The genocide of the indigenous peoples took place due to the egotistical views of the Europeans. Since the Europeans set foot into the Caribbean they were disrespectful and disregarded the indigenous’ peoples practices / beliefs. Christopher Columbus first arrived in the Caribbean, specifically the region that is now known as the Bahamas on October 12th, 1492. The island was originally called Guanahani by the native Lucayan Taino people, however, Columbus re-named it San Salvador. In Columbus' journal he stated that the inhabitants of the island believed the Europeans were from heaven and that they were offered food and water, while giving thanks to God. He then said, “With 50 men they can all be subjugated and made to do what is required of them.” This early in Caribbean history it can be seen how the Europeans disregarded the original inhabitants culture and the way they took advantage of them. The indigenous people would have had no clue that this prejudice behaviour displayed by the Europeans would lead to their genocide.

      Columbus visited more and more islands, took natives hostage and sold them into slavery for gold. These peoples were forced to work the fields and mines of Hispaniola and when they died they were just replaced. This is an example of the intolerance displayed by them as they considered the natives invalid and replaceable as just units of labour. The Europeans even tried to convert the natives to Christianity which was a clear display of their disregard for the native culture as they already had their own religion. This is another example of intolerance as the Europeans ignored the natives’ culture and practices in order to replace it with their own.

      Suicides, famine, disease and even being hunted led to the demise of the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The genocide of the indigenous peoples would then lead to another act in Caribbean history in based on intolerance and mistrust. The Plantation System was introduced into the Caribbean along with slavery that was founded on the idea that Africans were sub-human or even objects, hence the term chattel slavery.

     Intolerance during slavery was displayed by the Europeans when they took away the slave’s real names for white sounding names and forced them to convert to Christianity.  There were even certain bans so that the Africans could not share stories, songs, dances, wear their clothes or even play instruments as that would keep their culture alive. Mistrust was also displayed when the Europeans used to abuse the slaves to instill fear into them so the slaves would not leave. 

    When slavery was abolished the Europeans needed a new labour force, this is where the indentured workers were introduced. They suffered almost the same effects of the narrow-mindedness of the Europeans. The indentured workers were converted to Christianity and forced to abandon their own religion as well as were encouraged to speak the English. It was perceived that the European way of life was superior. An example of this is in the case of the East Indian indentured workers, when they adopted christian names in hopes that their children would go to 'good' schools.

       Now that the Caribbean people are free from the mental shackles of their colonisers, they have the ability to freely follow their peoples traditions and lifestyles. However, this is not the case as many Caribbean people have the mindset that, "The west is the best." The Western way of life is idolized by Caribbean citizens and it is often their goal to leave the Caribbean. There are even situations when Caribbean citizens visit Western Countries, they change the sound of their accents as if they are ashamed. When it comes to  diversifying the economy , we try to follow the path of industrialisation which has worked for Western countries instead of being innovative and creative with the resources we have here.

     The basis of intolerance and mistrust is excluding and invalidating someone because they have a different lifestyle. An example of this is the Caribbean today is homophobia and transphobia. Things such as sexual and gender identity contribute to one's Caribbean Identity. Being heterosexual and cisgender  is a strict social norm, so when someone does not identiy with it, they are immediately excluded by the majority. In Jamaica, 2017,  Dexter Pottinger, Jamaica’s ‘Face’ of LGBT Pride was found dead in his home. At the time there was uncertainty if the crime was done because he was gay or it was simply a robbery and murder. However, as Dexter Pottinger cried out for help and screamed murder, his neighbors did not even flinch. They did not consider helping him or even called an ambulance because he was gay. 

     It is speculated that the hatefulness of acts like these stem from the days of slavery in which men were sometimes sodomised as punishment or humiliation. Historians have a belief the dread of homosexuality exists in a way because of this practice. This would only apply to the homophobia expressed towards gay men as this practice was a way of taking away one’s “masculinity.” In another case a LGBT+ hate crime took place in Jamaica to a 16-year old, Dwayne Jones. Born a male, Dwayne was always drawn to being more, “girly”. The murder of Dwayne took place when they showed up at a street party dressed as a woman, they were beaten, stabbed, shot and run over by a car. Laws placed by the British colonialsts that banned same-sex conduct between consenting persons are another reason used by people validate their discrimination and hostility towards LGBT+ people in the Caribbean.

      Modern day intolerance and mistrust in the Caribbean can also be seen through “Islamophobia”. Islam, a religion introduced to the Caribbean since the days of the indentured workers by the Muslims is one that is built on peace. However, due to a certain group of people identifying with the religion commiting brutal acts, the religion has started to be identified with terrorism. The defamation of this religion is represented in the form of racism and is also spread in the media. This is more prominent in the west but this slander and mistrust of the religion and its followers exists in the Caribbean, even in the littlest form such a disrespectful jokes. An example of this disrespect towards the religion took place in Trinidad and Tobago, 2018, in a hindu college in which they asked a Muslim on the job training teacher program to remove her hijab while on the school's compound. The hijab represents modesty and is a requirement to be met out of devotion for Allah in the muslim religion. This is an example of intolerance in the Caribbean as in this situation they were not considerate of the religion’s traditions. 

      Another from of creedism that takes place in the Caribbean is towards Rastafarians. This religion has many practices and traditions to be followed  however they face scrutiny due to the intolerance of other citizens. An example of this is the smoking of marijuana being illegal in Trinidad and Tobago. The smoking of marijuana is a part of their religion but due to political figures not that understanding / respecting the religion, it is by law illegal for one to use this substance,  hindering the Rastafarians from fully taking part in their religion. There is also the stereotype in which every person with dreadlocks is labeled rasta, the equivalent of calling every white person, Christian. People even associate dreadlocks with poor hygiene even though they are harder to maintain and require extra care. 

     Intolerance works hand in hand with discrimination and one of the largest forms of discrimation in the Caribbean is racism. Even though the Caribbean is a predominantly black populated region, there is still racism taking place towards them. There are harmful stereotypes and they are viewed as lesser. During post-colonial times, The Black Power Revolution, also known as the "Black Power Movement" took place in Trinidad. The Trinidadians were inspired by this movement because of an incident at Montreal’s Sir George Williams University in which West Indian students at  filed charges of racism against a biology professor. After the university dismissed the charges, the students and their allies forcibly took control of the university’s computer center. Two weeks later this would end as the police moved into the situation, resulting in violence and the destruction of property. Not only were some Trinidadians and other West Indians, arrested and charged with serious crimes but also local Black and white activists.

      This news would spark the start of the Black power movement in Trinidad as the end of slavery was just the beginning of the blacks’ journey for equality. Black Power was viewed by the Trinidadian youths as a way to fight back against the fact that political independence had not changed the economic system of the country in which the pigment of their skin dictated a person’s employment opportunities. Students of U.W.I St. Augustine would go on to make their own an­ti-gov­ern­ment and an­ti-cor­po­rate groups such as the Na­tion­al Joint Ac­tion Com­mit­tee (NJAC). Even the trade union move­ment joined the move­ment as some of its lead­ers would go on to co-lead the move­ment. However, the intolerant colonial mindset was strong in the authorities minds. The government’s response to these people trying to reclaim their right was to shut down the movement. Activists were arrested and it was declared  a state of emergency in the February of 1970 when thousands of young people took to the streets for this movement. 

     The enslavement of the Africans by the Colonisers in the days of the Plantation system, led to the reputation of the people being stained and viewed as lessers. This history of slavery affecting the black people’s opportunies and social standings is predominantly felt in the United States. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in the year of 2019 the majority of Americans beleive the legacy of slavery still affects black people in the current day. The survey went on to discover that black adults have doubts about the possibility for racial equality in the future. This inequality was brought about by the bigoted view of the Europeans in the colonial times and these views left a negative infuence on the post colonial times. 

    Intolerance and mistrust can also be seen in the politics of some modern day Caribbean countries. Based on the theme of racism, it can be seen that some countries’ political parties have the nation divided by racial profiling rather than bringing the people together to vote for a party that could benefit and all its citizens as a singlular collevtive group. An example of this is in Trinidad and Tobago. The political parties, Peoples’ National Movement (P.N.M.) and United National Congress (U.N.C) are evidently biased towards citizens based on race. They gravitate towards getting the attention and support of a particular race of people and mostly help the areas that are populated by said race. 

     To conclude, intolerance and mistrust displayed throughout the Caribbean's past had an influence that remained in the present day Caribbean. Colonizers came to the region is displayed intolerance and mistrust to the original inhabitants. They were ridiculed and exhorted because they were different from the Europeans. Mass genocide occurred and now it is almost as if they did not exist. During the times of Slavery and Indentureship, the Colonisers once again treated these people like machines and disregarded their cultural practices. These people of culture and colour were banned from or had minimum time to practice and keep their traditions alive. The Caribbean was founded on these views and they continue to show in many ways, whether it be a colonial mindset, ignoring one's Caribbean identity or even racism. It is negatively impacting today's Caribbean and one could only hope for a more unified future.