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November 25th 2017.                                                                             Self-evaluation of learning for the semester.This semester has been an extremely difficult one for me.  I had assignments due on all three classes the same time which put a lot of pressure on me.   This cause a lot issues with me at work because at times I had to take off to catch up and my boss was not very happy.   I think I did not put enough effort into each of my assignments and they were all rushed.   My weaknesses are not knowing how to cite, write a proper essay, writing my book report in which I had to get help with and my portfolio which was done in padlet that I had no idea what that was.  Another issue is not taking the time to liaise with my tutors to inform them of the pressure I was under and to get the proper advice to move forward.    Most of my time was being spent at work so, organizing and time was my enemy.  I need I am going to use this semester experience and evaluation to do better in my upcoming courses.  I'm going to manage my time and make sure I put a lot more effort and time into my studies.  I was very happy to do this self evaluation which showed me my weakness.

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November 25th 2017.                                                                             Self-evaluation of learning for the semester.This semester has been an extremely difficult one for me.  I had assignments due on all three classes the same time which put a lot of pressure on me.   This cause a lot issues with me at work because at times I had to take off to catch up and my boss was not very happy.   I think I did not put enough effort into each of my assignments and they were all rushed.   My weaknesses are not knowing how to cite, write a proper essay, writing my book report in which I had to get help with and my portfolio which was done in padlet that I had no idea what that was.  Another issue is not taking the time to liaise with my tutors to inform them of the pressure I was under and to get the proper advice to move forward.    Most of my time was being spent at work so, organizing and time was my enemy.  I need I am going to use this semester experience and evaluation to do better in my upcoming courses.  I'm going to manage my time and make sure I put a lot more effort and time into my studies.  I was very happy to do this self evaluation which showed me my weakness.

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Learning Activity 4.2                                        

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Learning Activity 4.2                                        

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November 19th 2017

The voyage of the West Africans to the Caribbean has been history's most vile moments which has left a stain that cannot me removed.  In the sequence of this passage many tell the story's behind the gruesome middle passage.  slaves where packed into cargo ships like sardines with barely any space to shift or move one's body.  The air they had no choice on was drenched with the stench of urine and feces from each other.  To each man's head was another man's feet, alternating the positions throughout the packed underside of the vessel.  According to The Abolition Project,  the journey took three to four months with slaves chained together in the above description.  These measures were taken to ensure that slaves could not over throw the authority.  The possibility of there being more than six hundred  slaves per ship tells how many of our ancestors were dragged and brutalized from there family and their homes.

Olaudah Equiano (c.1745-1797): The Former Slave, Seaman & Writer

Olaudah Equiano, was a former enslaved African, seaman and merchant who wrote an autobiography depicting the horrors of slavery and lobbied Parliament for its abolition.   His recollection of the event made us privy to how inhumane these vessels were made to transport slaves. According to Wikpedia, Traders from the Americas and Caribbean received the enslaved Africans. European powers such as Portugal, England, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Denmark–Norway, Sweden, and Brandenburg, as well as traders from Brazil and North America, took part in this trade. The enslaved Africans came mostly from eight regions: Senegambia, Upper Guinea, Windward Coast, Gold Coast, Bight of Benin, Bight of Biafra, West Central Africa and Southeastern Africa. An estimated 15% of the Africans died at sea, with mortality rates considerably higher in Africa itself in the process of capturing and transporting indigenous people to the ships.[6] The total number of African deaths directly attributable to the Middle Passage voyage is estimated at up to two million; a broader look at African deaths directly attributable to the institution of slavery from 1500 tito 1900 suggests up to four million African deaths.

Africans were seen as expendable resources during the slave trade Era which gave rise to racism around the world.   In recent times it has become apparent of how much the slave trade decreased the value of west africans.  Payment of slaves were next to nothing which still was not beneficial to the individual slave.

In present day the DNA of slavery has been embedded in the foundation of the Caribbean and the world.  This DNA affects the progress of the men in society whose behavior reeks of the tragedies that  was laid upon our ancestors.  It affects mothers who are forced to raise  their children on their own as was done in the slave trade era. Broadcasted on all forms of media throughout the Caribbean and the world its effects knows no bounds.

The testimony of Mr. Robert Norris, a witness for the slave trade sought to diminish the vast cruelty of the middle passage brought on by the Captain and sailors of the vessels.  However the personal experiences collected and left behind by former slaves through diaries, Captain logbooks, letters and shipping records brought some light to the truth of slavery.

We understand how all the plights of the region were born and nurtured out of the slavery seed.  Through family life, social interactions and the struggles of achieving financial independence accompanied by many difficulties, society tries to regain some sort of normalcy.  However we are unable to remove that scar that was left. That stain of slavery.

reference:
http://discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/routes/from-africa-to-america/atlantic-crossing/middle-passage

https://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/african3.html

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/10e6/57def8e3ec5de5ec51630afc3eedc43f8127.pdf

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Machael Montano - Happiest Man Alive.

The effect of music is relaxing to me.  It's mellow, not fast paste to say Jirate and over exert yourself.  I'm also getting that life is short and even if you worry about things what good is that to you.    Carnival is the time that everyone gets together, whether creed or race.  It truly shows the meaning of our National Anthem "For every creed and race finds and equal place", which happens once a year.

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One of the most unifying events and cultural and creative extravaganza, which is celebrated in Trinidad & Tobago is Carnival. Carnival finds its social and historic origin in the region and is an expression of culture that encapsulates music, dance, costumes, pageantry and performance. While Carnival is celebrated in various styles and with slightly different names throughout the Greater Caribbean, there is one common interest: the manifestation of a cultural pluralism amongst its participants.   For many of the countries, particularly Trinidad and Tobago, which boasts the Region’s largest Carnival celebration, Carnival or ‘Mas,’ as this festival is commonly referred to, is intertwined into the very fabric of the society and is considered one of the most important cultural exports.

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Is there a relationship between Religion and Education?

Yes there is they are both associated through spiritual  tendencies.   Education creates certain values while religion beautifies the life by cultivation of truthful heart with the moral and spiritual values.   They both differ but aim of achieving God through cultivating three absolute truth, and goodness.

Two individuals in Trinidad associated with Religion & Education is Arch Bishop Anthony Pantin and Arch Bishop Charles Jason Gordon.

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Hip Hop

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November 8th, 2017.

Gender -my Gender is female.  Womanhood is an ever changing conceptualization, a fluid idea defined by society and culture; a biological fact that has created various implications for women all over the world. There is a constantly evolving effort to reconcile the dissimilarities of identity reflected through standards of beauty, sexuality, and gender roles.  Some woman consider themselves to be men however I have no issue or comment on anyone's interpretation of their gender but I do know I am all Female.   In society I am considered as child bearing, motherly and basically in charge of taking care of the home.

Language-I speak English which identifies me  in society as a person from an English culture.

Sexual Orientation - I am a heterosexual and this identifies me as a woman who likes men.

Race - I'm not quite sure how to identify myself in this category.  My background is form a mix culture of Chinese, Indian, Spanish and Syrian.  However I consider myself black when other's think differently.

Living today within the social environment I'm in is a bit difficult for me at times.   After researching my family tree I have come to the realization that I was never thought how to deal with society by my parents.   A lot of how I deal with society has a lot to do with my travels to the USA.  For instance, growing up my parents would never say to us "I love you" and hearing this fro others was strange to me.  I had to teach them how to express themselves.  I am still not very comfortable in society with I am currently exposed to the Grenadian society because of my husband.  The environment is one that i had to get accustom too.   It's an island that has approximately 103,000 people but they are all so united.   You can be walking down the streets and people stop and offer you a lift without even knowing you.  I am totally afraid of picking up anyone and I always get yelled at when I don't stop.   I am also exposed to the upper class and some of them quite frankly are extremely stuck up.  It's a bit difficult since I am a people person and it doesn't leave room for me to acquire any friends.

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David Rudder "Rally Round the West Indies".

1. The Title was appropriate because it signified coming together again in order to continue fighting after a defeat.

2. The use of imagery of warrior and battle was used to signify the bowler Michael Holding.  He was one of West Indies fastest bowlers.

3.  I would classify this song as a culture and history lesson because it is best characterised as an approach which considers the domain of representation and the struggle over meaning as the most fruitful areas for the pursuit of historical understanding.

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After being out of school for so many years, I must say taking this course has been stressful due to the capacity of reading that was required together with all of my other courses.    This was an online course and at times it was difficult to attend the BBC Sessions since it clashed with my other classes.   Never the less, I made it possible to listen to the recordings.

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Learning Activity 1.1 Is there "pre-history" (Reflection on "Pre-history").

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Learning Activity 1.1 Is there "pre-history" (Reflection on "Pre-history").

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October 15, 2017.

What is society?
Society is the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community.  It is made up of four types such as civilised, uncivilised, developing and advance.

Civilization is defined as a highly developed culture, including its social organization, government, laws, and arts, or the culture of a social group or country at a particular time.    In order to keep things running smoothly in a civilized society among these groups of people, things such as authority, food, water, agriculture, safety and protection, education, trade and availability of goods, basic freedom and define societal roles.  This is considered as a civilized society.   An uncivilized society is considered to be the opposite; without what is thought to be highly developed and way of life or persons being rude and not showing care for others.

A developing society is one which is an effective society  and it is true that in a contemporary world or of the past only few are beneficiaries of the relations that exist to manipulate and utilize more  of strictures of society and therefore no society of humans developed at the moment.

An advanced society is one that uses the most updated types of technologies and ideas.

In reference to "Demographic Diversity" in the early Caribbean, I  gathered that the four types of natives that settled on the island was more of a civilised society.   Yes they had their own beliefs and cultures however they all merged to become Tainos.   Civilization is important because of so many reasons.  One is that interacting with others allows you to experience different cultures; food, clothes, traditions and languages.  When I lived in the USA I was introduced to so many different cultures and I was happy introducing the Trinidad culture as well.  Do you know there are still a lot of people that has no knowledge of the Island of Trinidad?   The second is that it allows you to do things beyond especially cooperate in businesses, trade, to exchange ideas, create and most importantly live.   Third it provides enrichment and purpose where you get the view the world from a different point of view.   For example consideration, ideas, social interactions, compete, express and gatherings.   Surviving alone is no fun we need to interact with others.  How would we have known about getting to another country by flying?  thanks to  the inventers of Orville and Wilbur Wright for socializing and introducing their inventions to the world.   I have learnt that without civilization you can't make anything greater than yourself.

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My family tree is made up of Grenadian's, Bajans, Chinese, Spanish Syrian's and Trinidadian's.   To sum it up I would say "Mulatto".   My family is all mixed up, a few in numbers are of lighter skin complexion in which I fall under and the others are dark skin in colour.

I found out that my great grandmother on my mother's side was Syrian and Grenadian mix, my great grandfather was a Trinidadian and Grenadian mix.  From this side of the family my loving Grandmother who I was very close too "Olive Gomez" was born.  I grew up with her and always looked forward to  listening to her stories of how poor she was, her struggles to take care of her children.   I lived in the USA for some time and always remembered how much my grandmother had looked forward for me coming home.  I knew I was her favorite; I use to comb her hair, do her nails, take her out, danced with her, cleaned out her room because she lived with my mum and always fill her in on the family gossip that no one wanted to tell her.   About a year before she died, I was cleaning out her closet, while we were laughing and taking when I came across a 14carat bracelet in the drawer and I can distinctively remember her saying "Natilian (her special way of calling me) I want you to have this bracelet and always remember me when you wear
it.

On my father's side, his Dad was a Spanish from Venezuela and his mother was of East Indian descent of Trinidad.   I never knew my father's mother because she died way before I was born.  I found out something about her that I would not publicly mention however, I was a bit disappointed in hearing it.   My grandfather on my father's side, it is so ad to say I met him in a coffin.  I saw him for the first time the day he was being cremated.  My Dad did not have a good relationship with him because my Dad was a bastard child.  My grandfather always degraded my Dad because he was never educated and was not up to his standard in society.   Sad though, because we found out a year or two before he died that he had regrets of how he treated my father.

I am not proud of some of the information I found out within my family tree however, due to the exposure of different race and culture, I am glad that I never stereotyped and always treated every individual I came across with the respect they deserved.

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My Grandmother

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Before the arrival of Columbus the area was one of "darkness".  Do you agree or disagree? Provide 3 reasons in support of your view.

I disagree with this statement because:

1.  The people back then always kept themselves occupied in doing so many different things.  For instance, the Soladoid people back then  practiced a mixed economy of root crop horticulture, hunting of land animals, fishing, and mollusk collecting.  They made potteries, shell working, weaving etc. and they kept active utilizing exotic raw materials such as amethyst, carnelian, quartz, serpentine and jadeite in the manufacture of small amulets and beads.   The Soladoid culture expanded from Trinidad to Venezuela  to the Leeward Islands and even within the US Virgin Islands.

2.   The advantage of Intensive Agriculture land to cultivate food and farming.  They also had the use of cunocos.

3.   Specialized activity camps

There was no dull moment with these people and it showed civilization was there way before Christopher Columbus even "rediscovered" their islands.   The people of this society stuck together.

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Fashion is like the biggest thing in the US and has a great influence of the people in the Caribbean.  Just like the US has four seasons and the fashion that goes with all, the people in the Caribbean wants to be updated as well.  When I was a kid hand me downs was the biggest thing ever.  Now the children of today don't want to wear BATA when everyone is wearing Nike.

Music - Soca is the music of the Caribbean however, people only listen to it around Carnival time.  Hip hop and Rap is played through out the year in the US and now the people of the Caribbean listen to a lot more American music.

Music - Soca is the music of the Caribbean however, people only listen to it around Carnival time.  Hip hop and Rap is played through out the year in the US and now the people of the Caribbean listen to a lot more American music.

Movies tells stories and people in the Caribbean try to adapt to the same concept.  It changes your life in so many ways, some good and some bad.

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Learning Activity 2.1.2 cont'd.                                                                          The bracelet I cherish in which my grandmother gave me.

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Learning Activity 2.1.2 cont'd.                                                                          The bracelet I cherish in which my grandmother gave me.

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Question 1.  Grenadian, Jamiacan, Spanish, Dutch, French, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Indians and Chinese.

Question 2.
a. The Chinese were indentured worker and was brought to the Caribbean predominantly Trinidad, British Guiana and Cuba to work on  sugar plantations.

http://www.caribbean-atlas.com/en/themes/waves-of-colonization-and-control-in-the-caribbean/daily-lives-of-caribbean-people-under-colonialism/the-chinese-in-the-caribbean-during-the-colonial-era.html

b.  The Indians or as they were called back then the "Indos" also came to the Caribbean to work on the sugar and cotton plantations.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Caribbeans

Question 3.
a.  The Spanish  imported the first slaves from Africa in the 16th Century and transformed the island’s agricultural landscape through the introduction of new crops and livestock.  They brought in crops from the Mediterranean, including tamarind, sweet and sour oranges, lemons and limes, sugarcane, plantains, bananas, ginger, indigo, avocado and chocho.

b.  The Chinese brought their food traditions, cooking techniques, and ingredients with them, which, over time, have become part of the vibrant cuisine of the Caribbean.

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Cannibals and Civilization.

In the Caribbean during the early settlement the Caribs were considered Cannibals.  They were bloodthirsty savages who attacked the peace loving Tainos, killing the men, kidnapping the women, and capture young boys who were kept in pens to be fatten, castrated or eaten.  To my understanding the Caribs ate people because they did not want to give themselves up to the Europeans or Dominicans.   They also made human sacrifices and ate the flesh and bone marrow of their own for strength to defeat the Romans.

https://edgeofcivilization.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/civilization-and-cannibalism/

http://seestjohn.com/st_john_life/virgin-islands/st-john-usvi-history-cannibalism-in-the-caribbean/

Caribbean Civilization is a concise history of the English-speaking Caribbean since independence.   The English speaking Caribbean included Anguilla, Barbados, Antigua, Barbuda, Belize (formerly known as British Honduras), Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago.   To my understanding there were  diversities of culture and history of the early settlement that was learnt in Unit 2.

https://books.google.com/books?id=0fbi4sbdp6QC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

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Find the meaning of the following terms and write a paragraph showing how you think two of terms led to the diversification of the Caribbean population.

Mercantilism -  belief in the benefits of profitable trading; commercialism and in history the economical theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances, which government should encourage by means of  protectionism.

Religion - a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Colonialism is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.

I believe that Religion and Mercantilism led to diversification of the Caribbean population.   In the early settlement the Creole religions developed on islands where African slaves were indoctrinated into Roman Catholicism. Generally speaking, this was possible because the Catholic practice of honoring saints easily lent itself to cultural interpretation. Slaves - usually field workers - who were introduced to Catholicism in a slapdash manner most often developed these new religions.  The Protestant beliefs are a mainstay of most English-speaking Caribbean islands, though specific denominations do differ.   Rastafarian beliefs also include the worship of Ras (meaning Prince) Tafari of Ethiopia.   Selassie, however, was not just any man. He claimed lineage from biblical times, saying he was the descendant of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. But Garvey's followers believed he was even more. Having proclaimed Garvey a prophet, his followers concluded that Selassie was the messiah that Garvey had foretold.  Then we have the Catholics who was undeniably important to the Caribbean's earliest explorers - Columbus named St. Kitts after his own patron saint, Saint Christopher, while St. Lucia was named for the same saint that is celebrated on the day the island was discovered. But islands aren't the only places in the Caribbean that have patron saints.   These unique and fascinating practices differ greatly from island to island, and they continue to grow and change as Caribbean practitioners of these religions and spiritual beliefs move around the world.   Not forgetting Mercantilism with entailed profitable trading especially on the Plantation.   The eastern Caribbean relied upon Agriculture and sugar was most profitable.   Slaves was brought in from Africa in gangs into the Caribbean by the Dutch to work on large estates to cultivate.

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1.
The Leeward Islands are a group of  islands situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean.   It starts with the Virgin Islands east of Puerto Rico and each south to Dominica.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeward_Islands

The Windward Islands are the southern, generally larger island's of the Lesser Antilles, within the West Indies.   They lie south of  the Leeward Island's, approximately, between 12° and 16° N and longitudes 60° and 62° W.   It starts from  Dominica and reach southward to the north of Trinidad And Tobago and west of Barbados.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windward_Islands

2.   Circum Caribbean should not be considered as part of Caribbean not because the land masses in the south & central America surround's the Caribbean Sea.   If you look at the map of the Leeward & Windward Islands you would observe that a bunch of islands  situated on the northeastern and southern side of the Caribbean Sea.   They are also categorized as the Lesser Antilles which are the smaller Islands e.g. Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao and the Greater Antilles where the islands are larger for examples Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico  which constitute nearly 90% of the total land area of the entire west indies.   The Circum Caribbean is in the Central and Southern part of the Caribbean Sea in which these Islands are not grouped.