Student’s name: Christian Steele

Student’s UWI I.D. number: 816020005

Student’s Faculty: Social Sciences
Semester (Semester 1) and Academic Year (2021/2022)
Course Code and Course Title: FOUN 1001
Tutor’s Name: Mrs. Donna Benny Lyndersay
Tutorial Day and Time: Tuesday 12-1
Coursework Assignment 5
Date of Submission: 1st December 2021
Documentation Style: MLA
Topic- The Identity of Caribbean and Non-Caribbean Individuals

Thesis Statement- The Caribbean and non-Caribbean individuals, while similar in their religious

beliefs and humor, are different in the way they practice their culture.

Sub-Topics Topic Sentences

Religious Beliefs Caribbean and non-Caribbean individuals both share similar

religious beliefs.

Humor Likewise, both Caribbean and non-Caribbean individuals reflect

immense similarity in their sense of humor.

Culture Contrariwise, the Caribbean and non-Caribbean individuals are

dissimilar in the way they practice their culture.

According to James D. Fearon, Department of Political Science, Stanford University, “In

everyday language, identity can refer to personal qualities or features that are difficult to

articulate in terms of a social category, and in some circumstances, some categories can be

regarded as identities even if no one considers them to be fundamental to their own identity.”

The manner of life of Caribbean individuals may be described in one word: colorful. It is an

enticing mix of influences rooted in its rich past, molded by waves of immigration, and shaped

by the lengthy history of colonialism. The Caribbean community is a combination of different

dialects, foods, music, and customs. The style of life is a magnificent blend of frontier and local

elements shaped by every country socio-economic interaction. It is because of this diversity that

Caribbean individuals have such a distinct identity. The Caribbean and non-Caribbean
individuals, while similar in their religious beliefs and humor, are different in the way they

practice their culture.

Caribbean and non-Caribbean individuals both share similar religious beliefs. Caribbean

individuals do not just have one religion they practice or one God they worship. They are very

diversified religiously similarly to non-Caribbean individuals. The world primary religions fall

into two categories: Abrahamic religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam; and Indian

religions, which include Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and others. Of the world’s major

religions, Christianity is the largest, with more than two billion followers.

(www.britannica.com). Similarly Caribbean religions are varied, with religions that reflect their

many beginnings. The primary faith in the Caribbean community is Christianity, although

Hinduism and Islam also have large followings, notably in Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad &

Tobago. Roman Catholicism is the dominant faith in nations with lengthier histories of French

and Spanish colonization, whilst Anglicans and Methodists have historically predominated in

countries with a significant British influence. (Caricom.org). Caribbean individuals and non-

Caribbean individuals both share the same religious beliefs, not just within their community but

globally.

Likewise, both Caribbean and Non-Caribbean individuals reflect immense similarity in

their sense of humor. Caribbean humor is an important part of both Caribbean and non-

Caribbean identities. Caribbean humor has influence in England, Spain, North America and

France. While these traditions are distinct and, at times, extremely different, there are some

recurring themes that relate to North America, Europe, and the shared history and geopolitical

situation of the world. Caribbean comedy has a number of characteristics. One trend is the

portrayal of a "typical" Caribbean family in a continuous radio or television series. Examples

include drama, humor, politics, religion, and sitcoms. Caribbean humor has taken on a modern

connotation with the arrival of social media and the creation of several notable comedians from

the Caribbean and the Caribbean diaspora. Lord Flea, a mento artist, declared in 1957, "West

Indians have the best sense of humor in the world." Humor is similar within the identities of non-

Caribbean and Caribbean individuals.

Contrariwise, the Caribbean and non-Caribbean individuals are dissimilar in the way they

practice their culture. Caribbean individuals have a unique way of practicing their cultural

identity when compared to non-Caribbean individuals. Festivals, sport events, food and music

are just some of the practices that Caribbean individuals uniquely possess that are different from

non-Caribbean cultural practices. According to BBC Caribbean, “A Caribbean national is simply

someone who is born in the Caribbean region. They share many similarities but also display

unique differences. The same way Europeans are identified by their nationalities. A Caribbean

identity is more of a cultural, social experience.” Festivals such as Carnival is rarely celebrated

by non-Caribbean individuals, most partakers are part of the Caribbean diaspora or the Caribbean

population (www.news.gov.tt). There are sport events such as the goat race and Crab race that

were originated in Tobago and are held every year with Tobagonians avidly involved

(www.buccoo.net.). Food such as “Pelau” and Music genres such as “reggae” and “soca” are all

parts of the cultural identity of a Caribbean Individual. Non-Caribbean Individuals all over the

world share different cultural identities and practice them differently.

Both non-Caribbean and Caribbean individuals have their respective identities. These individual

identities are alike in that they share similar religious beliefs and they reflect immense similarity

in their sense of humor but are dissimilar in the way they practice their culture.
WORK CITED

“Bbccaribbean.com | What's It Mean to Be Caribbean?” BBC News, BBC,

https://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2007/03/070302_caribbeanidentity.shtml#:~:text=A

%20Caribbean%20national%20is%20simply,of%20a%20cultural%2C%20social%20experience.

“Buccoo Goat Race.” Welcome to Buccoo, http://www.buccoo.net/treasures/buccoo-goat-race.

“Caribbean Crucible: History, Culture, and Globalization .” Caribbean Crucible: History,

Culture, and Globalization, https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/publications/se/

6402/640201.html.

“Carnival Visitors Spent $318 Million in 2018.” Carnival Visitors Spent $318 Million in 2018 |

Trinidad and Tobago Government News, http://www.news.gov.tt/content/carnival-visitors-spent-

318-million-2018#.YacmzNDMI2x.

“Our Culture.” CARICOM, 13 Feb. 2019, https://caricom.org/our-community/who-we-are/our-

culture/.

“What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?” Encyclopædia Britannica,

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/story/what-is-the-most-widely-

practiced-religion-in-the-world.