Constance S. Suttons, piece “The Caribbeanization of New York” introduces several questions regarding New York’s largest third world immigrant group, Caribbean Islanders. The transnational trend which we have been discussing this semester is again reiterated here.

The Caribbean has possesses a unique element that lends itself well to transnationalism; the Islands’ prior relationship with the United States. During the age of imperialism, the United States established economic and military footholds on many of these islands. The dependence many of these countries developed towards the United States gave their populations a degree of familiarity with its culture.  But what effect does this actually have on the experience of new immigrants?

Economically speaking, most Caribbean immigrants find work in low-income jobs, both in manufacturing and service professions. The low wages many of these workers are willing to accept has made the city an attractive place to invest again. Despite the disparity in incomes, immigrants still receive more than what they would have made in their home countries.

Unfortunately, rather than being sorted by their nationality or religion like most European immigrants, Islanders are generally sorted by their race/ethnicity. This relegates them to either Hispanic or black social status, forcing them into an inferior situation. As a result, many Islanders strive to preserve their identity in a very public way to differentiate themselves from these groups. Ties with their home countries are therefore often very strong resulting in transnational cultural exchange. Ironically, not only do the immigrants worry about becoming “Americanized” but their home countries do as well.