Name: Shemille Gordon
Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Subject: Caribbean Studies
Form: 6-B3
Essay Question
Caribbean people have been described as “the people who came”. Discuss FOUR ways in which this
wide geographical region with diverse ethnic and racial groups have managed to maintain overtime a
shared common purpose, economic development and an identity. Remember that in your discussion
you should give both sides of the argument. [30 marks]
“Molded From Those Who Came”
The Caribbean is most notably recognised as that region in the Americas that is surrounded by
the Caribbean Sea that boasts an expansive crescent of tropical islands and mainland territories. The
people inhabiting the region make for an interesting study in the culture and identity of the Caribbean
becasuse despite similarities in location, history, races and ethnicities, each groups are unique in their
culture and societal norms shaped by those who came before us. This alludes to the identity crisis of
the Caribbean in terms of knowing who we really are; are we a descendants of our indigenous people
or are we essentially “the people who came”? It also shows the great difficulties faced with defining
the Caribbean as some characteristics that are inclusive of some parts of the region, may exclude
others (Young Genius Official, 2020). For this reason, a more accurate portrayal of the Caribbean is
given by its geographical, geological, historical, and political definitions through which the region’s
shared common purpose, economic development and identity is maintained overtime.
Geographically, the Caribbean is considered that region that is ‘washed by’ the Caribbean
Sea. This definition is grounded in the idea that the Caribbean Sea is a basin comprising of the Greater
and Lesser Antilles limited by surrounding territories like the mainlands of Central and northern South
America (Young Genius Official, 2020). The geographic aspect of the Caribbean concerns itself with
lines of latitude and longitude, and offers a physical location for the region making it visible on a map.
However, using the Caribbean basin as a point of reference to define the region is not without its
limitations. Since physical geography can only account for landforms and water bodies, attempting to
delimit cultural and societal norms of the Caribbean becomes difficult (Mohammed, 2015, p. 04).
Evidently, this becomes obvious when one considers that several countries like The Bahamas, Guyana
and Barbados are not washed by the Caribbean but are in fact part of the Caribbean, while other
countries like the ABC Islands, Panama and Costa Rica that have coastlines in the Caribbean Sea, are
excluded. Furthermore, places like Guyana are only considered Caribbean because of their shared
cultural and social experience with other Caribbean islands, thus defining the region by it landforms
versus its people brings describes two different Caribbean (Thompson, Lawson-Downer, St.John &
Thomas-Hunte, 2017, p. 74).
Similarly to the geographic definition, the geological philosophy has been used in an attempt
to define the Caribbean but on a subterranean level. Geologically, the Caribbean would be considered
as the countries that sit on the Caribbean Plate. Countries that fall in this category would share
similarities in tectonic features, and seismic and volcanic activities. For example, much of the
countries of the Lesser Antilles like Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe and Monsterrat are products if
tectonic activities and they all have volcanoes that may be active or dormant (RFL Publications,
2020). Defining the Caribbean geologically also proved to be insufficient - or rather excessivebecause the Caribbean Plate is very expansive, that is, it includes much of Central America whilst
excluding some parts of the geographic Caribbean. For instance, the nothern boundary of the
Caribbean Plate extends just above the Greater Antilles, leaving out countries like Cuba, Belize and
the Bahamas. The southern boundary of the plate goes on to further include even Colombia which is
not a Caribbean country. This means that in order to better understand the region we would then have
to examine how people interpret their spaces from experience.
The historical Caribbean describes the areas that were impacted by the arrival and forced
settlement of the Europeans, colonization, African slavery, indentureship, migration and
independence. These historical events include the lives of the indigenous people of the region and
their eventual genocide brought about by the arrival of the Europeans (Caribbean Society and Culture,
2017). Although history is primarily concerned with recounting significant events, trends and
processes overtime, it also investigates how these phenomena are experienced differently by people.
Countries that were once under colonial rule adopt their coloniser’s various traits causing the birth of
unique cultural practices, religions, economic activities and languages. For example, the linguistic
Caribbean is divided into the English, French, Dutch and Spanish speaking territories. All of whom
rarely interact with other Caribbean countries outside of their language (Thompson, Lawson-Downer,
St.John & Thomas-Hunte, 2017, p. 77). The historical definition is important because it allows
countries like Guyana, Belize, Suriname and the Bahamas to be considered a part of the Caribbean
based on similar historical experiences, shaping our collective identity in the process. Interestingly,
this may also be a reason for criticism of the historical definition of the Caribbean because the entire
region of Latin America experienced most- if not all- of these processes. This therefore makes the
definition too expansive as it aggregates all of the countries of Latin America and Caribbean islands,
including countries that the geographical definition excludes (Mohammed, 2015, p. 08-09).
When demarcating the Caribbean on a political bases entails states that have achieved
political autonomy from colonial rulership that once presided over the region. The political Caribbean
is defined based on its government systems of independence, associate states and colonial
dependences, features that further divide the linguistic territories of the Caribbean. Numerous
Caribbean countries are politically independent , favouring different systems of governance of which
there exists Independent States, Associated States and Colonial Dependencies. Independent states are
former colonies which are now self-governing, for example, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad &
Tobago. Associated States are territories which are not independent but enjoy all the rights and
privileges of the country that governs it (Caribbean Society and Culture, 2017). Examples include
Antigua, Dominica and Monsterrat. Colonial Dependencies are territories which are directly governed
by other countries but do not enjoy the rights and privileges that's enjoyed by inhabitants in an
associated state. As a result of varying forms of governance, the political definition of the Caribbean
therefore excludes countries that form part of the geographic definition. For instance, politically,
Martinique and Guadeloupe are not Caribbean countries although they are located in the Caribbean
because in the 1950s they became extensions of France in the Caribbean (RFL Publications, 2020).
This definition also entails the independent states of Central and South America including countries
not in the Caribbean. The complex political relationship within the Caribbean is also a great
determining factor of a countries economy. An example of this can be observed in the communist
country, Cuba, where the economic ideology advocates for a classless society where all properties and
wealth are controlled by the state.
The various definitions of the Caribbean- geographical, geological, historical, and political play vital roles in their portrayal of the Caribbean region as each of them helps us to understand and
examine the Caribbean from different aspects. Whether they are from a practical function of locating
the region, an analysis of past events and shared experiences, a deep dive into the self-governance of
all the countries or a more personal perspective that entails an individual’s own identity rooted in
where “home” is, each definition provides it own unique contribution. They all, however, have their
limitations, in that, they may exclude or include countries that do not fit one definition or another. For
example, the geographic Caribbean exclude places like Barbados which is included in the historical
definition. When considered holistically, the shortcomings of each definitions seem to complete
themselves by ensuring a clearer understanding of the region. By analysing each definition as one part
of a whole it also revealed that the aforementioned statement that Caribbean people are “the people
who came” is correct. We are in one sense the people who came because of colonization, slavery, and
migration which resulted in the cultural erasure of our indigenous ancestors. Thus, today we are a
greater reflection of our colonisers than that of our indigenous predecessors. Perhaps it is just not
possible to adequately define the Caribbean by isolating it to one meaning and so considering all
perspectives is the more realistic depiction.
Reference
Thompson, K., Lawson-Downer, M., St John, A., & Thomas-Hunte, E. (2017). CAPE Revision Guide:
Caribbean Studies. Harper Collins Publishers Limited.
Mohammed, J. (2015). Caribbean Studies for CAPE Examinations (2nd ed.). Macmillan Publishers
Limited.
Module 1: Caribbean Society and Culture. (2017, September 26). Jamaica Gleaner.
Smith, C.L. [Young Genius]. (2020, October 7). Location and Definition of the Caribbean and It’s
Diaspora | Caribbean Studies | CAPE [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/sUnUdGSJH0w
Foster, R.L. [RFL Publications]. (2020, September 28). CAPE Caribbean Studies - Lesson 1 Defining the Caribbean [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ejQGvfxAYqw