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One perspective. One story. Dated: 27/09/2017

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One perspective. One story. Dated: 27/09/2017

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From the video entitled The danger of a single story, Chimamanda Adichie critically analysed many of her experiences as it relates to social misinterpretations. “Show a people one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become.”  mentioned by Adichie (Time 9:30 to 9:36).  It is clear that over the years, the history of the Caribbean has been viewed based on Euro-centrism. Europeans were the powerful scholars at the time and wrote the history of the Caribbean based on their views. It is also understood that it is because of the power of the people behind a group, to which it causes an idea to become right. Due to that one perspective to  which originated a multitude of literature based history of Eurocentric views on the Caribbean, a society built its identity and viewed its history. They were able to write Caribbean history, justifying their brutal actions by blaming it on Caribbean ancestors as being 'uncivilised and incomprehensible. It is through the process of revisionism that the view of Caribbean history is opened for clarification,and opened for critical analysis and cultural identification and acceptance. It is only through revisionism that I can now view even the ‘savage Caribs’ as being the civilised, peaceful Kalinagos.

There are many instances where a single perspective or stereotypical belief has been given by a powerful group that shapes the popular view. In the Caribbean, race is a segregation even if it is miniscule, it still occurs. Views on different races are often stemmed from the populist’s view on that particular race. Some Caribbean races view their neighbouring Indo-Caribbean people as 'curry-loving, reggae hating, Indians’. But in reality, most of them created their independent identity and although traits may stem from their ethnic background, most listen to whatever music they deem fit and prefer whatever delicacy enjoyed.  There is a plethora of other examples that all seem to have the same basic relation. In society, people tend to biasly formed views without knowing either sides.  The Revisionist movement is therefore very important and necessary in understanding the Caribbean.
Photograph referenced from: http://www.greanvillepost.com/2013/10/07/the-rancid-myth-of-columbus/
'The danger of a single story' by Chimamanda Adichie: https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story

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Society seems to socially construct gender identification. The mass media has definitely had an influence in the way gender roles have been distributed as well as historical characterization based mainly on genitalia/sex. In my confined community, genitalia has a great influence on its society besides its original biological intention. I have noticed on Sundays, males of all ages are out in the streets, the parks etc. The females are seen going to the shops to purchase food items or seen hanging out clothes. I had never really thought in depth about how society has been structured, but on the surface, it had never seemed fair to me that even my brother and I had to follow this social construct. Males are grafted to be the “alpha male” or the hegemonic male and females are mainly shaped as “mothers”. Mothers as it mainly refers to domestic workers and caretakers for the family and the “alpha male” is mainly viewed as the heterosexual leader that is hands on; able to do most jobs around the house and provide for a family. There seems to be a hierarchical view in my society that men are at the top and the unwritten rules are bent for them in comparison to females that are below, but they are usually both confined to a stereotypic box as it relates to social practices as females are held at a higher standard.

If ever a female decides to step out of this box or bend these rules, she is faced with prejudice and discrimination. It seems as though this view of gender identification stemmed from historical views on gender based on biology where females were valued as less, confined to a box of domestic work and sexualized. Men were “handy” or the sex that was viewed as more important and harder workers on the sugar plantations or during neo-indian times. Therefore, it is quite normal for men to heckle a woman as she passes by based on her looks because as a male it is normalized and praised to have many women. Women are normally supposed to expect this type of behaviour and are socially subjected to being monogomous.
An in depth analysis of gender stereotypes from the youths in Jamaica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqY-zy4UEJ0&sns=em

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Gender issues, Gender Stereotypes In Jamaica-Promo 1

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Can you define the roles of a boy and girl in Jamaica?

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One issue of importance of recent years, broadcasted on the media is that of the immigration situation of Haiti with the Dominican Republic. According to the 2017 World Report, the Dominican officials deported more than 27000 people in August 2016, mostly of Haitian descent, because they were undocumented. Many of whom were born and raised in the Dominican Republic. Approximately 128000 fled for fear of deportation. Over the years, the Dominican Republic changed its constitution to which now “Any citizen that has been born in the Dominican Republic to undocumented parents would have their citizenship revoked.” (Harris,J). This led many to become stateless which adds to the economic and humanitarian crisis already occurring in Haiti since the population is rising. Critics believe that Haitians are being deported solely based on their race.

Hispañola is an island in the Caribbean, separated by two distinct countries with different backgrounds. Santo Dominique, now known as Haiti was imperialized and colonized by the French and now considered one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere with a devastating humanitarian crisis. This led to migration by many over the years for a better life. Across the border resides the lush, green sustained country of the Dominican Republic which was then known as Santo Domingo when it was imperialized by Spain and thus contained Spanish colonialism. It is inferred that colonial governance is the greatest cause for these two countries to be as different as they are today.

All Caribbean countries identify itself as part of a region. Most of these countries have had similar colonial backgrounds and thus have shaped their current independent identities. Haiti seems to be one of those countries that has not yet found its own independent identity. Yes, Haiti was the first black nation in the Western Hemisphere to fight and win against the Europeans. But after gaining independence, was forced into a debt crisis labelled the ‘independence debt’, sanctioned by the French to compensate the loss of labour of the plantation owners. It seems that the Europeans tried to conform Haiti. At first, they tried physically and mentally through chattel slavery. Now, they are economically trying to conform ‘her’. This debt caused Haiti to be held back on its development and after years of tribulation, the economy of Haiti is still quite shaky. Since Haiti is yet to ‘break away’ and form its independent identity, who is Haiti?
Solution? We are a region, a people, a culture. We identify ourselves as being a part of a nation. Why is it that our sister fights alone? Where are the rest of the CARICOM countries? Enough with the talks, time to act!
References:
The human rights World report of 2017:
https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/haiti#9ff9e1

1. Important information on Haiti's history: http://www.dolphin.upenn.edu/dhsa/history.html

2. http://www.blackpast.org/gah/haitian-revolution-1791-1804

3. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/aug/16/haiti-france

4. CARICOM on Haiti: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf9qNvEa3eA&sns=em

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Over the past six months, I've taken thousands of photos, released 13 dispatches from the road, visited eight countries, and shot countless hours of footage - all for six documentaries about life at the edge of nations.

This is the first one.

The island of Hispaniola is home to two very different countries: Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Infant mortality rates in Haiti are 2.5 times higher, and Haitians are almost 10 times poorer per capita than Dominicans.

I visited the island to investigate how these differences play out in the lives of its residents. As I traveled through Haiti and the Dominican Republic, I saw the stark disparities that are deeply rooted in history, all the way back to their colonial origins. The stage was set hundreds of years ago, but the story continues today.

Vox Borders is a six-part, international documentary series about life at the edge of nations, produced by Emmy-nominated videojournalist Johnny Harris. The Vox Borders documentaries publish weekly on Tuesdays. You can watch and the other documentaries on YouTube.
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One island, 2 worlds: the story of Haiti and the Dominican Republic

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Over the past six months, I've taken thousands of photos, released 13 dispatches from the road, visited eight countries, and shot countless hours of footage - all for six documentaries about life at the edge of nations. This is the first one. The island of Hispaniola is home to two very different countries: Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

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Two perspectives.Two stories. You decide. Dated: 01/12/201

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Two perspectives.Two stories. You decide. Dated: 01/12/201

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The FOUN 1101 or Caribbean Civilisation Course was written from a revisionist perspective, as highlighted by Dr. Campbell in the Course Guide. This new perspective highlighted key aspects of Caribbean social, economical,political and cultural history which allowed me to view modern society in a new light. The course allowed me to make my own understanding by allowing another perspective on Caribbean history to be introduced. It helped me understand the importance and origin of the complex diversity of my regional society in understanding the formation of the Caribbean identity. I understand how our ancestors fought for their rights from both views and how that has shaped the contemporary society of the Caribbean in which we still fight today. I understand the role in which extra-regional groups played and how they still have a great influence on us today.

I therefore believe that the Caribbean requires open minded, critical thinkers to continue this trend to develop this nation, not only in this area of study but carry that mindset to all other fields of study to understand the society in which we live in today. The Caribbean is such a unique region, no wonder it is difficult to define!

Therefore, I take all this knowledge and skills away, to better understand and make judgements when it comes to certain situations that relate to this course. Please click below to further hear my thoughts on this course.
Course outline: http://myelearning.sta.uwi.edu/pluginfile.php/371755/mod_resource/content/1/UnifiedFoun1101Semester1_2017_2018.pdf