Ebonie-Marché Jones
Monday, September 5, 2011
Editor-in-Chief's Note: MNI Alive presents the first of our three part series looking at the state of the Caribbean's Diaspora communities. We will be looking at the locations to include the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Our freelance contributor,Ebonie-Marché Jones, begins our analysis with a view on the Caribbean Diaspora in the United States. See below:
There is much to be said about the character of individuals who embark, in faith, on a journey to a foreign country to start a new life. One must conjure the courage required to leave behind loved ones, prized possessions, and familiarity. Meg Cabot stated that, "Courage is not the absence of fear but the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all. For now you are traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be. I imagine that this is the mindset of most who leave their homeland and migrate to distant lands. Caribbean immigrants are no exception. There is the idea of a better experience, and one must take action to achieve it, even if starting over in unfamiliar territory is required.
Considering the desire to start something new, it is no surprise that in the late 1960s, America experienced a surge of immigrants from the Caribbean islands. The reasons for this include lack of job opportunities, lack of educational opportunities, and the inability to contribute meaningfully in the political process. During that time, available jobs were limited to those in agriculture and tourism. Although there is nothing wrong with these jobs, anyone with aspirations of pursuing a career outside of these fields had no choice, but to move. Whether it's lack of economic and educational opportunities, or political unrest and oppression, there is this driving force to acquire something more, something different, from what the islands had to offer. Today, the reasons for leaving are very much the same, and those who can do not hesitate to leave. Regardless of the reasons, immigrants desire to pioneer the way to a better future for their families. Even in today's challenging economic times, individuals are still migrating to America in record numbers.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in 2010, 140,000 Caribbean immigrants obtained legal permanent residence in the United States. Clearly, the Caribbean-American community is growing strong, but how are we really doing in the grand scheme of American Society? In an attempt to reveal a clearer picture, the following factors will be considered: housing, income and education.
Housing
In a March 2011 report titled,Housing The City of Immigrants, the Community Service Society ("CSS) found that 37% of first-generation, and 33% of second-generation Caribbean immigrants owned homes, while 18% of the total resided in rental properties. According to Tom Waters of CSS, Caribbean immigrants are disproportionately exposed to high rent and poor living conditions, compared to immigrants from other regions of the world. These sub-par living conditions include building maintenance issues, pests, and frequent leaks.
Some scholars cite racism and discrimination as reasons for this disparity. Though these two factors affect new immigrants, like most metropolitan areas, New York City is notorious for its high rent compared to suburban areas or cities in the south. In addition, there might be other factors contributing to these issues. New immigrants might be inclined to take what they can get due of their inability to produce substantial credit history, references, and employment history required to obtain apartments that will provide reasonable comfort.
Despite these challenges, New York City remains the hub for Caribbean immigrants. To date, the City has the highest recorded number of people of Caribbean heritage, of any city outside of the West Indies.
Income
The majority of Caribbean immigrants make up the middle class. According to Tony Best's article, West Indians Forced in Sub-Standard Housing, the median income for first-generation West Indians is $34,000 and for second-generation West Indians $53,000 per year. This $19,000 difference might seem like a lot, but these figures represent the average income in New York City where cost of living is high, and the middle class is often neglected. This income bracket makes too much to be considered eligible for government assisted services, but not enough to cover all the bills. Factor in health care, child care, commuting cost and utilities, and suddenly, this group seems to be just getting by. However, Caribbean-Americans are a tight knit group and seldom have to bear these burdens alone.
Education
Education has always been an integral part of West Indian households and culture. Families often emphasize the importance of education, and children often strive to achieve and maintain exceptional academic standards. Dr. Philip Kasinitz, one of the authors of,Inheriting the City: Children of Immigrants Come to Age, stated that, "West Indians are doing quite well in terms of educational outcomesÔøΩ. Moreover, Dr. Mary Waters, a sociologist at Harvard University further stated the following regarding the children of Caribbean Immigrants:
There is a deep commitment to education which reflects the influence of their parents and the realization that the higher paying jobs require an education, beginning with the high school diploma and later going onto college.
In support of these statements, island nations have placed an emphasis on securing scholarships to facilitate study abroad. These scholarships are available for study in various states including Chicago, Massachusetts, Ohio and New York.
Personal Assessment
Of course there will always be issues involving racism and disparities compared to other immigrant groups and native-born Americans. These issues haven't discouraged West Indians from advancing. We have made such an impact that June was officially declared National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, in the United States. Recognition speaks volumes. When a person or group is recognized in a positive manner, it means that they are making meaningful contributions to society. President Obama made this unequivocally clear in his Presidential Proclamation on Caribbean-American Heritage Month. On May 31, 2011, he stated:
Caribbean Americans have prospered in every sector of our society and enhanced our national character while maintaining the multiethnic and multicultural traditions of their homelands. They are doctors and lawyers, public servants and scientists, and athletes and service members. Their successes inspire individuals in the United States and abroad, and we take pride in the contributions Caribbean Americans continue to make to the narrative of our Nation's progress.
Furthermore, there are many organizations that provide a place for dialogue, empowerment and pride for the Caribbean-American community through special events and seminars
Who's Who of Caribbean-American Heritage
Consider how Caribbean-Americans have contributed to the fabric of American society:
Jamaican actress/playwright Debra Ehrdhardt, received two NAACP awards for her production of Mango. She also received a 2007 Proclamation from the City of New York forJamaica Farewelland was a 2007 NYC Fringe-Festival award winner.
Actress Cicely Tyson's parents migrated to the U.S. from the island of Nevis.
Susan L. Taylor, former Editor-in-Chief of Essence magazine. Her mother is a native of St. Kitts and her father is from Trinidad.
Haitian actor, Jimmy Jean-Louis has appeared in NBC's Heroes and operates a non-profit called Hollywood Unites for Haiti.
Gen. Colin Powel, former United States Secretary of State, has roots in Jamaica.
The first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress, Hon. Shirley Chisholm, was born in Brooklyn, to Barbadian parents.
Conclusion
From my assessment, Caribbean-Americans living in the United States are doing well. West Indians are strong, resilient, and family oriented. New immigrants always have a strong support system because Caribbean roots run deep. Immigrants from the islands have managed to assimilate quite well and have made exceptional strides by taking advantage of the resources made available in their new home.
REFERENCES
www.caribbeanamericanmonth.orgÔøΩ The Home of Caribbean American Month
www.caribbeanamericanmonth.org/presidential_proclamation--Presidential Proclamation on Caribbean-American Heritage Month(May 31, 2011)
www.cssny.org/userimages/downloads/HousingCityofImmigrantsPolicyBriefMarch2011.pdf--Housing The City of Immigrants(The Community Service Society, March 2011)
www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/lpr_fr_2010.pdf(Department of Homeland Security: US Permanent Legal Residents 2010)
www.icsdc.org/ -- Institute of Caribbean Studies
www.jamaicafarewelltheplay.com/biography.php
www.nationnews.com/index.php/articles/view/west-indians-forced-into-sub-standard-housing/ --West Indians forced in Sub-Standard Housingby Tony Best (April 21, 2011)
www.thenyic.org/ -- New York Immigration Coalition
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