Caribbean Journal of Psychology: Vol.

6, Issue 1, 2014

Afro-Caribbean People in China: Away from Home and at Home with Self
C. Jama Adams
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
Abstract
Migration, both involuntary and voluntary, is one of the defining
characteristics of the peoples of the Caribbean. Historically the traditions of
storytelling, oral and written, have been used to convey a sense of the
psychological dimensions of Caribbean migration. There is however a dearth
of formal research on the subjectivities of Afro-Caribbean migrants. The
current paper melds first persons narratives with psychological theories to
present a preliminary exploration of the reflective and self-improvement
activities of Afro-Caribbean migrants in mainland China. Thirteen AfroCaribbean migrants participated in semi-structured interviews. Results
indicated that successful migrants were able to maintain a stance of adaptive
ambivalence that allows them to integrate features of both cultures to
promote self-development within the contexts of varied constraints.
Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed in the
conclusion.
Key words: China, migration, Afro-Caribbean, psychoanalysis, self-projects
Afro-Caribbean People in China: Away from Home and at Home with Self
What Cathay shores for them are gleaming golden what magic keys they
carry to unlock what golden endragoned doors? (Braithwaite, 1973, p. 52).
China is undergoing rapid and profound changes that, in turn, make it an attractive
location for a range of immigrants across the labour spectrum including traders, students
and technically-skilled and creative types (Bodomo, 2010a, 2010b, 2012; Skeldon, 2012).
For some Africana immigrants, China is an attractive site to address themes related to selfdevelopment, such as rediscovery, reinvention and renewal of the self; to develop a
different life trajectory which is a process facilitated by geographic mobility. The current
paper is an initial attempt to understand the psychosocial experiences surrounding selfdevelopment and identity construction of Afro-Caribbean migrants in China, with a view to
generating themes for further research.
The migrant in China is partially embraced by the host country because of the
cognitive and creative skills he can offer even as he faces obstacles to becoming fully
integrated into the culture. As the current research will show, many of the Africana
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