Transnationalism as a Gendered Process
In this article, the role of Caribbean women in transnationalism is discussed. Back in the Caribbean, as in many countries, men were the ones who went out to work, and they were the ones who typically put food on the table. Thus, they were thought of as superior to women who depended on them to survive. However, as the Caribbean was infiltrated by the global economy, a switch began to take place. This is because women were able to obtain employment, thus they grew less dependent on their husbands and rose in social order. Furthermore, Caribbean families are usually described as “matrifocal”. Meaning, that women were at the head of the family and made the significant decisions. Furthermore, the article touches upon the naturally stronger relationship a mother will have with her kids, as compared to one the father will have. Such a family formation in the Caribbean led to families in which strong burdens were placed on mothers, as opposed to father, as mothers can support their families both financially and parentally.
The article then discusses how men who immigrated to new countries, specifically the U.S., did not find good jobs. Of course women didn’t find good jobs either, but in the case of men, they can decide to immigrate once more, but as for women, they must remain with families due to the burden of children. However, when a man chose to leave, women would struggle more due to the lack of direct support economically and with the children. Thus, women would immigrate as well.
When women immigrated, they would leave their children with family members back home, maybe grandparents. In their country of emigration, women would establish transnational trust networks. These networks were built upon the belief that mothers would work in the new country to be able to send money back home for their children and family members. Sometimes however, things would not work out, as the fathers who also immigrated would abandon the family. This is a break of the trust network and would only destroy the family’s efforts. Ho also touches upon how that in working class families, women are the only ones that tend to immigrate. This signifies that women lay the foundation for transnational networks that seeks to bring over families.
These trust networks, paved by women, were very significant for the Caribbean immigrant. Trust networks provided economic support for families back at home, specifically for children left with family members waiting to be brought over. Over time, these trust networks sort of die out within families as those taking care of the children are brought over to the U.S., thanks to their care of the children. Thus, dues are sort of paid by both sides of the network.
Black Like Who?
In this article, Reuel Rogers discusses the relationship among native African Americans and Foreign Caribbean people within the black community in the United States. Specifically, Rogers goes into analysis of how these groups identify with race. Rogers states that as more Caribbean people enter the U.S., the homogenous body of black Americans is slowly disappearing and separate groups within the black community are forming. These groups consist of African Americans or West Indians. Both these groups separate them selves from one another. Although West Indians understand they have roots in Africa, they still uphold their West Indian nationalities and do homogenize to simply being black Americans. Still however, both groups face the same problem: racism. When coming to the U.S. West Indians find that they are grouped with African Americans and vice versa. This racial discrimination and generalization has actually united the two groups under the fight for civil rights.
Furthermore, Roger touches upon how first generation immigrants have a much easier time separating themselves from the black homogeny, naturally. However, for their children it is not so easy. This is because 2 nd generation immigrants are often Americanized and lack traits such as accents that clearly make their nationality recognizable. Thus, the children of West Indians are often mistaken as African American.
Although both groups are similar, both, and even the subgroups within them, choose to identify with their nation of origin. Even if West Indians are from Africa, they want to be considered as either Jamaican, Haitian, etc. This, however, is seen in many other groups. For example South Americans, although similar to central Americans, speak differently and want to be identified with their own nation. Thus, this problem isn’t unique to Afro-Caribbeaners or African Americans, but rather this is one of the more complex ones.
Growing Up West Indian and African American
In this reading, similar to the last one, a discussion ensues about the development of identity between second-generation immigrants. Unlike the first generation Caribbean immigrants, the second generation was raised in the same inequality and racism of America, as African- Americans grew up with. Thus, second generation immigrants can actually relate and identify with Native blacks, unlike their parents. Both groups too, lack another homeland. African-Americans are so far removed from their African heritage, that the U.S. is their only homeland. Meanwhile, many second-generation immigrants lack the knowledge their parents had of their homeland and thus they associate with being American, then with being a complete Caribbean foreigner. This, however, is a problem. First generation Caribbean immigrants came from a background of struggle where they could not succeed. They came hopeful to the U.S. to find employment and hopefully wealth. However, such dreams are not evident in their children. 2nd generation Caribbean immigrants actually lack the same motivation their parents had, and thus decided not to succeed in school or society. Furthermore, they experienced a racism their parents didn’t, and thus continue to lose hope due to the color of their skin. Of course there are exceptions. 2nd generations Caribbean immigrants who hold on their background and affiliate with their parents actually achieve more than those who don’t. These children hold on to the same American dream their parents had and continue to resonate it.
