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as a second generation west indian american i would say yes. however, there are some distinctions, the only difference between us and african americans are the food, music, and sometimes language. but after the second generation west indians are fully assimilated to african american culture. i have a good friend whose family came to Harlem from the Virgin Islands in the 20s and though he considers himself to be of Caribbean descent they are fully "African-Americanized"
as a second generation west indian american i would say yes. however, there are some distinctions, the only difference between us and african americans are the food, music, and sometimes language. but after the second generation west indians are fully assimilated to african american culture. i have a good friend whose family came to Harlem from the Virgin Islands in the 20s and though he considers himself to be of Caribbean descent they are fully "African-Americanized"
Agreed. The only thing that would perhaps allow me to pick out someone of West Indian descent immediately is surname. Braithwaite, Holder, Alleyne, Barrow, Sealy, Henry, Francis, Richards, Walcott, Cumberpatch, Joseph, Mapp, Persaud, Ramlochansingh, etc. In some cases, hair texture may provide a clue as well.
Agreed. The only thing that would perhaps allow me to pick out someone of West Indian descent immediately is surname. Braithwaite, Holder, Alleyne, Barrow, Sealy, Henry, Francis, Richards, Walcott, Cumberpatch, Joseph, Mapp, Persaud, Ramlochansingh, etc. In some cases, hair texture may provide a clue as well.
i also feel that you guys are understated the "Caribbeanness" of those rappers like Busta Heavy D, and Biggie
I would agree. Those 3 in particular have given shot outs to their Jamaican heritage many times throughout their career.
Interesting observation: I mentioned in my previous post how there are 2 sides of the spectrum when it comes to maintaining their heritage. Now this is only my observation, but when it comes to Jamaicans I've seen many who are either on one side or the other. It's not often I know one in the middle. You got a lot of first gen Jamaicans who speak patois fluently, listen to nothing but dancehall & reggae, and always got a representation of their flag & they were born and raised in the US! Then, on the other side, I know Jamaicans who were either born or raised in Jamaica for some time, but you would NEVER know it because they assimilated so much into American culture. This isn't facts though, just what I've seen in my relations.
Choice three: They assimilate into those cultural groups that include people with whom they have the most in common professionally and, usually, economically.
Do I think West Indians assimilate into ghetto communities because they have a similar skin color ?
Choice three: They assimilate into those cultural groups that include people with whom they have the most in common professionally and, usually, economically.
Do I think West Indians assimilate into ghetto communities because they have a similar skin color ?
No. I have not seen this.
I don't think BajanYankee was leading into that at all. There are different kinds of American lifestyles and many first generation, usually, adapt to the one that is prominent in the neighborhood they live in. I would not say WI assimilate into any black neighborhood simply because they are the same skin color, but despite the differences in the culture, many first generation WI adapt to the political and social standings of AAs because of the matter that we are still treated the same and go through similar struggles because of our skin.
Choice three: They assimilate into those cultural groups that include people with whom they have the most in common professionally and, usually, economically.
Do I think West Indians assimilate into ghetto communities because they have a similar skin color ?
I don't think BajanYankee was leading into that at all. There are different kinds of American lifestyles and many first generation, usually, adapt to the one that is prominent in the neighborhood they live in. I would not say WI assimilate into any black neighborhood simply because they are the same skin color, but despite the differences in the culture, many first generation WI adapt to the political and social standings of AAs because of the matter that we are still treated the same and go through similar struggles because of our skin.
The poster you're responding to only sees two types of blacks in this city.
Throughout this entire thread no one mentioned "ghetto", except this person.
Choice three: They assimilate into those cultural groups that include people with whom they have the most in common professionally and, usually, economically.
Do I think West Indians assimilate into ghetto communities because they have a similar skin color ?
No. I have not seen this.
Have you been to a third world country? Some of these people are from communities far poorer than our ghettos, mind you. Crime and low class behavior does not begin and end with poor neighborhoods in NYC. There are low class communities in the rural US and in certain suburbs as well.
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