“The Caribbean Today is Characterized by Grave Intolerance and Mistrust at all Levels.” by Sridevi Roopnarine https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z Exploring Trinidad and Tobago's history, society and concepts of identity. en-us 2019-11-21 13:24:16 UTC 2023-08-20 09:41:09 UTC hello@padlet.com INTRODUCTION:The Caribbean is characterized a vast region that is surrounded by mainland, archipelagos and islands. The Caribbean is known for its many mixtures of culture, ethnicity and experiences (pressreader.com 2017). Over the years the Caribbean has become segregated according to its culture, ethnicity, and politics as well as the way each island portrays itself and how they viewed among each other. This could have occurred from the Caribbean’s history, identity and the society in which one grew up. It is believed that these stigmas caused mistrust and intolerance among Caribbean people. The concept of mistrust occurs when someone no longer trusts or confides in a person or to doubt or questions the validity of the truth someone is speaking (merriam-webster.com 2019). The concept of intolerance is the act of someone refusing to accept others ideas, beliefs or behaviour that is different from their own (for example a Eurocentric aspect is where native Caribbean people would be judged on how they dressed, Europeans would say they have no respect for themselves and would be seductive towards the European men) (Cambridge Dictionary 2019).This paper seeks to bring awareness to the public of how persons in the Caribbean region shows mistrust and intolerance to each other, how and why it happened and ways in which it can be improved. This would be discussed through the issues of religion, race, color, and gender mistrust and intolerance in the Caribbean. Concepts of history, identity and society will be incorporated into this discussion also. deviroopnarine19 https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417756808 2019-11-29 12:54:28 UTC https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417756808 DISCUSSION: a) Religion : Religion in the Caribbean is very diverse especially for the island of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is a multi diverse in religion with the majority being Muslims, Hindus and Christians. Religion in Trinidad and Tobago stemmed from slavery days when Europeans invaded the Caribbean and taught Christianity as the main religion. Christianity was used a form of control over the slaves. This religion was forced on them and slaves from Africa and India were forced to comply with this religion. This left their religion and beliefs to be seen as an act of rebellion and was said to be worshiping the devil. A type of religion practiced by slaves from Africa was called Spiritual Shouter Baptist this belief was normally practiced in Africa and when the slaves were brought to the Caribbean they continued their beliefs but were sought out because of it. They started to spread rumors saying that they would worship the devil and moan as a sign when they catch the power. This religion was sought to be very superstitious, once in Trinidad and Tobago the practice of this religion was banned in 1917, however the ban was lifted in 1951 but left a huge stigma attached to the religion (Doughty 2012). Up to this date persons residing in Trinidad and Tobago consider Spiritual Shouter Baptists to be very evil and that they can become possessed by just passing when they are conducting their rituals. The mistrust of Spiritual Shouter Baptist began from the slave days when Europeans enforced their religion as the norm and rumored the lies about the beliefs of the Baptist religion. The intolerance of this religion began in slavery days and still continues to exist in society because of the rumors spread throughout the years, people still believe that Baptists are worshiping the devil and being around them they can be possessed by the spirits they worship. deviroopnarine19 https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417756921
This picture represents understanding of religion even if you are not part of the particular culture. This signifies the unity of the nation and religion. ]]> 2019-11-29 12:55:01 UTC https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417756921 b) Race: Ethnicity and color has always been a great contribution to the Caribbean’s mistrust and intolerance. Race goes back to the days of slavery and the rediscovery of the Caribbean by the Europeans. The history that bought the stigmas of race all began when the Europeans went to West Africa and brought slaves then journeyed to the Caribbean. Upon reaching the Caribbean they were treated as less than, they were beaten, raped, starved to death and called names such as “Niggas and Negros” they were treated the same way on the journey to the Caribbean as well. They were of African descent and the color of their skin was black and the Europeans saw them as they are not worthy of being equals and they were treated badly. Years later the need for more labor was required so the Indian Indenture-ship programme came about. They were kept separately from the African society to prevent rebellions of the whole communities and also to implement stereotyping initiated by the white planters. The white planters would say that the Africans were lazy, worked poorly, irresponsible, playful and always rebelling against the planters. This mistrust led to the stereotyping of African persons from what was told by the white planters to Indian populations. The Indian population was grouped as docile, manageable and obedient, however they were called stinky, were abused domestically and called heathens for not adhering to the Europeans views (Stewart 2004).To this date people of the Trinidad and Tobago still use race a determining factor on how that individual is viewed. African descent and Indian descent persons still hate each other causing discrimination in the work place and even determines if a person will be hired or not. Another way that race influences the mistrust and intolerance of Trinbagonians is mixing of the races African and Indians have relations with each other to produce mixed race children. This has many conflicts as Indian families see Africans as they were told back in slave days and will always continue to view them as such. When an Indian descent boy or girl has relations with a person of African descent they are viewed as outcasts because this type of relations was not permitted in those days because the planters has all rights in who should marry whom as well as the stereotyping of the African and the Indian populations. This led to the intolerance of the Indians towards the Africans and vice versa. I believe that love is color blind and I also believe that this nation should not be based on the history of the past but look forward to the future and make it better because we all human being and are viewed “black people” to the Europeans. deviroopnarine19 https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417757410 This picture represents an interracial relationship that is not excepted by society. ]]> 2019-11-29 12:57:26 UTC https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417757410 c) Color:Color is a major determining factor that separates the societies of Trinidad and Tobago. The color of your skin tone in this country. According to Stewart 2004, Africans were the darker skin color and treated badly; worked in the field and dressed poorly whilst the lighter skin toned persons were treated better as in they would speak properly, work in the master’s house, dressed better and ate better. This color discrimination came about from the history of slave days when the Europeans would have relations with the native people of the islands to produce offspring that is light skinned known as “Mulattos”. The Mulattos were treated better than the darker skin toned persons as they were from the white men although they were slaves. They would have preferential treatments; they would work in the masters house, dress better and have better meals etc. This favouritism went on for years and still exists not only in Trinidad and Tobago but all over the region. When Trinidad and Tobago was under colonialism this could have been clearly seen. Colored or light skinned (mixed) persons such as Beryl McBurnie were privileged enough to have the opportunity to go aboard and study. This benefited the light skinned persons as tertiary education was not offered in this country at the time. Although it may have been viewed as the African and Indians were treated with less respected. Beryl McBurnie made it her duty to pave the way for the revitalization of the Caribbean identity and the way to independence for Trinidad and Tobago. Therefore even though there is separation among Trinbagonians when it comes to the color of one’s skin tone it bought the country together as it carried us to independence and many more. deviroopnarine19 https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417757657 This picture represents that color does not matter and that love is color blind.]]> 2019-11-29 12:58:31 UTC https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417757657 d) Gender: The gender of an individual in Trinidad and Tobago has a lot to do with history. Male individuals were viewed as strong, well-able and bread winners, where as women were viewed as docile, given tasks to cook, clean and take care of the children. This misconception has gone on to this date causing gender equalities to arise with the nation. Historically speaking men were the breadwinners because they were always thought than men are stronger and can support their families. This is can be viewed back to the days of the Kalinagos and the Tainos. The main breadwinners were the men and the women were used for cooking, farming and taking care of the children. However, there was chief that was a woman that made the decision for that civilization, but with the exception of this the main society back then was patriarchal. A woman in those days were viewed as docile, can’t receive education and inferior, but as the years went by the gender equality has been reduced to where both women and men are breadwinners and can have the same education. For example, Beryl McBurnie is viewed as the woman who single handle bought back the Caribbean identity, culture and led Trinidad and Tobago to its independence. Another example is when Trinidad and Tobago had its first female prime minister and president this was a great accomplishment for the country in gender equality. To date there is still some discrimination as to why women should not be breadwinners or have superior education and jobs. The mistrust and intolerance was stemmed from what was thought by parents to children that men are better than females and they alone can be breadwinners while the females should be stay at home mothers. deviroopnarine19 https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417759058 This picture shows the gender equality of how men are now taking responsibilities in the household but cooking and cleaning. ]]> 2019-11-29 13:00:39 UTC https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417759058 CONCLUSION: The Caribbean mistrust and intolerance began from the history the Caribbean people. It can be viewed as most misleading form of identity to a country because if there is no love and unity of the nation; this will cause separation and not unified. I strongly believe that religion, race, color and gender are the main reasons why persons in Trinidad and Tobago do not see each other with love and respect. All this stemmed from how the Caribbean history came about and how the Africans and Indians were viewed. I would recommend that the nation come together to share in each other’s culture and society. The people of Trinidad and Tobago need to come out of the ‘backyard’ thinking and show more love and compassion for each other for racial, color, gender and religion differences to become the past. The more separated a country is the harder it is for the nation to move forward. Moving forward would help with the discrimination that arises as well as decrease the amount of crime that maybe present in a country. deviroopnarine19 https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417759518 2019-11-29 13:02:43 UTC https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417759518 WORK CITED:“INTOLERANCE: Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary.” Cambridge Dictionary, Accessed on 22/11/2019. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/intolerance.“PressReader.com - Your Favorite Newspapers and Magazines.” PressReader.com - Your Favorite Newspapers and Magazines., Accessed on 22/11/2019.https://www.pressreader.com/.Doughty, Melis¬sa. “Spiritual Shouter Baptists - A Faith Misunderstood.” Trinidad Guardian, 29 Mar. 2012, Accessed 29/11/2019. https://www.guardian.co.tt/article-6.2.419210.2c417a6ddb.Stewart, Nakeba. “Race and Color in Trinidad and Tobago.” Trinidad and Tobago News, 2 June 2004, Accessed 29/11/2019. http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/forum/webbbs_config.pl?md=read;id.“Mistrust.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, Accessed on 22/11/2019.https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mistrust. deviroopnarine19 https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417759811 2019-11-29 13:04:18 UTC https://padlet.com/deviroopnarine19/s5cbub6cne4z/wish/417759811