Caribbean History March 10th Notes

Course Management

• Papers must be submitted promptly.

• Students who have not yet submitted papers need to do so as soon as possible.

• Reminder to include the exact prompt or assignment title on the top of the page to avoid losing partial credit.

  • This ensures clarity in grading and helps in formulating a more targeted response.

Assessment Overview

• Overall student performance was good, with several excellent submissions.

• Key topics highlighted in the evaluations:

  • Nineteenth-century Caribbean transformations faced through the Haitian Revolution.

  • The impact of the sugar revolutions in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

  • Need for more discussion on technological changes related to these transformations.

  • Importance of the independence fight in Cuba and differences in colonial situations within the Caribbean.

  • Major migrations to the Caribbean during this period, including:

    • Approximately 800,000 Africans.

    • Around 650,000 indentured Indian servants.

    • Over 50,000 Chinese indentured servants.

    • Significant inflow of Spanish migrants into the Hispanic Caribbean.

Paper Submission Guidance

• Titles are important for grading purposes; missing or made-up titles will result in a grade reduction.

• It is essential to proofread papers for errors and coherence, as sloppy work can negatively affect grades.

• Encouragement to use citations from various materials, enhancing the depth of research.

Upcoming Discussions

• Focus on racial formations and identity formation in the Caribbean up to the early twentieth century.

• Important readings:

  • General overview of racial formations in the Caribbean.

  • Specific focus on the political organization of Afro-Cubans and the Independent Party of Color, which faced repression in 1912.

• Understanding the concept that race lacks a scientific foundation; all humans belong to one race, the human race.

Historical Context of Race

• The racial hierarchy notion originated in mid-19th century Europe and was adopted in the U.S. by the late 19th century, unjustly positioning races in a superiority-inferiority framework.

• Current racial identities are a construct shaped by culture, experience, and social dynamics rather than biological differences.

Identity and Language in the Caribbean

• Discussion on how historical factors, including migrations and colonization, influence food practices and identity.

• Distinctions between Spanish and non-Spanish Caribbean identities:

  • Hispanic Caribbean: Generally maintains a standard Spanish language across various social classes.

  • Non-Hispanic Caribbean: People speak Creole languages influenced more prominently by African languages, with sharp linguistic distinctions between social classes.

• The significant role of food traditions in reflecting national identities—access and preparation of certain foods help define cultural groups.

Language and Education

• Language as a crucial aspect of identity and social stratification.

  • The language of the elite is typically the language of the colonizers (e.g., Spanish, English, French) whereas the masses speak Creole.

• Importance of educational attainment often linked to language fluency.

  • Education historically conducted in colonial languages reinforces social hierarchies and class distinctions.

Conclusion

• The class will explore how Caribbean identities shaped by historical migration, social structures, and cultural practices differ across regions.

• Upcoming readings and discussions will build upon the themes of identity formation and racial distinctions, recognizing the complexity of the Caribbean's multicultural landscape.