At first, my expectations of this course were extremely low as I perceived it to be similar to what was taught in Secondary School history. However, after the end of the first plenary conducted by Dr. Campbell my perspective had changed completely. This introductory session allowed me to develop a different view to this course as it was mentioned that most of what was learnt before about the Caribbean was not quite the truth. One phrase that stood out for me during this introductory session was “subjugated knowledge” which was stated by Dr. Campbell as “knowledge that is known but is not taught.” As a result of this, I challenged myself to not only succeed at this course but also to be open minded and receptive to learn as much as possible about the Caribbean and the reasons for the Caribbean being so diverse. 

                                DURING THE SEMESTER 

As the semester continued, I tried my best to not lose focus with the workflow. At first it was a bit challenging as it was my first experience doing an online course. The most challenging aspect was accessing the sessions as most times I would be logged out of the sessions due to internet failure. This left me extremely worried and frustrated as I tried my best to familiarized myself with this new system. However, it took me a while to get used to the process and what was been taught since most of the information was new. After attending the tutorial sessions where specific topics were elaborated and explained more in depth assisted me in better understanding the information. Another challenge was not being able to communicate with the lecturer on a face to face basis since this is the strategy that encourages to learn faster and better understand what is being taught. 

                              MID AND LATE SEMESTER 

During the middle and final weeks of the semester, my interest to this course grew even more. The information conveyed by Dr. Campbell on a weekly basis often left me in awe. He added new information and knowledge to my perception of the Caribbean, and this helped me to understand the reason for different types of people in the Caribbean. Different people came into the Caribbean for different reasons and left their legacies, ideas, and traditions, which still at present remain with us as Caribbean people. The session that really caught my complete attention was “Beyond the Rivers of Babylon: Enslavement and Freedom of West Africans in the Caribbean.” Being educated about the difference between West African slaves and the Caribbean “chattel” slavery left me with mixed emotions. I never imagine such cruelty took place among Caribbean “chattel” slaves who were not even recognized as persons but property that could be bought and sold with impurity. All in all, this course was a very interesting and educated one. Based on the information taught, I am now left with a better understanding of the Caribbean and the unity, culture, and tradition shared as Caribbean people. 

There is a tale that was never told so bold and well

The most divine human vessel

Was treated with the most inhumane conditions

They made me a sexual slave 

They went beyond all transgressions 

Mr. Euro could not resist 

The African woman’s sexual prowess 

I was physically superior 

That left Mr. Euro’s wife inferior

He raped me, and made me a slave 

Tortured me until my last days

I got favors from Mr. Euro 

But still I had been robbed off my innocence and dignity 

It was a psychological warfare 

An insane reality 

Mr. Euro even treated his own wife

Like a puppet on a string 

She did all that she could do for her husband 

But he could never be pleased 

He didn’t care about me 

Even if I begged on her knees 

Mr. Euro did not care 

He did whatever he pleased 

The Patriarchal nature of chattel was a living hell

For a disregard for an angel is the tale I tell

In Africa, I was a queen 

I came from royalty, I was regarded as supreme 

But I was captured by Mr. Euro 

That took away all that I was worth

To be treated with great pain of infinite hurt

The vessel from heaven to earth 

The divine vehicle that a child is birth 

Woman was treated like she had no value 

I was divine, 

But could not do anything to stop Mr. Euro’s evil eye

I wished it could stop 

But to my heart Mr Euro was blind

The harsh atmosphere intensified with time

He was a nymphomaniac 

That treated me as a sexual object 

A tool for him to use as his footstool

He made me feel as though i was nothing 

He tortured me both physically and mentally 

Words cannot express how I felt inside 

Sorrow to the depth of a bottomless pit

I was used and physically and psychologically bruised

I was used as a machine to produced babies 

And a maid to be slaved for all eternity 

By the evil Mr Euro who robbed me off my humanity 

Video of me saying, "Why me? Mr. Euro."
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3-LA0-CTUCLTUF6SlM0SXlRQ28

Presently, in Trinidad and Tobago the access of rights and opportunities are affected by gender. The issue of division of labour still exist in our society today and continues to be of importance to Caribbean Civilisation. Women continue to contribute to social, economical, and political achievement but the advancement of gender parity has slowed significantly in numerous societies. The fight for men and women to have equal rights, treatments and opportunities and not be discriminated based on their gender is still an ongoing issue. The main objective, is for men and women to attain equal treatment throughout society in general and not just merely in politics or work place.