My Caribbean; Our Civilization by Nayomi Ragoonath https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu The Caribbean is where I belong; the Caribbean is my home en-us 2017-11-15 04:33:03 UTC 2023-01-19 06:20:18 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Tent.png Learning Objective 4 nayomi_ragoonath1998 https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/208268397 Personal Reflections on Learning.
November 26th, 2017:
During the period spent learning about Caribbean Civilization, I have instilled greater pride and respect for the Caribbean and my identity. Defining my identity now not only stems from within my home country, Trinidad but branches out to the influences of other Caribbean islands. This has given me a wider platform to express the definition of my identity. I have learned that there is no one specific way of defining the unique Caribbean since there is a historical, geographical, geological and political definition.
Also, what was previously learned as a child is an absolute misinterpretation of Caribbean history and I enjoy educating the brainwashed individuals with the true meaning of being ‘Caribbean’ and the myths that arose. Myths include: no writing means no history, there was no civilization or culture, the Caribbean region is divided into Caribs and Arawaks and Caribs were cannibals. These myths that were introduced during the first session and have since given rise to the term revisionism. Revisionism is the rewriting and correcting of the Eurocentric view of history, it is done by historians, archaeologist, and researchers to help us redefine the Caribbean. Due to this, I have learned the true meaning of civilization, that it exists in all communities based on their particular norms, culture, and values. What escalated my appreciation for this course was the integration of the various campuses that allowed teachers and students from different islands communicate and discuss Caribbean Civilization at the same level of perception.
For my artifact I provided images depicting First People’s National Holiday in Trinidad and Tobago, first celebrated on October 13^th, 2017. I have chosen this to show, that citizens are learning to acknowledge and appreciate our ancestors, the indigenous people. Moreover, they seek to abolish the stereotype associated with indigenous people, which was implemented by the Europeans. Ricardo Hernandez Bharath, of the Santa Rosa First Peoples Community, stated that "the holiday would be in recognition of the history of indigenous peoples." This holiday served significance to me, as it occurred in a perfect time- during the period of the Caribbean Civilization course. I truly appreciate the Caribbean's festivals, sport, music, food, and culture more because I enjoyed pursuing this course. ]]> 2017-11-17 19:21:02 UTC https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/208268397 Learning Objective 3 nayomi_ragoonath1998 https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/208268462 Free Movement within CARICOM.
October 16th, 2017:
Caribbean Community formerly known as CARICOM, is a Caribbean organization comprising of fifteen-member states and five associate members. CARICOM was established in 1973 mainly by English-speaking countries and its headquarters is located in Georgetown, Guyana. However, it is multilingual and diverse organization consisting of The Bahamas all the way to Guyana, Suriname, and Belize. The main objective of CARICOM is to promote economic integration and cooperation among member countries. Also, to equitably share benefits of integration and coordinate foreign policy and development planning. CARICOM, aids in the development of lesser developed countries whereby it operates as a regional single market (Caricom Single Market).
On the contrary, there has been an issue between, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, which hindered CARICOM’s purpose of Caribbean integration and free movement between member states. The issue arose when Jamaican nationals were illegally denied entry into Trinidad and were mistreated before deportation. Other challenges faced by Jamaicans is the exportation of their products to Trinidad and Belize and unfair competition. Due to these circumstances, former Jamaican Minister, Anthony Hylton have implied that the rights of Jamaicans have been breached and wants the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to look into the matter of the denial of entry into Trinidad or another CARICOM state. Here, it is evident that there is lack of management and leadership by CARICOM when it comes to handling regional issues. It fosters a great disadvantage for economic trade and free movement of labor within member states. This not only causes these members to rival against each but give both countries’ nationals the privilege to stereotype one another. Jamaicans now perceive Trinidadians with disgrace and vice versa due to the influence of the immigration problem. ]]> 2017-11-17 19:21:12 UTC https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/208268462 Learning Objective 2 nayomi_ragoonath1998 https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/208268505 Education's Impact on the Enslaved Child.
October 4th, 2017:
Being born into vulnerability is not a chosen lifestyle. As for an enslaved child, it was inevitable and they were susceptible to rigorous work and the deprivation of a childhood. The life of an enslaved child was not easy since they were not born ‘white’ or lived in the Great House. They were separated from their families and were sold, thus no family stability. Children worked in the fields and the weaker ones worked in the house. Young girls helped their mother by cooking, washing, cleaning and do other domestic chores. Young boys assisted the older enslaved men in driving coaches and butler duties. It is evident that the children were assigned tasks based on their gender but both are required to weed grass in gangs. However, the punishment was not classified based on one’s gender. Usually, the white woman would give children the same degree of penalty regardless of gender. Mary Prince would describe it as "institutionalized torture".
Having an education and being literate, seemed alien to enslaved children. However, due to the end of British slavery in 1838, enslaved individuals sought social mobility to remove themselves from the restriction of plantation life. Many would enroll their children in schools which were churches primarily controlled by the Christian whites. The main aim of these schools was to produce submissive Christian people who are taught to be inferior to the Europeans. By the 1840’s in the British Caribbean, there was the establishment of primary and secondary schools. Males had more privilege to earn an education than females and subjects were assigned based on gender. Males dominated in areas such as woodwork, arithmetic, mechanics to list a few whereas, females were taught home economics and other domesticated duties. Eventually, geography, literature, history, and language were introduced in secondary schools. Overall, due to the abolishment of slavery, it is evident that the enslaved child earned the opportunity to gain an education and social mobility. ]]> 2017-11-17 19:21:17 UTC https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/208268505 Learning Objective 1 nayomi_ragoonath1998 https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/208268543 The Danger of a Single Story - Chimamanda N. Adichie.
September 18th, 2017:
Upon watching Nigerian author, Chimamanda Adichie’s speech about the “Danger of a Single Story,” an important issue of stereotyping was the main concentration of her discussion. She highlighted how a Western perception of Africa can hinder the identification of its civilians. In Adichie’s story she explains that too often we hear one version of Africa- the poorest country in the world, communities are tribes, there is no form of technology and people are illiterate. This version of Africa not only resides in the lesser educated population but also in the people who have attended universities and had been passed on to generations. What the Danger of a Single Story, draws attention to is, that we must look beyond these stereotypes, and seek for diverse perspectives by telling our own personal stories. Adichie’s writes about Nigerian history from her perspective that the Western hemisphere fails to acknowledge.
Similarly, in the Caribbean, we too have fallen victims of perpetuated stereotyping. Stereotyping in my own words is, a judgment based perspective created by an individual or group, that assumes the identity of another individual or group. Stereotyping in the Caribbean arose during historical times, where the empowering “whites” would bestow their Eurocentric view of Caribbean people as ‘black’ and uneducated, till this day. This altering of our identity continues to be a problem as people fail to realize, that we are far from uneducated and black. In fact, we are one the most diverse regions in the world and have produced many famous authors, singers, and actors. The artifact provided shows how foreign and Caribbean citizens perceive the Caribbean. Everyone in the Caribbean is Jamaican and smoke weed is some conceptions people have. Due to the influence of Bob Marley, Jamaica’s cultural icon for its identity. People then, assume this classification for all Caribbean individuals. When encountered a foreigner, I was told I don’t sound ‘Trinidadian’. This is evident proof that our language is seen as broken and improper by the ‘superior’. People fail to understand the advancement of the Caribbean, due to a historical stereotyped perception. In relation to the Danger of a Single Story, Adichie has concluded that “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete.”]]> 2017-11-17 19:21:23 UTC https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/208268543 Learning Objective 3 nayomi_ragoonath1998 https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/210247486 Free Movement within CARICOM.]]> 2017-11-27 03:29:42 UTC https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/210247486 Learning Objective 4 nayomi_ragoonath1998 https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/212113679 Personal Reflections on Learning.

]]> 2017-11-30 23:50:24 UTC https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/212113679 Reference List and Works Cited nayomi_ragoonath1998 https://padlet.com/nayomi_ragoonath1998/9h8lbncwr3nu/wish/212130967
"Caribbean Sexuality and Gender Relations: from the Victorians to Viagra." FOUN 1101 Caribbean Civilization Unit 9. 11 Oct 2017.

Chung, Dennis. "That Caricom issue: Jamaica -Trinidad relationship." Jamaica Observer, 3 May 2016, http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/That-Caricom-issue--Jamaica--Trinidad-relationship_59645 29 Nov 2017.

"Jamaica's Opposition wants immigration conflict sent to CCJ." CNC3, 20 April 2016, http://www.cnc3.co.tt/press-release/jamaicas-opposition-wants-immigration-conflict-sent-ccj 30 Nov 2017.

“Religion, Education, and Caribbean Family Life: The Foundation of ‘Respectable’ Caribbean Society.” FOUN 1101 Caribbean Civilization Unit 7 Version 1. 10 Oct 2017.

Sette307. "Caribbean 101." Youtube, 21 Mar 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oQ__LLMmOc 20 Sept 2017.

The Multimedia Desk. "First Peoples Public Holiday announced." Trinidad Express, 11 May 2017, http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170511/news/first-peoples-public-holiday-announced 27 Nov 2017.

Van Der Hoop, Heather.

16 Sept 2017.

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