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I don't care what you "consider" yourself. The fact of the matter is that the overwhelming majority of Black West Indians assimilate into African American culture. And the fact that a few act more like Tiger Woods than Biggie Smalls doesn't invalidate that.
At this point, I'm convinced you are not West Indian at all. You haven't even said what country you identify with.
And you say, "you are one of those Americans of West Indian descent who has assimilated into African American culture" as is I'm in the minority. What do you think makes you more West Indian/Caribbean than someone like Kerry Washington or the Notorious B.I.G?
Pure ignorance. I simply stated that it depends on the individual. In the past, you would likely be correct, but it appears that there is greater tendency to maintain a distinct identity. As stated, certainly by the 3rd generation born here, the majority of people have assimilated into general American culture, whether African-American or not.
Kerry Washington is of African-American and Jamaican-American parentage. Even though one of her parents is actually African-American, not that she considers her American-born parent of Jamaican descent as having a distinctly different background.
Notorious BIG...don't know much about his background other than him having a Jamaican mother.
Never did any of my posts mention being more West Indian/Caribbean than any of the above individuals. You seem to have a personal issue with people who identify differently than you. But since you are pressed to know, both of my parents are born and raised in the Caribbean, and I have lived there.
Umm...but they are forced into a black identity. If you ask the average American about Eric Holder's ethnicity, they're going to say "African American." If you tell them that his family was from Barbados, they are still going to respond "African American."
Likewise, if you asked most people if Al Pacino is white, they're going to say "Yes." The fact that he's Italian is not going to change their response because they see "Italian" as being a sub-group of "White American."
Not necessarily arguing with you about perceptions from the outside but rather how many Caribbean-Americans are asserting their identities more than before. IMO, it has to do with the changing American demographics and that definitely gets my support. Additionally, it seems more people are inclined "properly" identify others. Now if you feel that a particular box or label from people on the outside defines you, then that's fine for you. If that was the way that I thought, then I would be 2349032483 backgrounds. LOL.
Pure ignorance. I simply stated that it depends on the individual. In the past, you would likely be correct, but it appears that there is greater tendency to maintain a distinct identity. As stated, certainly by the 3rd generation born here, the majority of people have assimilated into general American culture, whether African-American or not.
You think Kerry Washington and Biggie Smalls are ignorant about their heritage? Or are you saying that my comment was "pure ignorance?"
And where are your sources to back up your claims? At least I offered an academic source to corroborate my claims. Besides, I don't see how West Indians are assimilating into "General American Culture" when about 95% of them live in predominantly black neighborhoods. Southeastern Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, etc. They are interacting with African Americans more than any other group BY FAR.
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Originally Posted by caribdoll
Notorious BIG...don't know much about his background other than him having a Jamaican mother.
His father was also Jamaican. You could have read that just as easily as you read Kerry Washington's bio on Wiki. It would have taken you all of 10 seconds.
Quote:
Originally Posted by caribdoll
Never did any of my posts mention being more West Indian/Caribbean than any of the above individual. You seem to have a personal issue with people who identify differently than you.
What makes you culturally different from them? Do you speak with an accent or something? And I identify as West Indian, hence the name BajanYankeeepic fail Just be real, you didn't even know what Bajan meant, did you?
Quote:
Originally Posted by caribdoll
But since you are pressed to know, both of my parents are born and raised in the Caribbean, and I have lived there.
You think Kerry Washington and Biggie Smalls or ignorant about their heritage? Or are you saying that my comment was "pure ignorance?"
And where are your sources to back up your claims? At least I offered an academic source to corroborate my claims. Besides, I don't see how West Indians are assimilating into "General American Culture" when about 95% of them live in predominantly black neighborhoods. Southeastern Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, etc. They are interacting with African Americans more than any other group BY FAR.
My sources are life experiences. No book needed for me.
Quote:
His father was also Jamaican. You could have read that just as easily as you read Kerry Washington's bio on Wiki. It would have taken you all of 10 seconds.
I was familiar with Kerry Washington's heritage prior to this discussion.
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What makes you culturally different from them? Do you speak with an accent or something? And I identify as West Indian, hence the name BajanYankeeepic fail Just be real, you didn't even know what Bajan meant, did you?
Read my post that you quoted again and that should answer your question. You call yourself BajanYANKEE. So my question still stands. What is your background? That does not mean that both of your parents are Bajan. Neither does that hint at where you have lived in your life etc. Stop evading the question.
Not necessarily arguing with you about perceptions from the outside but rather how many Caribbean-Americans are asserting their identities more than before. IMO, it has to do with the changing American demographics and that definitely gets my support. Additionally, it seems more people are inclined "properly" identify others. Now if you feel that a particular box or label from people on the outside defines you, then that's fine for you. If that was the way that I thought, then I would be 2349032483 backgrounds. LOL.
It has nothing to do with what I feel. I'm just describing the reality. I don't see why it comes as a major surprise to you that most (that means the vast overwhelming majority) of second-generation West Indians assimilate into African American culture. That's about as enlightening as saying that most children of African Americans also adopt African American culture.
And what you check in a box once every ten years isn't nearly as important as the social networks you keep, the speech you adopt, etc. I don't see this mutual exclusion between "African American" and "West Indian" the way you do. It's the same way I don't view "Irish" or "Italian" and "White" as being mutually exclusive.
It has nothing to do with what I feel. I'm just describing the reality. I don't see why it comes as a major surprise to you that most (that means the vast overwhelming majority) of second-generation West Indians assimilate into African American culture. That's about as enlightening as saying that most children of African Americans also adopt African American culture.
And what you check in a box once every ten years isn't nearly as important as the social networks you keep, the speech you adopt, etc. I don't see this mutual exclusion between "African American" and "West Indian" the way you do. It's the same way I don't view "Irish" or "Italian" and "White" as being mutually exclusive.
Not sure why it comes as a surprise to you that I would state that in the present, it depends.
My sources are life experiences. No book needed for me.
LOL.
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Originally Posted by caribdoll
I was familiar with Kerry Washington's heritage prior to this discussion.
Sure you were. You know, it would've been faster to Google "Biggie Smalls" than it would have been to dig up one of my old posts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by caribdoll
Read my post that you quoted again and that should answer your question. You call yourself BajanYANKEE. So my question still stands. What is your background? That does not mean that both of your parents are Bajan. Neither does that hint at where you have lived in your life etc. Stop evading the question.
You stop evading the question. What islands are your parents from?
Sure you were. You know, it would've been faster to Google "Biggie Smalls" than it would have been to dig up one of my old posts.
You stop evading the question. What islands are your parents from?
We have conversed on CD before and have been involved in threads in the Americas forum. You are aware of my heritage. Why don't you share your heritage?
Not sure why it comes as a surprise to you that I would state that in the present, it depends.
It doesn't "depend." It's a statement of fact. That's like saying "the majority of West Indians descend from African ancestry" and then responding "It depends." Or saying "New York is the largest CSA in the country" and then responding "It depends." You could respond "It depends" to any number of things that are generally true.
It doesn't "depend." It's a statement of fact. That's like saying "the majority of West Indians descend from African ancestry" and then responding "It depends." Or saying "New York is the largest CSA in the country" and then responding "It depends." You could respond "It depends" to any number of things that are generally true.
"Most African Americans are Protestant."
It depends.
"Most American Jews are Ashkenazi Jews."
It depends.
"France is majority Catholic."
It depends.
"New York is 28% Hispanic."
It depends.
As stated, not sure why it comes as a surprise to you that I would state that in the present, it depends. Some random person on the internet is not going to change my life experiences...LOL.
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epic fail
