Caribbean immigrants represent a large number of New York City’s immigrant population, especially in Queens and Brooklyn. Although this is a fact, it is not really acknowledged and not much attention is given to this population. However, there is always something that plays a crucial role in the discussion, spread and connection of information and individuals across a large region of space that may even be international. That is MEDIA! Media creates and shapes public opinions and strengthens societies by connecting them together. In the context of the discussion of Caribbean immigrants and the Caribbean diaspora, we can use the term transnationalism to describe this connection. However, the bridge is much deeper than just knowing people in the home country while residing in the United States. It is more about keeping consistent contact abroad, sending and receiving goods overseas and buying land in the home country. Media plays as some sort of bridge that has more than just two sides. It works to serve all Caribbean countries and their members in the United States to keep the news, opinions and information flowing back and forth.

A very important theme that I decided to explore is the comparison between how media displays news about the United States and news about the Caribbean. The media seems to be more concerned about criticism of events and so, it displays the negative dark sides of both the United States and the Caribbean. Yet, it still acknowledges the great opportunities that the land of the free has. These aspects of the media may have a great impact in shaping the people and how they define their identity. Trans-migrants may be more convinced of their migration to the US after hearing all the bad news occurring in the Caribbean and become less likely to go back. Yet, despite all the accessible opportunities, it is still hard to completely identify with one country, given the current issues going on in the United States especially after the recent elections.

Why do people travel and migrate to other countries? The reason may be just as simple as that they are not happy and desire a new life in a new place with new and better opportunities. I was very interested in the article I came across in the Caribbean News Now.

The title is indeed catchy and it might be one of the reasons why there are more and more migrations from the Caribbean to other countries like the US. Happiness is a measure of social progress and is measured by “GDP per capita, healthy years of life expectancy, social support, trust, perceived freedom to make life decisions, and generosity.” The article includes the report that ranks the countries based on the level of happiness. Out of 155 listen countries, the first four that are part of the wider Caribbean are: Mexico (25), Guatemala (29), Panama (30) and Colombia (36). The first island listed is Trinidad and Tobago (38). But, there are others that happiness seemed to have been avoiding even more:

That is, the raking is as follows: Jamaica (76), followed by Venezuela (82), the Dominican Republic (86); and Honduras (91). Yet, all the way to the bottom is Haiti, ranked 145. This evaluation, based on happiness, may provide explanations to why people desire to leave their countries. I totally relate to this because Egypt, my home country, ranks 104 and immigration rates are very high.

Published on March 23, 2017, the following article draws a lot of attention on the devastations going on in the Caribbean.

There is a major health care crisis going on in Puerto Rico known as the “Medicaid Cliff.” The governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, and Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner Jennifer Gonzalez joined a group of several legislators and members from the US Congress to discuss the huge issue. They stressed the importance of the crisis in that it is not only affecting Puerto Rico, but also the mainland states in the US. If the issue is not addressed, it would further contribute to the already increased migrations from the island. Rossello noted that “approximately 500,000 Puerto Ricans are Medicaid eligible and would be impacted and lose coverage if the issue is not resolved.”  Not only is the media putting a lot of emphasis on healthcare issues, but also on educational ones. Recently, in February this year, the University of Puerto Rico faced a crisis due to cuts on its funding.

With less happiness, more relationship or family issues and increased economic hardships, many are finding the way out to be committing suicide. In his article, “Guyana scores highest in Caribbean suicides,” Azad Ali discusses the views and findings of psychiatrist Gerard Hutchinson. The psychiatrist reports that Guyana has the highest suicide rate in the Caribbean followed by Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. He notes that Trinidad and Tobago continue to record between 140–200 suicides yearly, which is extremely sad! This is an excerpt from the article that compares the suicide rates to other countries in the world:

Others are finding the way out through immigrant. Perhaps due to various reasons that may account for the difficulty of entering the US legally, many choose to take the risk and enter illegally. In fact, on March 18, 2017, The US Coast Guard repatriated 27 Cuban migrants. The Coast Guard 7th District also estimates 1,951 Cubans have attempted to illegally migrate to the US via the maritime environment since October 1. The Chief of response said something very important in accordance with the issue:

“We discourage anyone from taking to the sea and attempting to reach US soil illegally – they are risking their lives with very little chance of success. The Coast Guard and our partner agencies continue to maintain a strong presence in the Southeast and are ready to stop those who take the illegal, ill-advised and unsafe journey across the Florida Straits.”

All the discussed issues are some of the center ones that media highlights. Decreased happiness, more suicide rates, increased violence and economic, healthcare and educational crises have motivated people to move out even more. Yet, while the media solely displays all negative sides of the Caribbean, it sheds both light and darkness on the United States. The increased tension towards the US was due to the recent Presidential Election which has shaken not only the United States, but the whole world. In the Haitian Times, there is an article, “The World at the Mercy of Donald Trump” written by Marcel Duret, Former Haitian Ambassador in Tokyo. After mentioning the negative sides of President Trump and even some evidence of having Narcissistic Personality Disorder, the writer attempts to be a bit more positive and tries to give hope to its audience and comfort them after the election, although they disapproved its outcome, saying:

“Donald Trump can turn the world upside down if he chooses to do so. Our job as citizens of the world is to manage to convince him that working for good in the world can become his next impossible conquest… Let’s hope that Ivanka and her husband will remain close to him at the white house. Let’s hope that they embrace the above mentioned noble causes and that they will transmit them to the Donald… Donald Trump can achieve great things for the United States and for the world. He just needs to reset out his priorities…”

The media doesn’t portray the US as paradise, and highlights one of the most recent challenges New York faces. The Brooklyn Council Member, Jumaane D. Williams, speaks of the “Trump storm” in which the administration announced that the federal funding for housing programs that assists low-income New Yorkers will be cut by $6 billion. This is a huge challenge that the low-income residents will be facing. Yet, he is attempting to gain funds by explaining the tremendous devastations that will occur.

Regardless of the media’s efforts to criticize and bring out the flaws in everything, it definitely cannot deny or avoid the opportunities and great stand of America.

While parts of the Caribbean are facing many healthcare crises, the US does not seem to be facing any trouble in that area. They are receiving funds from different sources and improving the quality of healthcare. The article, “Kings County gets funding from City Council,” in the Caribbean Life News, presents information about Councilman Mathieu Eugene (East Flatbush) giving a check of $1.4 million to Kings County Hospital earlier this month. The hospital was given the money by the city council to purchase the latest modernized equipment for patients and to improve health services. I can imagine a person living in the Caribbean to wish their hospital would receive such funding because it simply changes a lot of things

Websites that are based on both New York and the Caribbean encourage migration not just from the articles published, but also from the structure and components of the pages. These components highlight the opportunities that New York holds for immigrants and are thus encouraged to move. For example, the Caribbean Life News looks as follows:

The sections are separated based on topics and even the region such as New York, Caribbean or National. But, what drew my attention most from this bar is “JOBS.” One of the main reasons for the diaspora is the economic hardships in the home country and people move to obtain better job opportunities. The “Jobs” tab leads to another page that allows users to search available jobs in Brooklyn.

Even the adds can serve as promoters to the diaspora. I came across the following add on the Caribbean Life website:

This add describes one of the rights people have regarding housing and unfair treatment. This is a promoter because while many of the Caribbean countries lose some of people’s rights, there are adds in NY that help protect residents’ rights.

Furthermore, as displayed through these examples of different Caribbean and New York based websites, it is an evident theme of how media portrays news about the United States and about the Caribbean. While only reflecting on the negative sides of the Caribbean news, the media sheds both positive and negative sides of the US. This is very important regarding how the audience, mainly Caribbean people, identify themselves. If news at home is bad and the ones about the US are somewhat negative, especially in the current times of the new President, it is becoming difficult for them to completely identify with one side. It may be due to the fear of not being supported. Overall, the websites are used to keep and strengthen transnational ties and the diaspora. Yet, the way media portrays news and adds promotes people from the Caribbean to consider leaving their countries and migrating elsewhere such as the US and its best welcoming home- New York. New York has welcomed so many immigrants and made them feel at home through its individual kinships and culture circles. It also valued the cultures of various places by making parades of certain celebrations such as the Phagwah Parade. Thus, media plays a huge role in not only connecting the diaspora, but also in influencing the way they perceive the events going on around them.

-Note: I was surprised to see that there are barely any comments below the articles. It shows that people might not be so engaged to discuss the topics in the comment section. I also thought it would be interesting if these websites add a component that discusses the experiences of newly arrived immigrants.