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                                                          Self Evaluation 

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                                                          Self Evaluation 

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From the beginning of this course my interest  was minimal, we were told that it was not a history course but it felt very much like one. However as we progressed through the course I started to gain an appreciation for what was being taught and the new information that I was receiving. It was really an eye opener to see that we are not much different today than we were in earlier times, we have developed in terms of our socialization process and our landscaping of our lands but we still face a lot of the same issues one of which I discussed. However, what I was really appreciative of going through this course was the unity that all of these issues and celebrations have brought throughout the Caribbean.

This course truly brought about a new lens for me regarding the history of how our ancestors lived, most of it was heartbreaking and they endured so much hardship for us to be in the somewhat comfortable state we are in presently, no matter how hard or difficult at times it may be, it can in no way compare to the experience they had.

A special thank you to all lectures and my tutor who made this course such a wonderful experience, unfortunately this is the end for me.

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                                                     What is Phagwa/Holi?

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                                                     What is Phagwa/Holi?

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Phagwa is the celebration of the spring season, the festival of color, it celebrates the victory of good over evil; it was bought to the Caribbean by the Indentured Laborers and spread throughout the region with new arrivals until the end of the the indenturship. It was mainly celebrated by East Indians but now the festival is celebrated by all races, nationalities and religious backgrounds.  It commemorates the start of the Hindu New Year and bring in the spring season.  The festival comprises of dance, music, traditional folk songs called chowtal and colors. Traditionally the colors came from flowers and herbs but those used today are synthetic. The colors are representative of their Gods and the sacrifices they made.

To some extend it is much so like carnival, it is a celebration that brings different colors together, a celebration of freedom and progress.

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                            12/03/17 - Caribbean Festival –Phagwa/Holi

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                            12/03/17 - Caribbean Festival –Phagwa/Holi

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Growing up in San Juan every year between March and April I would pass by the Aranguez savannah or walk to my street corner and hear the music playing and see people heading to the savannah in their white jersey and their hand held make shift squirt guns filled with these colorful liquids and I would see them passing back stained in the all different colors and days after you would see them and they would still be colorful. I never really paid much attention to it or wondered exactly what it was about until present; to me it was the Hindu’s carnival. So now I’m dying to know what it’s really about and I’ll share what I found out with you.

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Celebrating their victory.......

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                                                           Pretty Mas

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                                                           Pretty Mas

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Carnival brings all cultures, genders, races, persons from all classes together, to celebrate and partake in the largest street party. We enjoy the music, the colours, our national instrument, the steel pan and everything that is Carnival.

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                                                    J'Ouvert

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                                                    J'Ouvert

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One of the last modern Carnival festivities that most reflects the origins of Carnival – in particular, its origins in masking and in Canboulay processions. This is also true of the Canboulay re-enactment that happens in wee hours of each Carnival Monday morning in Port of Spain.

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                              01/03/2017 - Caribbean Festivals - Carnival 

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                              01/03/2017 - Caribbean Festivals - Carnival 

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Trinidad & Tobago carnival also known as the greatest show on Earth, is one of the largest festivals, people come from all parts of the Caribbean and to a greater extend the world to celebrate with our little island but what are we really celebrating? Celebrations began in the 18th century with the influx of French Catholic planters who staged elaborate masquerade balls at Christmas and as a “farewell to the flesh” before the Catholic Lenten season, with each group mimicking the other in their masking and entertainment. The West African slaves of these planters as well as free coloreds had their own masking traditions, and held festivities known as Canboulay around the burning and harvesting of the sugar cane for each group, masks and mimicry were an essential part of the ritual as well. After the emancipation of slaves in 1838, Canboulay became a symbol of freedom and defiance.

The celebrations last for a season starting from as early as August of the previous year with bands launching their displays to the week from celebrations starting from Fantastic Friday to Carnival Tuesday. The two main road events J’Ouvert and Pretty Mas

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Tribe Carnival
http://2017.carnivaltribe.com/costumes/

Discover Trinidad & Tobago
The Birth & Evolution of Trinidad Carnival
http://www.discovertnt.com/articles/Trinidad/The-Birth-Evolution-of-Trinidad-Carnival/109/3/32#axzz4enudcaX1

Trinidad Guardian
March 01, 2017
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2017-03-01/13-females-killed-shannon

Life in Leggings: The Caribbean Perspective
February 01, 2017
http://www.yourcommonwealth.org/social-development/gender-equality-lgbti/lifeinleggings-the-caribbean-perspective/

CNC3 News
April 18, 2017
http://www.cnc3.co.tt/press-release/gayle-becomes-first-ever-cross-10000-runs-t20-cricket

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Gayle becomes first ever to cross 10,000 runs in T20 cricket .

Cricket, a sport that has different meanings to different persons, for some it’s a long dragged out game and to others a day by day trill, following each player ball by ball, run by run, wicket by wicket. The excitement as the ball hits the wicket sending the last batsman off the field mid run. However, for most Cricket is known for the lime, it has brought about a unity throughout the Caribbean especially for the Test  and One Day International matches. The West Indies team is the only team to have players from different parts of the Caribbean. From being called the ‘Calyspo Cricketers” to today being able to celebrate the greatest accomplishment of having one of our very own batsmen from the team becoming the first ever batsman in the world to reach a landmark of 10,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket. In more ways than one cricket has impacted us by joining our cultures together, by bringing unity among persons from all walks of life.

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26/03/2017 - Caribbean Gender & Sexuality / Gender Predation

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26/03/2017 - Caribbean Gender & Sexuality / Gender Predation

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The concept of male predation started as early as the 18th century in the great house on the sugar plantations. More female slaves were taken for household chores and sexual pleasures of the slave masters. In today's era, we still face issues surrounding gender based violence and sexual violence in the Caribbean.
March 8th has been declared as International Women's day and aims to celebrate the achievements of women. Caribbean based feminist organisation "Womantra" has acknowledged the fact that there is indeed a problem with gender based violence against women and focuses on women and female centered scholarships, activism and social programmes.  Due to increased levels of violence against women, they have been a voice for those whose lives were stolen from them and can no longer speak for themselves.
In December 2016, the LifeinLeggings: Caribbean women taking back power movement started in Barbados by two young ladies who wanted to make an open forum for gender based issues and discrimination faced by women. The movement trended on social media sites Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and made its way well into 2017 throughout the Caribbean and gave women a chance to break the silence and tell their story. Whilst this movement was trending the violence against women still carried on as reported by the local newspaper the Trinidad Guardian,  there were 13 murders recorded against woman as at March 01, 2017 almost one third of the total number recorded for 2016 which was 45. Gender based violence has always been an issue which seems to be more on the rise, with the continued focus on such issues and support being shown for persons affected, I hope these issues will decrease so we can continue to live in peace and unity and not be afraid to leave our homes and walk the streets.

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                                                                  Introduction 

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                                                                  Introduction 

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This portfolio started with the issue of Gender Predation as it was something that I felt strongly about and as I continued I ended up much into the celebrations that we as Caribbean people enjoy. Instead of omitting the serious issue and just going along the celebratory theme I decided to leave it in. As a woman having to face these issues as well against sexual harassment etcetera, I felt the need for it to be highlighted as well.  Enjoy!!!!