The Study of Racialism

jagirl32 · Experienced User Joined: 17 Jul 2007 {Posts: 122 }

Why is it if your an american born to west indian parents west indians rudely and ignorantly refere to you as just an AMERICAN? it's as though they're saying american born west indians have no ties (and should'nt have any)to the west indies at all and that we should only care about things american. when they say things like this it makes me angrey because i for one am very proud of my heritage and plan to pass on everything i know of it to my children if i have any. in addition to this if i where a west indian american who wanted nothing to do with the west indies at all (and i know plenty who don't) the west indians from the islands would be the first to harrass you and want to kick your behind(and i've seen it happen believe me) because to them, your saying that being of west indian heritage is something to be ashamed of. i just don't get it!

caribj · Suspended Joined: 14 Mar 2007 {Posts: 437 }

G-Man · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2652 }

This can be said of any ethnic group. I grew up in a heavily Italian-American neighborhood. Many of these "Italians" were second, third or fourth generation Americans and would have been seen as simply American by most people in Italy, despite the fact that they saw themselves as Italians.

In my experience, many West Indians chuckle when Caribbean-Americans call themselves West Indian; they too may see their American-born relations as simply American. But once you become famous, they are quick to claim American-born and bred people as totally West Indian.

punjabtrini · Mentor Joined: 04 Sep 2007 {Posts: 253 } Location: USA

There are far too many definititions of West Indians!
The main definition is those born in the islands of the Caribbeans but when we come in contact with an Anglo-Saxon social construct, the definition undergoes many permutations.

a. It appears that in the Anglo-Saxon media, West Indians refer to those of the English speaking islands.
b. Personally as a Trini, French and English speaking see ourselves as West Indians!
c. Spanish speaking Cuba and Dominican see themselves as separate from Puerto Rico but still do not use the West Indian epitaph but within the term antillano, it may be apropos.
c. The Chinese and Asian Indian West Indians depending on social class MAY use the term West Indian as self identiifcation if they possess enough African ethnicity but many identify with the larger Chinese or Asian Indian communities or even straddle both communities.
d. The ones born in USA tend not to use the term West Indian because their immediate social sphere is AMerican except in places in Brooklyn or Florida, where there is a greater West Indian community so there is a fresh link to their parents origin.
e. Belafonte, Poitier, and others, when they were younger tended to espouse West Indians roots but as they became more socialized and more well known they tended to, with societal acceptance, become more American, as it were.

With few exception such as the former Gen. Powell and Holder, they have become more American while still retaining their roots. SHirley CHisholm, Arnold Rampersad, and others are seen as American!

anonymouse · Wizard Joined: 09 Oct 2007 {Posts: 608 }

mulan · Regular User Joined: 14 Aug 2007 {Posts: 98 }

They do that because of the conflict of 'ideals', and they don't want that to spill over into their general identity.

G-Man · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2652 }

anonymouse · Wizard Joined: 09 Oct 2007 {Posts: 608 }

G-Man · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2652 }

anonymouse · Wizard Joined: 09 Oct 2007 {Posts: 608 }

G-Man · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2652 }

anonymouse · Wizard Joined: 09 Oct 2007 {Posts: 608 }

punjabtrini · Mentor Joined: 04 Sep 2007 {Posts: 253 } Location: USA

I have never seen or come across a 'basketball' gene yet!

anonymouse · Wizard Joined: 09 Oct 2007 {Posts: 608 }

punjabtrini · Mentor Joined: 04 Sep 2007 {Posts: 253 } Location: USA

Perhaps some of us have a 'limin' gene (if your are a Trini) or a cricket gene!

anonymouse · Wizard Joined: 09 Oct 2007 {Posts: 608 }

My football (soccer) gene is definitely stronger than my cricket one. But I definitely have a limin gene.

MixedMuffin · Probationary Joined: 10 Dec 2007 {Posts: 2 }

I think once you left the island youre no longer classed as West Indian. My dad was born in St Lucia and he left when he was kind of young but he can still understand St Lucian creole but he doesnt have an accent now . The way native islanders reacted to him when he was there was kind of funny they call him British even tho he wasnt classed as this til after i was born some 20yrs after leaving St Lucia.

anonymouse · Wizard Joined: 09 Oct 2007 {Posts: 608 }

punjabtrini · Mentor Joined: 04 Sep 2007 {Posts: 253 } Location: USA

I think that was how it was in the old days. Many West Indians who left to go to England were 'British' citizens and that was their identity.
Delroy Lindo (Jamaican, born in UK) as 'American' an actor he is, still considers himself British by birth, social milieu and education so I am using this is as a type of fluid identity as opposed to a static one, that is present is US.
The guy who played the Muslim in Oz, a Trini, also sees himself as British because that was where he grew up, hence his identity. I am using British as nationality or citizenship in that these West Indians are not English, Welsh, Irish or Scottish, which pertains to ethnicity. They are all British as place and location and birth!

G-Man · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2652 }