Caribbean Civilisation Portfolio by https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v "A people without knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots" (Garvey). en-us 2017-11-23 18:23:15 UTC 2026-03-21 22:52:39 UTC hello@padlet.com Personal Reflections cshenelle https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209773154  Date: 27/11/17
The Caribbean Civilisation course has been my most enjoyable course this semester, not meaning to be cliché. I can clearly remember during my academic advisement, I was asked which course I prefer to do, between Caribbean Civilisation and Law, Governance, Economy, and Society. I instantly was of the opinion it’s a reading course “sockeye”, so I choose yours truly, and only to realize that it required if not the same attention as my other courses a lot more sometimes. As the weeks passed I realized it wasn’t close to anything I was taught in school. What stood out most for me in the course was how gruesome slavery actually was. The worst part of the course was when we looked at a video in the tutorial by David Olusoga on "Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners". In this video, we actually saw the weapons of torture for slaves, compensation claims for slaves some of whom born and died in slavery, Thristlewood's diary of his 40,000 plus sexual experiences of enslaved women, many of which were rape. I had many aha moments, the most salient being when I was doing a critical analysis of Haiti’s contemporary society, I always wondered why Haiti was so poor and often times person would suggest it’s because of their like for voodoo, on investigating this I realized that the real reason was because of slavery and reparation that Haiti is in this predicament. The part I disliked most about the course was the time allocated to the plenary session on a Monday 6-9 after a hard day at school. I must say also my tutor was really helpful and I liked the fact that unlike other courses I could have stopped by the office uninvited and I would be at face value most welcomed for any issues I had.                   
 
]]> 2017-11-23 18:51:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209773154 Historical Perspectives on Haiti's Contemporary Society cshenelle https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209773280 Date: 26/10/2017
Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, but its history and culture are undeniably rich. Haiti was once the wealthiest colony in the New World under French control, producing forty percent of the world’s sugar. 'In 1791, the slaves revolted, and in 1803, St. Dominique now Haiti became the first black republic' (Henley). The powers of the world unhappy with this made sure the newly independent nation paid the ultimate price for demanding their Independence. This was done indirectly by crippling the nation’s economy. Trade embargoes, blockades and systematic degradation of black people were the method used. Haiti became an isolated nation for liberating their people from slavery and setting the model for other independent movements all over Latin America, which might not have been successful without Haiti. In 1825 this great nation was made to pay reparations to French plantation owners for loss of property (slaves) in the revolt, to the sound of 150 million gold francs. This sum was then reduced to 90 million gold francs (Henley). Haiti had no choice but to secure a loan from a single French Bank at an exorbitant interest rate to pay the debt. This, unfortunately, caused a cycle of debt within the Haitian economy. Contemporary Haiti is a challenged society, resonating from its rightful desire to create an identity for itself. From being considered the Pearl of the Antilles to an impoverish nation today, Haiti has paid the ultimate price of a society that just wanted to be free, after centuries of chattel slavery. The significance of the artifact below it that it shows the despair of the Haitian people. Its relevance, on the other hand, is that it shows how slavery and repatriation have crippled the economy of Haiti.  
 
]]> 2017-11-23 18:52:02 UTC https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209773280 Revisionism of History:First Peoples Lobby for National Holiday cshenelle https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209774398 Date: 15/10/17
Before I embarked on the Caribbean Civilisation course my perspectives of the First Peoples were based on a Eurocentric perspective. Revisionism is the
re-interpretation of historical records. It challenges the accepted views held by historians, or introduces new evidence, or reinstates the motives and decisions of the participant group. The history of Trinidad and Tobago and by extension the Caribbean was written from both Eurocentric and androcentric perspectives. In 1492 when Columbus rediscovered the Caribbean he was met by the original settlers of the island, the Neo-Indians (Santa Rosa). The Neo-Indians weren't tribal names but stages of development in the earliest people. The Europeans captured and colonised the natives, converting them to Christianity and working them in the Encomienda system. The historical portrayal of the indigenous people is one that suggests that they were uncivilised and cannibalistic. Historians and archaeologists that have examined the middens of the native people have since formed the opinion that they were fully functional societies with trade, religion, politics, and systems of communication. A civilisation is a stage of human development and organization which is considered most advanced. The Europeans placed their civilisation superior to the natives as to justify the atrocities committed against them. After completing Unit 2 of the course, I better understand what a civilisation is and the fact that the First Peoples civilisation were not better or worst but merely different from any other civilisation. The First Peoples of Trinidad and Tobago after years of lobbying have been granted their first official one-off holiday, under the theme "On Becoming Visible Towards Meaningful Recognition" (Santa Rosa).
The significance of the artifact is that it is symbolizes revisionism at its finest. Its a documentary of the First Peoples from their own perspective. A perspective not usually accepted by the masses. Its relevance is that it gives a brief history of the indigenous people,  the symbolic meaning of the Amerindian Heritage Day and the vision of the First Peoples in future years to come. ]]> 2017-11-23 18:59:26 UTC https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209774398 The Danger of a Single Story cshenelle https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209779740 Date: 01/10/17
Novelist Chimamanda Adichie in her speech tells about the power of stories and about the dangers of having one perspective about a person or country. She warns how this can lead to a critical misunderstanding of that person or country.  She uses personal experiences to convey her message and includes how the principles of nkali (power) not only makes the single story the definitive story but it also decides how, when, who and how many stories are told (TEDTalks). In the Caribbean, we are faced with similar experiences to Chimamanda Adichie. "Interpretations of the past are subject to change in response to new evidence, new questions asked of the evidence, new perspectives gained by the passage of time. The unending quest of historians for understanding the past that is, "revisionism" — is what makes history vital and meaningful" (McPherson). Whilst its true that we are a resilient people, with a strong history of colonial struggles of exploitation, wars and slave rebellions, one must not forget this history was written from the perspective of our very own oppressors. What if the Caribbean’s history begun with stories like the natives were different but civilised and not the natives were warlike and cannibalistic or Haiti’s the real hero of the enslaved in the Caribbean instead of Haiti being the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere or even ones like the Europeans use of religion and education to maintain a slave society instead of colonial education provided social mobility for the freedmen. In order for one to thoroughly understand the Caribbean one must listen to the perspectives of all the individuals that have been instrumental in making of this Caribbean society. The significance of the artifact "Babylon System" by Bob Marley is that the artist himself is symbolic of freedom and influential in opening the eyes of thousands of exploited and helpless people through his music. Its relevance is the lyrical content of the piece where he sings about the system and ideologies created by the oppressors whom he calls Babylon. 'He calls for the children to know the truth as the oppressed have been trodding on the winepress much to long' (Marley). The winepress is drawn from the Book of Revelation where souls are being redefined except not by Christ but the Babylon System of the Europeans in his song.   
               
]]> 2017-11-23 19:34:25 UTC https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209779740 Introduction cshenelle https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209780413 This portfolio is a compilation of my academic work and educational evidence for purposes such as evaluating coursework quality, learning progress and academic achievement. It shows insight into my knowledge that I have gained throughout the semester in the Caribbean Civilisation course which is designed with the intention of creating a well rounded Caribbean learner. It shall provide evidence of my thinking and understanding of key concepts learned in Caribbean Civilisation ranging from social, historical and contemporary issues.The portfolio is formulated around four learning objectives.  Each learning objective displays a theme learned in the course, it is also supported by a learning artifact to support my claim that knowledge and understanding were gained.  ]]> 2017-11-23 19:38:28 UTC https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209780413 Works Cited cshenelle https://padlet.com/cshenelle/81j76mrodx4v/wish/209780615 Henley, Jon. “Haiti: a Long Descent to Hell.” Theguardian, 14 Jan. 2010, www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/14/haiti-history-earthquake-disaster. 

McPherson, James. “Revisionist Historians.” Revisionist Historians | AHA, Sept. 2013, www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/september-2003/revisionist-historians.

“Santa Rosa First Peoples – First Peoples of Trinidad & Tobago.” Santa Rosa First Peoples, www.santarosafirstpeoples.org/.

“TEDTalks: Chimamanda Adichie--The Danger of a Single Story.” TED, 2009.

Images/Media used:

“BCRC-Caribbean.” Google Images, www.google.tt/search?q=one+caribbean&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwilupmBgeXXAhWig-

Alexander, Leslie. “A Market Incontemporary Haiti.” A Pact with the Devil?, Ohio, 5 Feb. 2011, origins.osu.edu/article/pact-devil-united-states-and-fate-modern-haiti.

“Celebrating the First Peoples of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean.” NGCTT, 13 Nov. 2017, 
youtube/Cc_DXiX9FnU.

Marley, Bob. Bob Marley and the Wailers: 5 Classic Albums: Rastaman Vibration, Exodus, Kaya, Survival, Uprising, 
www.youtube.com/watch?
v=jNZcf8WtBiY.

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