it is a trend and not for social mobility or beauty standards (Video link 2). These examples, illustrates that some people do not realize they harbor very distorted views and beliefs about themselves and other people, especially black people, with an unwarranted admiration for people of lighter shades. To some, the bleaching phenomenon is related to beauty issues as some believe that a lighter skin tone equals beauty, worth and status in society (Charles 711). This is mostly due to the ingrained results of colonialism and the effect subjugation has had on the psyche of its victims.

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Another aspect of understanding Caribbean Identity today is by reviewing the topic of homosexuality. Jamaica perhaps is the most homophobic nation in the Western Hemisphere with its bad reputation for anti-gay prejudice (Greene 1). Jamaica is known for its anti-gay laws, political rhetoric and murders, but also for its broad societal acceptance of severe sexual prejudice and openly hostile music. In analyzing homophobia in Jamaica especially, but as well as the Caribbean as a whole, it is extremely important to examine the historical context that has laid the foundation for the contemporary climate.

During slavery the enslaved man were totally disempowered and immasculated. Hilary Beckles, in “Black Masculinity in Caribbean Slavery” offers a historical overview of the gendered system of legalized slavery in order to suggest that “the conquest and control of the black male body, and the denial of a mind to it, reside at the centre of the dichotomized masculine contest” (King 17). Beckles examines how the system of sexual exploitation, namely the rape of black women, left black men disempowered and at a decisive disadvantage to their white male and female counterparts, even after the system of European slavery ended (King 18).

Enslaved men also experienced “buck breaking”. Buck breaking is a form of sexual abuse which was very popular in the Carribean and it involved slave owners raping a male slave in front of the public to embarrass him and make him feel less of a man. They were first stripped naked and flogged in front of a crowd after which they were raped by a white man to serve as a warning to other slaves. Sometimes enslaved men with families were forced to have sex with each other in front of their family or were raped in front of their sons (Johnson 3). As a result, some people believe that homosexual tendencies have arised because of these injustices faced during slavery. This linking of homosexuality to the injustices faced during slavery and the de-legitimization of the plantation male creates the view of homosexuality as unacceptable (King 17). This is because they believe that homosexuality was a western imposition introduced to people of African descent during slavery and, thus, a disgrace to the black race, a symbolic reminder of 400 years of servitude and sexual exploitation (King 17). Consequently, today Caribbean people are against homosexuality and continue to fight against legalising homosexuality and same-sex marriages.

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All Angles The Bleaching Phenomenon001 MPEG

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Political factors that establish a sociological understanding of the contemporary Caribbean consist of the socio-political formation of the state and the impact of social inequality on politics. The Caribbean’s history of colonization, slavery and exploitation among others, has had a monumental impact on the politics of the contemporary Caribbean (Sutton, par. 4). The legacy of colonial rule can be found in the political cultures and formal regulations that give shape to political life throughout the Caribbean today. During slavery, the European planters implemented indentured servitude which had a tremendous effect on shaping social attitudes in colonial Trinidad. For instance, Indian indentured laborers were kept apart geographically and culturally from the rest of captive labor force. This separation fostered an atmosphere that perpetuated the negative stereotypes initiated by the white planters which was a tactic used to further divide the labor force from uniting and overthrowing them (Tyehimbas, par. 6).

Trinidad and Tobago is a very diverse society, today, there are African, East Indian, Chinesse, Mixed and Caucasian people living here as a result of slavery. However, the bulk of society is made up of  Afro and Indo Trinidadians and there are tensions between the two. During election time, there is a clear divide within the country. There are two main parties and their supporters are very distinctly based on ethnicity. Individuals therefore take into consideration the ethnicity of the party before voting instead of deciding to vote for who can improve the country as a whole. They vote like this because of the belief that if someone who looks like them is elected they would be taken care of. Politicians are aware of this divide and promotes this behaviour by making promises to certain communities  in order to get elected. Consequently, during this period the country is totally divided into two main groups, and racial insults, threats and attacks are carried out between the groups. However, the country somehow manages to put aside their differences and carry out their Carnival festivities. Which promoted the saying that Trinidadians are divided by politics but are bond together with Carnival.

This divide can be explained by the Plural Society Theory by M G Smith. A Plural Society is one in which people mix but do not combine. Each holds its own culture and language, its own ideas and ways. This theory believes that though individuals of different racial and cultural groups live in the same country, come together for economic purposes and in Trinidad for example, for recreational purposes they are still distinct groups of people and may be divided by inequality,  discrimination and differing values.

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Vybz Kartel Live "CVM-TV Onstage" Talks About Style Of Bleaching, Cake Soap & More - MAR 2011 - Pt 2

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The history of the Caribbean’s development has also positively affected Caribbean Identity today, in the form of demographic diversity. The contemporary Caribbean has been shaped by waves of migration that have combined to form a unique blend of customs, cuisine, and traditions that have marked the socio-cultural development of the region. This migration included African explorers, European explorers, white indentured labourers, African labourers, Indian, Chinese and Portuguese indentured labourers all of who joined the already existing population of Neo Indians in the Caribbean. This migration of people from their home land whether it was willing or forced to the Caribbean contributed to the diverse society the Caribbean is characterized by today.

Food

Today Caribbean cuisine is a fusion of African, Creole, Cajun, Amerindian, European, Latin American, East/North Indian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese. Individuals who migrated to the Caribbean brought their customs and traditions of cooking with them, therefore all of these cultures influence food in the Caribbean. New cooking practices,techniques and seasonings were also added to existing ones as individuals interacted. All of this contributed to the type of food in the Caribbean today. Ingredients that are common in most islands' dishes are rice, plantains, beans, cassava, cilantro, bell peppers, chickpeas, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, coconut, and any of various meats that are locally available like beef, poultry, pork or fish. Caribbean dishes are so interesting and delicious that tourists come from all over to sample them. For example, in Trinidad and Tobago tourists come to try the famous doubles and bake and shark. This attraction of foreigners to the local cuisine is a source of revenue for the Caribbean.

Music

Caribbean music today is also as a result of the history of Caribbean development. The slavery and indentureship period facilitated the introduction of various cultures and traditions that the Caribbean possess today. Some musical genres that were created were soca, chutney, chutney soca, calypso, dancehall, reggae and salsa. These styles of music are very popular in the Caribbean and has transcended to the European and American cultures. So much so that these types of music influences hip hop, pop, rock and edm music that are popular in European and American countries. As a result, Caribbean artistes are able to perform and make revenue in these other countries by collaborating with those foreign acts.

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How Slavery Impacted the Formation of Caribbean People's Identity

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In conclusion, through the Caribbean’s history one can understand its identity. Caribbean history is one marred by slavery, genocide, colonialism and miscegenation but elements of resilience also shines through. The essay discussed elements of Caribbean history and how it resulted in colorism, homophobia, a specific political climate and a diversified Caribbean. The essay provided evidence that the history of Caribbean development have had more negative effects on Caribbean identity than positive.