Journal 4 – “Capital of the Caribbean”: The African American – West Indian “Harlem Nexus” And the Transnational Drive for Black Freedom, 1940 – 1948
In his work, Jason Parker discusses how Harlem became an epicenter for the transnational movement among American and Caribbean blacks. Pursuing this thesis through the theme of “[g]reat stories often [being] eclipsed by their most salient moments,” Parker shows how small, yet influential, World War II events, conventions, declarations and agreements led to the up rise of American sentiment for Caribbean blacks. Similar to Owen’s chose of focus in her Blood Relations, Parker looks at the movement at both local and international levels: he displays how movements occurring within Harlem have great affect on the international crusade.
This movement occurred during WWII because of Europe’s, specifically England’s, weakening influence over the West Indies. A black movement was already occurring within the Caribbean, as the blacks recognized their lack of representation in major political deals. Also, with the failed invasion of Ethiopia, an overall African heritage movement, within America and the Caribbean, began to grow. Thanks to various radical leaders, such as Garvey and others, the movement was made possible. Even though odds seemed to be against them, due to Jim Crow America and British Imperialist laws, the movement was able to grow and spread.
The mistreatments of the blacks by the ruling governments were beginning to be exposed. With these events taking place during the Depression Era, labor unrest and riots were widespread. With it came the inquiry into the strength of the British rule. Labor unrest within the Caribbean captured the attention of Harlem. Various societies, such as the Jamaican Progressive League (JPL), decided to help through any means within their power. Most of this help was on a social level, with injustices within the Caribbean being revealed and resolved. Other committees, such as the NAACP, were able to provide financial aid to the movement as well. This “Harlem Nexus,” was critically located at the center of the entire transnational movement, providing the necessary social, political and economic aid.
Even with conventions, such as the Havana Declaration, which allowed a “hemispheric right” to protect “foreign-owned” lands and ergo further spur West Indians within America to be active, the decision was made without consulting the Caribbean people. It caused, however, men like Domingo and Moore to create committees that were able to pull social and political strings to have America keep an eye on the Caribbean, instead of looking over “and treating the natives like sheep” (103).
It was the “Taussig Mission,” however, that truly provided America with the clear path towards handling the Caribbean. Charles Taussig was a former American Molasses Company executive, who urged to be sent on a “fact-finding mission” in the Caribbean. It was with through his point of view, as he met with local peoples and the black leaders of the transnational movement, which Roosevelt determined that the Caribbean culture be respected. Although there was fear of Jim Crow being extended to the Caribbean, Roosevelt ordered that any officers or officials within the West Indies must “conform with the practice [there].”
Separations did exist within the black movement. There were more obvious lines drawn between ethnicities, not only between America and the Caribbean, but also within the Caribbean itself. There were also lines drawn between ideals, noting the differing responses to the detentions of Domingo and Bustamante.
Personally, this was a great reading to immediately follow Blood Relations. Both were based on the similar themes of transnationalism, macro and micro influences, and the overall outreach of the Caribbean culture. At points in his writing however, I found myself getting lost, or having myself return to the knowledge gained from Blood Relations in order to follow his progression. Nonetheless, he was able to demonstrate how the accumulation of small, often overlooked, events can spur and support such a grand movement.
Brown Girl, Brownstones
Brown Girl, Brownstones, by Paule Marshall, is great piece of literature about a small Barbadian (Bajan) community in Brooklyn. It is mainly centered around the Boyce family: the mother Silla, father Deighton, and daughters Ina and Selina. We also get a look into lives of their neighbors within the community, mainly other Barbadians such as the young Suggie, who is described through her desires for sensual Saturday nights, and Miss Thompson, an elderly grandmother of three dealing with the chronic pains of age. We also get a look at Mary and Maritze, two white neighbors living on Chauncy Street. Maritze wants to move out of the heavily Bajan community, while Mary is complacent, with her mind stuck on things of the past.
Marshall hints at a conflict between Silla and Deighton, yet does not reveal the exact cause or event. Deighton, however, does have another women on the side, to the knowledge of Silla. The frustration between the husband and wife is clear. The effects of this lasting argument extend to the youngest daughter Selina, who apparently idolizes the father yet, fears the mother. Selina is depicted as a prepubescent girl with a strong zest for life. She is at an age where physical and mental changes are occurring and she does not know how to respond to them. Her ambivalence can be seen in her interactions with her slightly older friend Beryl, a child of another Bajan family. As Marshall summed it up, she held a disdain for the girls in their “cult of blood and breasts” (62). Her sister Ina has not been explored as much as the rest of the family so far, but she is shown to be at the cusp of adolescence, young and beautiful.
One continuing problem that the Boyce family is confronted with is a supposed piece of land the Deighton’s deceased sister left for him. While Deighton views it as profitable 2 acres of land, to possibly build a house on and return to, it appears that Silla has no thoughts on returning to Barbados. Even if this is truly a good investment for Deighton, he is portrayed as an idealist. His wife noted how his passion in life has changed multiple times, and he has failed to build a strong occupation for himself, lacking any true vigor for success.
After reading the first chapter alone I fell in love with this novel. I enjoy Marshall’s description of the setting and scenery (especially when he notes Selina’s own admiration of it). I also thoroughly enjoy the Bajan language that he includes in his dialogue. Bajan is an English-based creole language, similar to the languages that many Caribbean nations use (Wikipedia). Understanding the creole language myself, I cannot help but laugh when I hear my own parents’ voices as I read Deighton’s or Silla’s dialogue. Marshall accurately portrays the dialogue between first generation and second-generation West Indian immigrants. Selina and Ina, although they have a strong understanding of the creole language, do not really speak it themselves. This is notably common between second-generation (or the 1.5 generation) children.
