Preview

There Is Not One Caribbean Culture but Many Caribbean Cultures

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
604 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
There Is Not One Caribbean Culture but Many Caribbean Cultures
Caribbean Studies
Assess the statement “There is not one Caribbean culture but many Caribbean cultures”
There is no one distinctive Caribbean culture, but rather, Caribbean cultures. Each island or geo-political territory is characterized by its own unique, cultural practices, institutions and belief systems. One may note that cultural similarities may be influenced by; political history, languages, ethnic groupings and economic features. Caribbean culture is a product of its history and geography. Most of the Caribbean territories were inhabited and developed earlier than European colonies in the Americas, with the results that themes and symbols of pioneers, farmers and traders were important in the development of Caribbean culture.
Each ethnic group brought with them their traditional practices to the Caribbean. For example the Indians brought their traditional foods such as curry and other spices, and the Africans brought their religious practices such as voodoo. These practices by the ethnic groups have all been incorporated to create what is known as the "Caribbean Culture". In other words, as a result of cultural diversity, we have developed our own unique identity which is associated only with the Caribbean.
Culture is the way of life of a people and includes customs, practices, beliefs, superstitions and food. All this leads people to act, think and behave differently from other people in other cultures. The Jamaican culture is a great example. These customs lead people to act, think and behave differently and make them distinctive. The Jamaicans culture is expressed through local stories, songs, dances, the use herbs and bush medicine, local beliefs, the preparation of indigenous food s and through religious practices. Jamaicans perform folk songs and dance mainly during festivals and independence celebrations. During celebrations it is customary to wear their nation costumes, which is called the Bandana.
Trinidad and Tobago culture is known for its

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Essay On Haiti

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Haiti is part of the Caribbean, the Caribbean is a region that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands, and the surrounding coasts. Haiti is known for its food, dances, and music. Around the 1980s Haiti was known for their best coffee. I know that Haiti had went through a terrible earthquake January, 12, 2010. Haiti is a unique country because it is the first Black Country to have independence.…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    text 6

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The purpose of this text is to try and have an influence on the way Caribbean culture is viewed…

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Mintz, Sidney W., and Sally Price, eds. Caribbean Contours. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1985.…

    • 4291 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Culture is the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. Culture learned, not inherited and Cuba known for its cultural diversity, built from Spanish, French, Asian, as well as African influences. Indigenous people inhabited the island of Cuba until Christopher Columbus in 1492. Cuba become a Spanish colony, ruled by a Spanish Governor in Havana until 1762 where Great Britain took over before being traded back to the Spanish in a deal for Florida. In 1902 Cuba gained its formal independence, in the years ensuing its independence the Cuban economy was on the rise, but corrupt political figures and series of tyrannical leaders, led Fidel Castro and his brother Raul Castro lead the Cuban Revolution…

    • 1093 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jamaica Research Paper

    • 1787 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The island of Jamaica is very rich in culture and has many historic turnabouts throughout the years. The country has a rich and complex history including being the first country to have Arawak and Taino Indians settle there.…

    • 1787 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Jamaica Research Paper

    • 506 Words
    • 3 Pages

    No doubt that, Jamaica’s culture is fascinating. For acute square miles, Jamaica has to have more houses of God than any other country. Some practice ancient rituals of voodoo (Nelson). Jamaica has a wide variety of races, from Chinese to Spanish people live in this fine country (Glennie, Alex and Laura Chappell). Food in Jamaica is usually spicy because of the Spanish religion (FIU College of Business…

    • 506 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cuba's culture is a complex mix of different, often contradictory factors and influences. The Cuban people and their customs are based on African, European and Native American influences. Cuba has a very interesting and rich culture. All these other countries influence the culture of Cuba. Cuba has a variety of different influences from other countries that are included in such things as music, dancing, food, history and sports.…

    • 532 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Each colony’s culture derived from some type or form of British practice. Even though colonial culture habits were different in each colony, they all developed from British practice over time. Emigration from different parts of Britain even helped create diverse cultures within each of the colonies. It was the comfort of the British values that gave the meaning to each of the colonies and their cultures. Without British culture, the colonies in America would not have been able to evolve into the culture that Americans learn about today.…

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Caribbean Research Paper

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages

    It is not as evident, however because as time went on and as slavery ended, each island, or country, began to adapt their own uniqueness. In carnivals the costumes, dresses, and acts were all different. Carnival in the Caribbean region was colorful, fun, and filled with music. The connection with how these Caribbean people expressed their culture through carnival can correlate perfectly with Caribbean identity. When you think of the Caribbean you usually picture nice weather, fun activities, and diverse…

    • 447 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    For example, soccer is a vital aspect of our lives in the West Indies and South America. Cultures in those areas revolve around it. However, it does not mean much for an American, Chinese, or Indian Just like, kung fu, or karate may not mean much for South Americans or West Indians. Culture influences our tastes in things and our customs, which in turn affects our identity. Churches, schools, music, and foods form the basis of culture. However, every culture has its own customs and lifestyles. For example, a Haitian boy does not pee like an American boy. An American boy usually faces up and whistles, while a Haitian boy faces down and spits at the end. Also, unlike other ethnicities, Japanese do not take cold water or juice after a meal, but a drink hot beverage. Further, Africans, muslims, Indians dress differently, from their shoes to their jewelry. Just like everyone is a part of a different culture, everyone has their own identity. Culture influences what we love, how we bring about ourselves, and why we do the things we do. It is a part of the foundation of our…

    • 2042 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Culture is defined as “the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; (also) the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life) shared by people in a place or time.” (n.d.)…

    • 3345 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Culture is the arts and other creations of individual’s intellectual accomplishment regarding a lot of feelings, customs, and exercises. They say “never judge a book by its cover”, but your average person does it on a daily. People look at your appearance and try to say which culture you come from. On a daily basis, I have people come up to me and ask me am I Jamaican; and am shocked when I say no. The two cultures, I have chosen to compare and contrast are African Americans and Jamaicans. Both cultures are very unique and may have some similarities, but they are very different from one another.…

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Puerto Rican Culture

    • 2057 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Puerto Rico has a unique culture, which significantly is seen in the food, life style, music, and military.…

    • 2057 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Co- cultures

    • 665 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Jamaican traditions are acts that carried out over a specific period of time or at a specific event. This is very prevalent in Jamaican society and is fundamental in defining Jamaican culture. The most popular Jamaican traditions are for most national holidays, such as Christmas cake Sorrel, pudding at Christmas time, fried fish, Lent at Easter time and other national holidays. Rituals such as the famed Nine Night after the death of a loved one are popular Jamaican tradition that characterizes the Jamaican culture. Jamaican cuisine and cooking is important aspect of cultural embodiment. The foods and the recipes make a culture richer. The Jamaican culture been enriched by superb Jamaican foods such as Jerk Chicken recipes, and the infamous Red Stripe Beer. Which is by the way the best beer I must say. It is food and beers such as these two that help define Jamaican culture.…

    • 665 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The smell of the ocean, palm trees, and the sound of the salsa beats in the distance, characteristics of a beautiful culture. But is that really what My culture is. As a Cuban in America, culture is much different than that of a island native. My culture, or should I say, the culture that my family has molded into our own, is a spectacular one. It may not be the same as it was one-hundred years ago, or even twenty years ago for that matter. But one things makes that okay, culture is not written, nor are you born with in. We humans are taught culture. And what I've learned and discovered on my own is that being Cuban means many things to me; it means music and loudness, A lot of family memories, and most definitely pride.…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays