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SELF EVALUATION OF LEARNING FOR THE SEMESTER 

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SELF EVALUATION OF LEARNING FOR THE SEMESTER 

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As mentioned before I was not excited about this course Caribbean Civilization as to me it was going to be a next boring history class. The first day of class the lecturer introduced herself as Ms. Lynette Sampson a really nice person well dressed and soft-spoken. The course outline was introduced to us and what was expected of us during the six weeks. As time went by I grew fonder and was fascinated as to what new I would learn about the past history and current affairs of the Caribbean such as religion, slavery and indentured laborers. My classmates and I had equal opportunity to ask questions and discuss topics presented by Ms. Lynette Sampson in our classroom sessions. Each class session I would notice Mrs. Sampson wearing some beautiful African symbolic earrings, they looked handcraft, this made be believe she is cultural and passionate about her work.

The six weeks was intense, as there was a lot of work to cover and projects to complete within a particular time frame, but I enjoyed every moment of it. With each assignment, something new was learned about my culture, background, existence and the Caribbean regionally. However it did have times when I would find myself getting sad, sometimes angry and disgusted by certain point or factors that were mentioned within the chapters of the course. For example, The history of slavery and what they had endured during that period.

At the end of the course, I have a sense of appreciation and pride for the Caribbean and its people. I have no regrets about choosing this course. I am a changed person because of this and thank you to each of the lecturers for providing me this opportunity.

Columbus landing in the "New World," claiming the land under Spanish ownership. Public domain/Wikimedia Commons

by Dina Gilio-Whitaker

Updated May 15, 2017

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UNDERSTANDING A PROBLEM OF REGIONAL IMPORTANCE AS REFLECTED IN NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS LITERATURE /PROGRAMS IN THE REGION.

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UNDERSTANDING A PROBLEM OF REGIONAL IMPORTANCE AS REFLECTED IN NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS LITERATURE /PROGRAMS IN THE REGION.

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On June 27, 2017, one of the most popular news channels of Trinidad and Tobago aired a video showing an interview done by the world most famous critic CNN journalist Anthony Boudain Parts Unknown with businessman Mario Sabga-Aboud and his family.  In the interview, Mario Sabga-Aboud stated that the  Syrian-Lebanese is the “most powerful” ethnic group locally, "THE MOST POWERFUL FAMILY in Trinidad and Tobago." where he refers to the shrinking middle class as a “security” between the “haves and have-nots”. The Trinidad Express Newspaper 2017. Mario Sabga Aboud the chairman of Global Brands Group of Companies and founder of the hugely popular Rituals coffee shop chain.
Trinidad and Tobago are known for their rich cultural diversity and its multicultural, multi-ethnicity. According to The Countries and Their Cultures Forum, 2017 Trinidad not Tobago is ethnically heterogeneous. Trinidadians and Tobagonians of African descent are called "Negro," "Black," or "African." Trinidadians of Indian descent are called "East Indian" or "Indian." Trinidadians of European ancestry are called "White" or "French Creole." There are a number of designations for those of black–white ancestry, including "Mixed," "Colored," "Brown," and "Red" among other terms. The term Creole, from the Spanish criollo, meaning "of local origin," refers to Blacks, Whites, and mixed individuals who are presumed to share significant elements of a common culture as well as bio-genetic properties because most claim these designations do not represent "pure races." The Countries and Their Cultures Forum, 2017. The terms "Trinidad White" and "Pass as White" is sometimes used to deride those who are considered White in Trinidad but would not be so considered elsewhere. Trinidadians and Tobagonians (the population of Tobago is almost 100 percent of African descent) identify strongly with their home island and believe each other to be different culturally. The interview clearly showed and demonstrated the division between the rich and the poor in Trinidad and Tobago, because of this there is a big inequality in our society. There is huge inequality in education, healthcare, access to basic government services, political power, and crucial financial services. According to Heuman, Gad. (2013) in his book The Caribbean: a brief history. A&C Black stated the earliest or first people was the Amerindian people to the Caribbean region, who migrated from South America, their manners and customs were what they knew as their everyday living and survival. The moment of contact the Spaniards took their worldviews not only as superior to those of the Neo Indians but also as a justification for the atrocious action they then committed. Therefore, imposing that the native culture was inferior and not worthy of the European way.  Even though these events are hundreds of years apart ironically they are considered the same only in different times.

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2017 calypso Terri Lyons - The Phrase -  Dimanche Gras show 2017 4th Place Finish

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Terri Lyons-"The Phrase" - Dimanche Gras 2017 4th Place Finish

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An issue of importance to Caribbean Civilization

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An issue of importance to Caribbean Civilization

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Caribbean culture is a body of learned behaviors common to the Caribbean region, which is passed on from generation to generation.   It is the values, symbols, interpretations, and perspectives that distinguish one people from another in modernized societies. (Banks, J.A., Banks, & McGee 1989). Sports were important for Colonization and the colonial project.Trinidad and Tobago had achieved full independence in 1962 from British rule, and other Caribbean nations were in the process of achieving the same. The rise of the Caribbean peoples was cricketer C.L.R James. Beyond a Boundary, 1963. The creation of cricket has emerged to the West Indies society that was part of the struggle for freedom and equality.  Cricket has liberated many West Indians from the shackles of poverty and social backwardness and has elevated many players to the status of heroes and icons.  The success of the West Indies cricket team, especially in the 1980s, gave the region a certain cachet and made it better known and respected than it has ever been.  When the West Indies were dominant in the 1980s and early 90s, the region was highly respected and its views were sought. Beckles Hilary. 1998. The Development of West Indies Cricket Vol.1 – The Age of Nationalism. West Indies cricket mirrored the conditions of the region it was a tool to gain respect and equality for a people desperately trying to emancipate themselves from the mental slavery that still engulfed their daily lives. Therefore no surprise that when a cricket match is played in the Caribbean people of any age, man, woman or child of different status in society goes to the cricket ground to show their support and appreciation of the game.  There is nothing like a West Indian crowd at a test match. Understanding every aspect and intricacy of the game some of which makes it part of their life not missing a single match. Rallying around the West Indies.

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RALLY ROUND THE WEST INDIES ~ DAVID RUDDER.

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Kim Boodram. The Trinidad Express Newspaper "The Most Powerful Family" Published on Jun 27, 2017, 4:33 pm. Web 9 July 2017.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170627/news/most-powerful-sabga-aboud-apologises

David Rudder "Rally Round The West Indies". Published on May 15, 2010.Web 28 June 2017.

https://youtu.be/x-MgkoLKMr0

David Rudder "Calypso Music" Published on Dec 30, 2009. Web 28 June 2017
https://youtu.be/RFh9rFRxTp4

CNC3 Emancipation Special. Jul 30, 2015. Web 9 July 2017.
www.cnc3.co.tt/news/emancipation-special-diego-martin

CLR James 1963 Beyond A Boundary,  Yellow Jersey. Web. July 3, 2017
http://www.spiked-online.com/review_of_books/article/clr-james-on-cricket-and-humanity/15996#.WWb7L7pFz4g

Heuman, Gad. The Caribbean: a brief history. A&C Black. 2013. Web June 16 2017
https://books.google.tt/books?id=v

Hilary McD. Beckles: The Development of West Indies Cricket Vol.1 – The Age of Nationalism: The Press University of the West Indies, 1998. Web. July 3, 2017

Citizen Security Programme. The Covigne Road Community  2015. Web. July 3, 2017.
http://csp.gov.tt/Communities/Covigne-Road-Diego-Martin

National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, 2014.  Web. July 3, 2017.
http://www.ncctt.org/new/index.php/carnival-history/history-of-carnival/history-of-calypso.html

Trinbagopan Towns and Villages, 2017. Web. July 3, 2017
http://www.trinbagopan.com/Townsandvillages/Diegomartin.html

The National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), 2016. Web. July 3, 2017
https://www.nalis.gov.tt/Resources/Subject-Guide/Calypso

The Countries and Their Cultures,2017. Web. July 3, 2017

http://www.everyculture.com/To-Z/Trinidad-and-Tobago.html#ixzz4mhnMlu5o

Columbus landing in the "New World," claiming the land under Spanish ownership. Public domain/Wikimedia Commons

by Dina Gilio-Whitaker. Updated May 15, 2017. Web July 3, 2017
https://www.thoughtco.com/christopher-columbus-setting-the-record-straight-2477985

Besson Gerard A.  Caribbean history archives. Paria Publishing Company , 2014. Web July 10, 2017.
http://caribbeanhistoryarchives.blogspot.com/2011/08/begorrat.html

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APPLICATION OF LEARNING IN CARIBBEAN CIVILIZATION, MY UNDERSTANDING OF MY SOCIAL OR GEOGRAPHICAL ENVIRONMENT

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APPLICATION OF LEARNING IN CARIBBEAN CIVILIZATION, MY UNDERSTANDING OF MY SOCIAL OR GEOGRAPHICAL ENVIRONMENT

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According to The National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), 2016, Calypso arose after the art form had been in existence for some time. Initially, the majority of songs were sung in patois. However, during the turn of the century when the people of Trinidad were struggling with the fading of the French patois and the emerging dominance of English (NALIS), 2016. Calypso stated by The National Carnival Commission of Trinidad and Tobago 2014 are mainly of African origin and can be traced to the traditions of West Africans in terms of music, structure, and function. Calypso, which has been called a poor man’s newspaper in times when literacy was not widespread, traces its roots to African traditions of improvised songs of self-praise and scorn for others, brought here by enslaved peoples.
Born and raised in Covigne Road Diego Martin. I am proud of where I am from, there is no place like home. Diego Martin was discovered by the early Spaniard, Don Martin,  and gave this name to that river flowing through one of the valleys of the northwest peninsula. The settlers, entering Trinidad under the Spanish Cedula of Population of 1783, were also fleeing from unrest in French Windward Islands. Diego Martin was considered, in terms of its terrain, one of the gentlest of the Northern Range valleys and it was proving to be one of the most productive with many sugar cane and cocoa and coffee estates.When the British captured Trinidad in 1797 they found that the Spanish Crown had granted more land in this district that in any of the other valleys of the region. In the early days of British colonization, some sort of church was kept in the house of one of the prominent planters, St Hilaire Begorrat. St Hilaire, one of the biggest of slave-owners and one of the most extraordinary planters of Diego Martin. Besson Gerard A. Caribbean history archives , 2014 Many stories have come down to us about St Hilaire and on of the most interesting is related to a slave of his called Gros Jean. St Hilaire is said to have profited from a certain flair of Gros Jean to sing witty remarks on people he did not like. St Hilaire encourages this, often slyly calling in Gros Jean when one of his less-esteemed guests arrived. . It was these cruel, biting remarks, sung without pity (sans humanity) and taken up by other slaves on other estates, that led, the story goes, to the art of Calypso, or Kaiso, as it is preferably called. Besson Gerard A. Caribbean history archives , 2014
Toady Diego Martin is known for its rich culture brought down from these African slaves. The Diego Martin Network of Community organizations has joined together under the leadership of the Block 4 Drummers, to celebrating Emancipation every year. Activities include a cultural show The Queen Pageant held at Covigne Road, on the TT Post Compound, which I attend and attended each and every year since I was a child, there are African foods and crafts on display followed by a flambeau street parade, starting at the corner of Covigne Road and ending at the Water Wheel site.Trinbagopan Towns and Villages, 2017

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One of my summer classes this semester was Caribbean Civilization. I was not excited to attend these class sessions as I thought this would be a next boring history lesson. To my surprise I was wrong, Caribbean Civilization was one of the best classes I have ever enrolled into. This course has educated me beyond my expectation in so many ways as to why society is the way it is and gave mean sense of appreciation for the Caribbean and its people. My portfolio will consist of the following items related to:

Critical thinking on an issue of importance to Caribbean Civilization

Application of learning in Caribbean Civilization, my understanding of my Social or Geographical Environment

Understanding a problem of regional importance as reflected in news and current affairs literature/programs in the region

Self-evaluation of learning for the semester

I  will be giving my understanding and explanations of each of the items chosen.