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Breath, Eyes, Mouth - Part 3

In the Ted Talk, “How Art & Music Create a New Hybrid Global Culture: Rajae El Mouhandize at TedXBreda” Mouhandize shares her personal experience with cultural hybridity. She goes into further detail talking about how her grandparent’s struggles within their country molded her family’s cultural mix. She explains her mixed background helped her with her artistic journey as she dabbles in music and writing. Through her family’s story, she can blend each culture and embrace them all in her work. Cultural hybridity is starting to become globally recognized and become a norm in society. Similar to Mouhandize, Sophia makes sure to stick to her Haitian culture while integrating the American culture. Both ladies demonstrate how cultural hybridity helps to establish a cultural identity as previously discusses in class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvYTiPQAyAE

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Breath, Eye, Mouth - Part 2

The poem, My Graduation Speech by Tato Laviera essentially expresses the difficulties of cultural hybridity. The speaker is a Puerto Rican man who immigrates to the U.S. and tries to become one with the American culture. However, the speaker switches between Spanish and English, showcasing how he struggles to fully embrace his new culture. At the end of the poem, he comes to terms that he is not one or the other-- he is both. Similar to Laviera, Sophie comes from a Caribbean island and moves to New York where she has to embrace the American culture. Sophie learns that she cannot fully leave her Haitian culture and beliefs. The Creole language continues to follow her through her education and her mother constantly reminds her to stick to Haitian values. Therefore, Sophie’s new life becomes a fusion of American and Haitian culture-- cultural hybridity. 

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Breath, Eyes, Memory - Part 1

The piece, “Breath, Eyes, Memory” by Edwidge Danticat, displays the fusion of Haitian and American culture-- cultural hybridity. The beginning of the novel is set in a poor area in Haiti. The main character, Sophie is set to move and reunite with her mother who lives in New York. In addition, Sophie’s mother arranges for her to attend school to receive a high education for a successful future. Moving to the U.S means Sophie has to learn to assimilate into the American culture. Her mother, Martine demonstrates how her stay in the U.S has influenced her into cultural hybridity. A prime example would be how Martine mixes Creole and English in her sentences. Through the American school system, Sophie will learn to incorporate some American culture as she adjusts. Unlike many people who move into a new culture, Sophie keeps grounded in her Haitian culture. She keeps many of her Haitian beliefs to keep her going as she tries to succeed.

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If I Could Write This in Fire - Part 3

In the piece, “Race and Class in the Postcolonial Caribbean: The Views of Walter Rodney” he discusses the current on going issues of race and class that divide the communities. He emphasizes the power that the white individuals unfairly hold in Caribbean society postcolonial. Rodney mentions the high positions white Caribbeans’ partake in such as politically, economiclly, and culturally. Rodney’s piece explains how the racial issues are in Cliff’s piece. The black individuals struggle to receive fair treatment by officials and uprise from their poor position. The narrator’s experience as a mixed race and white-passing individual in the Caribbean proves the race division to be true as explained in Rodney’s piece.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2634249?seq=7#metadata_info_tab_contents

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If I Could Write This in Fire - Part 2

In the novel, “The Dragon Can’t Dance” the character Cleothilda is a creole with a light complexion. Her skin color places her at an advantage in her community. Cleothilda receives the benefit of always being the queen of carnival, despite acting above the Afro and Indo-Caribbeans in her community. The unfair benefits the community gives Cleothilda due to her fair complexion demonstrates the division of race. Similar to Cliff, being mixed race but looking more like one race than the other creates issues for those individuals. There is an injustice with communities within the Caribbean treating the creoles with fair complexion at a higher level than those with a dark complexion. Both individuals that are mixed race create both internal and external conflict because they are placed in the middle to choose a side to identify with.

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If I Could Write This in Fire - Part 1

The piece, “If I Could Write This in Fire” focuses on white-passing creole being caught up in racial hybridity during post-colonialism. Michelle Cliff, the narrator of this novel discusses the racial issues that divided her as a young child and continued into her adulthood. She recognizes the type of education and where she received it was a privilege due to her fair complexion. Unfortunately, the narrator does mention an unfair treatment towards a student with a darker complexion. Cliff notes how her private school’s punishments were less severe compared to public schools that the local Jamaican creole children attend. Her descriptions of white creoles and Jamaican creole’s experiences emphasize the division of racial injustice-- despite being in the post-colonial era. Her pieces as well highlight the benefits that creoles with fair complexions receive in comparison to those with darker skin.

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The Dragon Can’t Dance - Part 3

In the article, “Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago” by Jada Steuart, she explains the history or Carnival and how the multiraces created the island’s identity. Steuart informs the readers about the French plantation owners and how their European influences first started the festivals. She then mentions how the African and other mixed-races incorperates themselves into the festival after emancipation-- mocking the europeans festival. Carnival is symbolic to the island because it has all the races fusing together, which established the island’s cultural identity. Steuart’s article about the history of the blending of each race’s culture in Carnival can be noted in, “The Dragon Can’t Dance.” Through the diverse character’s in the novel, the reader are aware how cultural establishes Trinidad and it’s people’s identity post-colonialism.

https://peacockplume.fr/food-travel/carnival-trinidad-and-tobago

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The Dragon Can’t Dance - Part 2

The difficulty to establish a cultural identity during post-colonialism is present in Jean Rhy’s, “Wide Sargasso Sea.” The main character of the novel Antoinette is a white Creol but identifies as native to the island. Unfortunately, the Jamaicans of the island do not consider her one of them because her race is white. However, Antoinette culturally identifies with the Afro-Caribbeans of the island. Antoinette’s confusion on her cultural identity is similar to Cleothilda’s difficulty to become part of and fully involved with the mixed community. There are only some people from the community that embrace Cleothilda but not all, like Miss Olive. Her mixed-raced divided her from other and continued to benefit her in society, especially when she was constantly the queen of carnival. Antoinette as well had certain people accepted her into their community but race was still dividing her within the community. Through both the characters common race-- white, it had created confusion on thier cultural identities.

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The Dragon Can’t Dance - Part 1

A central theme previously discussed in class that appears in the novel, “The Dragon Can’t Dance” by Earl Lovelace is establishing a cultural identity within the island post-colonialism. The story presents the character Cleothilda-- a biracial who falls under a light complexion. Cleothilda identified with her lighter complexion as it makes her feel above the rest of the people living in Calvary Hills. It is only during the time of carnival she wants to be embraced by the community & the Indo-African culture. She demonstrates that during certain occasions she identify with the race that will most benefit her. Hence, her mixed race creates a dilemma with cultural identity. During the post-colonial area, it was difficult for the island to establish a culture with the mixed influences of the Europeans, Indians, and Africans. In addition, it was difficult for those who were mixed-race to fit into a racial group because those who were fully one race did not want to accept them. Through Carnival, the island is forming its own identity now that colonialism is over.

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Miguel Street - Part 3

https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/001/2007/043/article-A001-en.xml

In the article, “Colonial Origins, Institution and Economic Performance in the Caribbean: Guyana and Barbados”, discussed minor set backs during the post-independence period. After establishing independence Barbados tried adapting different strategies to grow its economy by having a reliance on trade and tourism. After a little success obstacles occurring bringing the island into a economic crisis. The economic crisis not only affects the finances of the country but the people. The dilemma undergoing in the Barbados is similar to “Miguel Street”. Having obtain independence and are in the post-colonial era, the island and its people are living in poor conditions. The residence are unable to make money to improve their living conditions, and obtaining decent paying jobs is out of their reach. The article provides an explaination as to how rebranding the island’s status post-colonial was a rough journey for the Caribbean.

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Miguel Street - Part 2

The effects after decolonization in the Caribbean are wretched and due to those conditions, the residents try to build up the community and economy. In the novel, “Wide Sargasso Sea” Antoniette’s mother struggles to keep the success the plantation had before colonialism ended. The workforce was different because there was no slavery and not many Jamaicans wanted to work under ex-slave owners. The economy in this novel does not do well in bringing its finances up and continues to have a rundown environment. The community struggles to escape the island’s history-- hence, remodeling the land during the era of post-colonial was a rough project. Similar dilemmas of poor conditions after decolonization are present in “Miguel Street.”  The entire neighborhood faces beat-down circumstances within their personal lives. Most struggle to make money to improve their lives from living on Miguel Street. Unfortunately, the island’s system post-colonial does not aid the Caribbean residents due to its dingy economy. The poor economy can explain why one of the characters decided to move to the U.S. As well as one of the other characters struggling to obtain a well-paying job because of the limited education provided by the island. Overall, both stories demonstrate the negative effects post-colonialization has on the island’s economy.

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Miguel Street - Part 1

The novel, “Miguel Street” by V.S Naipaul gives insight into the lives of multiple residents after post-colonial in Trinidad. Many of the character’s living situations are at a low because they either have no job, are uneducated, or have terrible relations with their families. Two of the characters, Bogart and Popo, share similar struggles with the consumption of rum that interferes with their success. Throughout Bogart’s passage, it is mentioned that he fails at successfully establishing a life in the U.S. The readers can presume that his consumption of rum is what turns him into an aggressive man-- thus making him into a low life. Popo’s drinking causes him to have a horrible worth ethic and not provide for his household. Previously in class, we discussed how decolonization leaves the inhabits of the Caribbean in a rundown environment and society. The history of rum presents itself as a symbol of the Caribbean’s colonial economy because it was one of the few products bringing success. However, the negative effects of rum prompt negative stereotypes within communities in the Caribbean. Therefore, the history of the islands is inescapable and continues to affect the communities that are trying to divert from the aftermath of post-colonial.

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Similarities- Part 3

Das and Walcott pieces strongly relate to one another as both involve colonialism and some form of slavery. Each story depicts horrid descriptions of the environment that the colonizers had the Indian and African individuals endure. Walcotts’ pieces speaks about the run down plantation and the decaying crops. Similarly, Das points out the deaths of the travelers. It is evident that the colonizers did not care to provide adequate care for the workers or the environment; thus, the bigger issue is exploitation of the travelers. The exploitation ties into the notion of slavery because the colonizers were taking advantage of the worker’s labor. Despite there being an agreement in becoming an indentured servant in Walcotts piece, the situation becomes twisted into slavery. Das’ pieces as well mentions the failed promises of fortune as the Indian travelers for nothing. Through different perspectives, both authors were successfully able explain the issue of colonialism and it’s connection to slavery.

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Wide Sargasso Sea - Part 3

In this youtube video “CBNS101 Caribbean Identity and Culture,” the individual discusses what factors are a contribution to the creolization in the Caribbean. He mentions how the influence of European culture has fused into the daily lives of the Caribbean people. Another topic of importance that he brings up is the history of slavery and colonialization. Despite the negative period in Caribbean history, he wants people to acknowledge how the trauma has shaped the country’s politics and treatment towards others. Overall, the video gives an overview how what considers to be a struggle to some Caribbean individuals when trying to establish identity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0iv-hUsQTs

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Wide Sargasso Sea - Part 2

In the poem “Back to Africa” by Louis Bennett, a comic vibe is presented by the speaker. Bennett’s piece is a confrontational speech between the narrator-- an Afro-Caribbean, and Miss Mattie-- a white Caribbean. The speaker is poking fun at the idea that all Afro-Caribbeans must go back to Africa because of their African blood-- despite never have been to the continent. Rhys’ story provides a similar approach but with the opposite perspective-- a White Caribbean facing backlash from the black Jamaicans. The narrator in Rhys’ piece experiences racial slurs, such as being called “white nigger” and hate crimes against her and her family. Both authors demonstrate how the racial conflict that brews between the white and black Caribbeans creates internal issues relating to identity.

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Wide Sargasso Sea - Part 1

Jean Rhy’s piece, “Wide Sargasso Sea” occurs during the period of decolonization. The narrator Antoinette-- a white Creole is finding it difficult to live in harmony with the black Jamaicans due to her family’s past status as slave owners. Despite living her entire life in the Caribbean, she is not accepted by the people on the island and her identity is being put to question. In class, we discuss the significance of decolonization and how it gave the Afro-Caribbeans power to establish their own identity and power. However, due to the trauma from the white colonizers, there is a racial conflict occurring within the community. Another theme that we discussed in class is creolization. Unfortunately, the readers see the struggle of creolization due to the black Jamicans’ hatred towards the Cosways. As a white individual who was raised in the Caribbean, Antoinette struggles to find her identity because she does not feel accepted by the Afro-Caribbeans or white Europeans.

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week 1 - part 2

The poem “Destinations” by Janet Naidu speaks of the Indian immigrant’s fears of an unsuccessful journey to the Caribbean. Similar to both Das and Walcott’s pieces, Naidu hints at the officials exploiting the Indians through indentured servitude. The individuals carried hopes of riches and an overall better lifestyle. In addition, she includes the disappointment when the Indians received poor treatment while on their voyage and after they landed. Many of the immigrants die along the way and never receive their fair trade for the sacrifices they made to come to the Caribbean. All authors successfully describe the immigrant’s feelings of despair as well as inform the audience about the unfair slave treatment received.

https://www.rosalienebacchus.com/writer/Poetry_May2017.html