Department of Latino and Hispanic Caribbean Studies
Rutgers University
English Caribbean Origin Communities in the US
Instructor: Charles A. Swift
Class meets every Tues from 3:20 P.M. to 6:20P.M. LSH-B112
Course Overview:
This course will focus on Afro-Caribbean migrants from the nations of the former
British Caribbean. Significant emphasis will be placed on exploring the Caribbean
communities in the New York City area since New York is by far the most significant
destination for Anglophone Caribbean immigrants in the United States. This course is
designed to systematically explore various aspects of Caribbean life including
transnational experiences, racial and ethnic identities, social networks, racial group
consciousness, family, as well as public and social polices that impact this often
invisible group in the United States.
Course Objective:
Students who participate to their fullest abilities will accomplish the following:
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Develop the necessary tools for the design and implementation of original research.
Choose and explore topics of interest related to the Caribbean community.
Find and study a variety of journal articles related to topics of interest.
Demonstrate a deeper understanding of the complexities of race and ethnicity as it
relates to West Indians in United States
Discuss and debate critical issues in weekly classroom panel
Understand how cultural, social, political, and economic factors shape Caribbean
existence in the United States
Learn to write a research (Final) paper, including:
o Abstract
o Introduction, ending with problem statement and hypothetical questions
o Review of Literature
o Methodology( Short unofficial questionnaire)
o Result ( analysis of results)
o Discussion/Conclusions
o Reference section
Required Texts:
1
Foner, Nancy. 2001. Islands in the City: West Indian Migration to New York.
Los Angeles: University of California Press.
Waters, Mary C. 1999. Black Identities: West Indian Immigrant Dreams and American
Realities. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Course Assignments and Evaluation: Students will be evaluated primarily on the basis
of their ability to write clearly and analytically about various topics involving the
Caribbean community. Students will also be required to produce a workable research
project/Final Paper at the end of the semester. Detailed handouts with instructions will
be given for each short analytic paper and final research paper. Students will be
broken into groups of three and will be responsible for leading class (panel) discussions
throughout the semester
The course assignments and their grading weights are summarized as follows:
a)
Attendance
&
Class
participation-active
participation
is
key
20%
c) Student led discussion--groups of 3 will present orally on assigned readings
20%
e) 5-Short analytic papers—3-5 typed pages. Will be based on readings/outside sources
30%
d) Final research paper--8 typed pages, detailed handout will be given
30%
Students must do the reading in advance of the class meeting a reference sheet with
additional readings will be given in class. These additional readings will also be posted
on Sakai.
***A writing tutor is available for your assistance please utilize as needed!
COURSE SCHEDULE
**Note: There will be no class meeting on March 15-22.**
1/22 Welcoming remarks & introductions
2
o Overview of the course/syllabus
o Explanation of paper formats, and sign up for student led discussions
Readings for 1/29
o Foner, Nancy. 2001. (Pp.1-22) West Indian Migration to New York: An
Overview.
o Waters, Mary. 1999. (pp.1-43) Introduction and Historical Legacies
1/29 –West Indian Migration to U.S.
Reading for 2/5o Foner, Nancy. 2001.(pp.25-51) Where New York’s West Indian Work
o Waters, Mary. 1999. (pp.95-138) West Indians and Work
****Handouts for short analytic paper format will be distributed in class.
2/5 –Where New York West Indians Work
o Analytic paper #1 Due
Readings for 2/12
o Foner, Nancy. 2001.(pp.81-114) West Indians and the Residential Landscape of
New York
o Waters, Mary. 1999. (pp.243-284) Segregated Neighborhoods and Schools
2/12 – Neighborhoods and Residential Landscape
Readings for 2/19
o Foner, Nancy. 2001.(pp 117-141) Transnational Social Relations and the Politics of
National Identity: An Eastern Caribbean Case Study
o Waters, Mary. 1999. (pp.140) Encountering American Race Relations
3
2/19 –Ethnic/National Identity
o Analytic paper #2 Due
Readings for 2/26
o Foner, Nancy. 2001. (pp 163-192) Black Like Who?” Afro-Caribbean Immigrants,
African Americans, and Politics of Group Identity
o Waters, Mary. 1999. (pp.243-28)Racial and Ethnic Identity Choices
2/26 –Black like Who?
Readings for 3/4
o Foner, Nancy. 2001.(pp 193-215)Growing up West Indian and African American
o Waters, Mary. 1999. (pp.285-325)Identities of the Second Generation
3/4-Identities of the Second Generation
Readings for 3/11o Analytic paper #3 Due
o Foner, Nancy. 2001.(pp 216-236) Experiencing Success: Structuring the Perception of
West Indians
o Waters, Mary. 1999. (pp.192) Intergenerational Dynamics
3/11 Perception of West Indian Success
Readings for 3/25–
o Foner, Nancy. 2001.(pp 216-236) Tweaking a Monolith: The West Indian immigrant
Encounter with “Blackness”
o Waters, Mary. 1999. (pp.326 )Immigrants and American Race Relations
3/25 Encounters with Blackness
o Analytic paper #4 Due
Readings for 4/1
4
o Readj. Emerson MO. Tarlov A. Implications of Black immigrant health for US
racial disparities in health J Immigrant Health 2005; 7:205-212
o Cohen CL, Berment F. Magai C. A comparison of US- born African American and
African-Caribbean psychiatric outpatients. J Nat Med Assoc 1997;89:117-123
o Miranda J. Siddique J Belin TR. Kohn Wood LP. Depression prevalence in the
disadvantaged young black women: African and Caribbean immigrants
compared to US-Born African Americans. Social Psychiatry Psychiatric
Epidemiology 2005; 40: 253-258
4/1 –West Indian Health and Mental Health
o Analytic paper #5 Due
o Review outline of research paper including:
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Literature Review
 Method
 Results/Discussion
 Conclusion
Readings for 4/15
Foner, Nancy. 2001.(pp 216-236) Invisible No More? West Indian Americans in the
Social Scientific Imagination
4/15 –Future of West Indian Communities in the United States
4/29– Submit Final Paper/Paper Presentations
5