This week’s readings Black Like Who?, Growing Up West Indian and African American, and Caribbean Transnationalism As a Gendered Process dove into the topic of gender and race playing a role in immigration. They looked into women leading households, nationality and identity in different generation immigrants, and the common ideas of African Americans vs. West Indians.
Ho’s article did a great job of showing how strong Caribbean women are and how they shape their families. Caribbean families are very matrifocal and the bond between a mother and her child is extremely valued. I found this to be so different from patriarchal European societies and the standard male-dominant societies we see today in many countries. Earlier in the semester, we discussed how women are usually the first to initiate the immigration process. This was brought up again and led into the idea of childcare and how it is a collective responsibility. Ho’s work also discussed women’s constant “participation in the public workplace” which isn’t common for many other societies. Caribbean women are expected to work difficult jobs, take care of the home and take care of the children. I believe Ho really captured the strength of the women and showed them in a positive light. My family, unlike many Russian households, is also more matrifocal, so I was able to connect to the women Ho wrote about. My mother was the one who made a higher salary, took care of the house, the children and so much more. She was also the one to initiate the immigration process and was at times the head of the household, much like Dominican women. I was also a part of a collective childcare, where both sets of my grandparents would take turns helping to raise my brother and me.
Rogers’ Black Like Who?, discussed the divisions of African Americans and West Indies immigrants. He brought up first-generation immigrants national identification compared to native-born. Rogers explores the experience of the immigrants with race. He states that race has been a more present issue and much more conscious with African Americans than Afro-Caribbeans. In general, Rogers’ agrees that there will always be a separation between African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans all around in politics and socially.
Growing Up West Indian and African American was a great study. It consisted of 212 interviews with 2nd generation immigrants, native-born blacks, native-born whites, and adolescents who were the children of black immigrants from the Caribbean. The interviews suggested that first-generation immigrants identified themselves according to their national origins. I found this relatable because I moved to the US when I was four, and I still identify myself with the country I am from. I was also able to connect to the middle-class students in magnet schools who identified themselves as immigrants. In my opinion, it was difficult to see the different viewpoints students had of their future. They discussed the pessimistic views of their future opportunities. The author did a good job of showing how different background as well different nationality and identity changed the kids views on racism and opportunities. For example, American-identified teens in all-black schools thought that “the fight against segregation had been lost” while students in middle-class situations attending magnet schools saw more possibilities and a brighter future.
