FOUN 1101: Caribbean Civilization

“The Caribbean is characterized by grave intolerance and mistrust at all levels”

In analyzing this statement, one can choose to agree or disagree. There are many factors that can support this statement and those which stand against it. The Caribbean is viewed as a ‘melting pot’ for a variety of different races, religions and cultural practices. One might believe that due to its diverse makeup, racial tensions do not exist in the Caribbean .Though the discriminatory acts carried out in the Caribbean may not be on a large scale as those in other parts of the world , they still occur. Intolerance is explained as the unwillingness to accept or respect opinions or beliefs contrary to one’s own. It leads to hate crimes and discrimination. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “Intolerance is itself a form of violence.”

As a tourism dependent region, the Caribbean is known for hospitality and tolerant attitudes towards others. This is true, but partially so.  The third Committee of the United Nations reported that the rise of racism, xenophobia and intolerance represented the most serious threat to democratic progress and the creation of multicultural societies in the Caribbean. Could this be as a result of the history of the Caribbean ? For people of different races and ethnicities to exist harmoniously accommodations must be made by each group to share and respect space & place, political & economic power and social visibility.

Long ago when Columbus came to the New World he arrived with a baggage of religious intolerance. When he first arrived, he met the Amerindian groups. They crossed the Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska and entered the Caribbean through the mouth of the Orinoco river and through Florida. In 1492 the Spaniards rediscovered the Americas in the search for the East Indies. After arriving in the Caribbean and meeting the Amerindian groups , the Tainos and Kalinas, the Spanish introduced the Encomienda system. This system existed mostly in the Greater Antilles. It was a forced system of labour where the Amerindians were required to work the land and pay tributes in gold . The landowners were responsible for the protection and religious instruction of the Amerindians. When the Spanish arrived, the Amerindian population was at six million. In a short space of time they were decimated.

After the genocide  of the Amerindians, in 1501 the Spaniards were given the okay to begin chattel slavery. Millions of Africans were forcefully brought to the Caribbean via the trans-Atlantic slave trade of enslaved Africans. When they arrived in the new world, they were viewed as property and could be bought or sold. Africans could be murdered or mistreated in any way and there would be no redress. In a short time , status was defined by your race and class and acceptance of European culture. Enslaved groups formed a social class at the bottom of the hierarchy . The white planters sat at the top of this social stratum. Thus, began another system of discrimination by European settlers. Africans were continuously looked down on throughout history due to the color of their skin. The unjust treatment that slaves faced fostered a light skinned and dark skinned upper and lower class. Blacks who were lighter generally received better opportunities than darker ones. According to an article in Trinidad and Tobago News Bulletin Board, the word Negro comes from the Greek derivation of necro, which means dead. This was regarded as an appropriate state of mind for millions of Africans. This symbolized that the Africans were a race of dead people with a dead history. This is a demonstration of how heavy the  prejudice against Africans was.

After the abolishment of slavery different groups were brought in to replace the lost African laborers. One such group was the Chinese. They came in the 1800s and many were brought from Malaya. When the Chinese arrived, they decided that they did not want to go into agricultural labour and preferred commercial labour. Countries which housed Chinese immigrants like Trinidad, Jamaica and Guiana saw a large proliferation of shops.  They became shopkeepers, farmers, restaurant owners and small traders.

East Indians was another group of indentured laborers brought to the Caribbean. They originated from the Pradesh and Bengal regions of Indian and came in 1834. They were contracted to work 5 years. 85% of those who came were Hindus and 14% were Muslims. They worked in low density populations like in Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname. This system of labour was said to be tantamount to slavery. The East Indian population suffered from intolerance, stereotypes and myths. Some of these were that Hinduism and Islam were paganism. They were referred to as  ‘low life’ and ‘coolie’. Additionally, they were kept apart geographically and culturally from the rest of the residing groups, mainly Africans. They were labelled docile, feeble and deceitful and their laws and personal manners were criticized. Like other demographic groups in the Caribbean they faced racial and class issues along with mistrust and intolerance.

Other groups that came to the Caribbean include Syrian Lebanese, Venezuelans, Javanese, Swiss, Dutch and Germans. A look into the history that of the Caribbean helps to understand the issues prevalent in present-day society. In efforts to break the chain of discrimination rooted in the Caribbean different countries adopt certain policies and behaviors.

 To aid in social visibility of minority groups holidays are used to raise cultural awareness. Government grants are given for different activities to promote cultural activities. Laws are also made that give social visibility to a group.

The Amerindians were the first to occupy land in the Caribbean but now they are the most invisible group.  For several years in Guyana, Amerindians have reported that they were being discriminated against by the country’s two main ethnic groups, Afro and Indo-Guyanese.  In a publication on the Caribbean edition of BBC online , on the discontent that Amerindians in Guyana face it relays a great distrust between the indigenous peoples and the government. The Amerindians of Guyana say that they are repeatedly exploited by politicians in the run up to general elections. Politicians visit their communities with promises . Disappointingly, after elections have been won , the promises are not fulfilled, and the Amerindians go back to an invisible group. In present-day Caribbean society indigenous peoples face exclusion from political and economic power. Most times they are robbed of their ancestral lands and deprived of their resources. On another note, strides have been made to contribute to the development and growth of First Peoples by granting a day of recognition. In 2017 on October 13^th a one- off national holiday known as First Peoples Day was celebrated in Trinidad.

Despite the assortment of races, cultures and religions found in the Caribbean different groups still struggle for acceptance and in some instances,  efforts are seen to include all groups. In Guyana for example all public ceremonies start with a prayer by representatives of all 3 faiths ( Christianity, Hinduism & Islam). Likewise, in Suriname, the capital, Paramaribo has a Muslim mosque and Jewish tabernacle side by side. They also share a parking lot between them. When choosing to respect each other’s differences there can be many benefits.  It helps the tourism industry by making the region more marketable. Society’s awareness of various cultural groups is enhanced and there is more tolerance. In Trinidad, religious holidays such as Diwali, Eid al-Fitr and Christmas are all celebrated throughout the year.

In turn a lack of inclusion for all leads to marginalized groups. Intolerance is present and there is division and conflict along with cultural discrimination. Tribal politics are practiced as seen with Trinidad where the African community tend to vote for the People’s National Movement(PNM) and East Indians for The United National Congress(UNC). Another instance of intolerance coming out of Trinidad was seen with the coup that took place in 1990. A group named Jamaat al Muslimeen carried on an armed attack on the national parliament. In the process they demanded respect for the twin-island republic’s Muslim minority. This shows how intolerance can lead to hate crimes.

In 2018 the Jamaican Observer reported that Antigua and Barbuda became the first Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to ratify the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related forms of Intolerance. The convention is said to offer protection to all human beings from racism, racial discrimination and related forms of intolerance in any sphere of public or private life.

The Rasta movement emerged in Jamaica in the early 1900s as a protect against the colonial nature of Jamaican society along with racism and other forms of oppression of the black masses. In Jamaica during the colonial-era Rastafarians were heavily discriminated as they went against the Christian belief system. There even existed a ‘Dread Act’ where authorities could shoot and kill any Rasta on sight.

An online news site called Caribbean Life published an article on Rastafarians, Voudou practitioners, Muslims being discriminated against in the Caribbean. In this article, it is highlighted that this intolerance is showcased in Haiti, Jamaica , Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas. Vodous is an African religion brought to the region during the time of slavery and it is widely practiced in Haiti. In Haiti members of the Voudou and Muslim communities narrate that the legal protections enjoyed by Christians are not the same for them. Muslim leaders additionally made claims that the Haitian government was reluctant to recognize Islam . Muslims married in a religious ceremony did not receive the same government recognition accorded to Christians who married in church. The article mentions that society is generally tolerant of the variety of religious practices however this is not so for everyone. Rastafarians in Jamaica said that elements of their religion like deadlocks and smoking marijuana are constantly presenting barriers to their ability to find employment and achieve professional status. This is also the case in Dominica.

Moving on course with the topic of mistrust and intolerance in the Caribbean, the West Indies Federation(WIF) is of great mention. In 1956 the British Caribbean Federation Act was enacted with the aim to establish political union among its members. This was an effort of the region towards integration. While the federation was successful in some regards it eventually failed for many reasons. Some may argue that there was great mistrust amongst Caribbean nations. One such reason the federation failed was financially related. The two larger territories, Jamaica and Trinidad, had too much financial responsibility placed on them. They contributed 82 per cent of the total amount collected. It was also the fear of larger countries that the free movement of people which the federation supported would lead to large numbers of unwanted and unskilled migrants  in their countries. Amongst other reasons was the fact that each country was uniquely different and as such their priorities were all different. These countries had different ethic make up and belief systems which may have led to some mistrust regarding the intentions of other members of the federation.

On the other hand, while the federation was one integration movement that failed In the Caribbean there are several that were successful. This includes Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), The University of the West Indies (UWI) and The Caribbean Examination Council(CXC).

Conclusively, the Caribbean region has a diverse make up of people. Intolerance and mistrust can take form when these people are not accepting of one another and as a result discrimination is prevalent. However, when accommodations are made to accept everyone , integration of various forms are seen and can have bountiful effects on cultural enrichment. Thereby it is right to say that there is grave mistrust and intolerance in the Caribbean while it is also correct to state that the Caribbean constantly makes strides to be tolerant and accepting of its rainbow people.