Firstly, religion is a societal institution based on a belief system that presents a way of life to its followers by means of instructions as well as limitations. This institution also provides its followers with specific norms, values and morals, ultimately giving them a sense of identity as well as belonging amongst the people of the religion. In this piece, religion can be divided into 2 categories. One category to be compared is the ‘pure’ or ‘original’ religions, for example, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Judaism, with the second category being syncretic religions. A syncretic religion is one which arises from the merging of two or more belief systems, for example, Haitian voodoo.
One prominent example of a syncretic religion in the Caribbean is the Spiritual Shouter Baptist faith, created by the merging of African traditions and Christianity. Forms of worship practiced by people of the religion include loud singing, ringing of bells, dancing as well as shaking until falling to the ground in convulsion (Nalis). However, the Spiritual Shouter Baptist faith was banned in Trinidad from 1917 to 1951 (Nalis). This occurred due to the government seeming their practices irregular by societal norms as well as their beliefs being considered heathen and barbaric (Nalis). This propaganda was brought about due to its affiliation with African religions which were deemed pagan by colonizers.
In the Caribbean, there happens to be intolerance and mistrust among religions based on beliefs of those religions. Many religions are not afforded the luxury of the dominant religion, Christianity, in Caribbean territories. For example, in the Rastafarian religion, the smoking of marijuana is heavily used for the purpose of worship as well as spiritual enlightenment. However, in the republic of Trinidad and Tobago, marijuana is an illegal substance in which possession can be penalized with incarceration. If all religions are to be treated equally, all aspects of the religion must be accepted. Another example of religious intolerance is the mistrust between religions with respect to food. This involves the rejection of food from other religions due to the way it is prepared. One example of this is the refusal of Muslims to eat meats which were not slaughtered and prepared in a way deemed ‘halal’ from individuals of other religions. One further example of intolerance among religions is the border of integration between religions. This can be seen in the refusal of individuals of some religions to become married to an individual of another.
However, though there may be intolerance as well as mistrust between religions in the Caribbean, there continues to be strides to lessen the level of intolerance and mistrust between religions. One example of this is the recent bill for the decriminalization of marijuana in Trinidad and Tobago for the sale as well as use for medical, research and religious purposes (Jaeger). Another example is the use of halal meats in many food establishments in Trinidad and Tobago. Finally, to contest the marriage argument, there have been increasing numbers of marriages between Christians and Hindus. This shows that though mistrust and intolerance exists among groups in the Caribbean, there a moves being made to lower the level in which they exist.
Conclusion
The objective of this piece was to analyze and argue the level of mistrust and intolerance among religious groups, racial groups and groups of different sexual orientations in the Caribbean. It was seen that with respect to religious groups, intolerance and mistrust stem from differing beliefs among them. However, movements toward reducing levels of mistrust and intolerance are made by making allowances and exceptions for different religious groups. Furthermore, with respect to racial groups, intolerance and mistrust stem from hardships and respective disadvantages among groups during the colonial period. However, movements toward reducing levels of mistrust and intolerance are made by commemorating different racial groups as well as hybridization between the different groups. Finally, with respect to different sexual orientations, intolerance and mistrust stem from abuse endured during the period of slavery. However, slow but sure movements toward reducing levels of mistrust and intolerance are made by abolishing the buggery law. In conclusion, it can be seen that though mistrust and intolerance exists among groups in the Caribbean, there a moves being made to lower the level in which they exist.
Sexual Orientation
Finally, sexuality, also known as sexual orientation describes a person’s preference with respect to their physical, romantic as well as emotional attraction (Brabaw). This mainly involves heterosexuality, defined as attraction to the opposite sex, homosexuality, defined as attraction to one’s same sex as well as bisexuality, defined as attraction to the both genders. The LGBTQ community is one consisting of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer sexual orientation as well as identity. Each sexuality tends to belong to slightly different sets of norms, values and beliefs giving each a part to play in one’s identity.
During the period of chattel slavery, there were many different forms of punishment depending on the offense and location. In Jamaica one popular punishment for the male slaves was public humiliation. This was done by male planters raping the male slaves in front of their wives, children as well as in front of the other slaves.
In the Caribbean, there happens to be intolerance as well as mistrust between heterosexuals and members of the LGBTQ community. In Jamaica, this stems greatly from the sexual abuse experienced during the period of slavery. This abuse caused great distaste and hatred towards homosexual acts. In most Caribbean countries, same sex marriage is illegal and is punishable by law, hence ostracizing a group of people and forcing them to deny their identity.
However, there have been movements made by different Caribbean countries to lessen the level of mistrust and intolerance between homosexuals and the LGBTQ community. This involves the abolition of the buggery law in Trinidad and Tobago. This shows that though mistrust and intolerance exists among groups in the Caribbean, there a moves being made to lower the level in which they exist.
Race and Ethnicity
Secondly, race is a standard used to describe the physical characteristics of a person and ethnicity describes the cultural traditions, norms and values, for example, language which play a key role in the social life as well as identity of a people (psychology today). The Caribbean is a region with a diverse selection of races and ethnicities in its population. The first known race to populate the Caribbean region was the Neo-Indian race, mainly the Tainos and Kalinagos. The Taino people tended to inhabit the Greater Antilles whereas the Kalinago primarily inhabited the Lesser Antilles and had very structured cultural practices (Rob). These cultural practices included sustainable agriculture as well as foraging as well as stringent gender roles. These people also introduced the very popular cooking method, barbeque. The second race to inhabit the Caribbean was the European race. This consisted of the Spanish, French, British and Dutch. These were a group of people who were, at the time, very technologically advanced compared to the rest of the world, allowing them to ultimately gain control over the indigenous people of the Caribbean. The third race to enter the Caribbean was the African race. These people were forcefully brought to the region from West Africa to perform free strenuous labour under the control of the Spanish, French, British as well as the Dutch. This slavery continued until 1833 where it was replaced with apprenticeship until 1838. Even after slavery, these people faced many hardships economically due to the unwillingness of the Europeans to allow them to prosper. These people contributed culture by providing new crops as well as musical practices. Following these people were the Chinese and the East Indians for indentureship. They were brought under the hoax of a better life as the East Indians were facing famine and hardships back in their home country. These people contributed greatly to Caribbean culture, one example being through food style.
However, during this period, there was tension between the Africans and East Indians surrounding skin colour as well as competition for labour. Due to the Africans not receiving proper compensation for work done, labour unions were formed. The East Indians soon followed the trend to approach their labour issues after indentureship. These unions later formed political parties after independence.
In the Caribbean, there exists mistrust as well as intolerance among different races and ethnicities. One large topic to be discussed surrounding this topic is the topic of tribal politics. This suggests the voting of political parties based solely on race. This is a great phenomenon represented in Guyanese as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s politics. When analyzing the tribal politics in Guyana, tribal politics can be especially observed through the relation of the predominantly ruling party to the population ratio of the country. The People’s Progressive Party is a predominately Indo-Guyanese party with the Indo-Guyanese population making up 44% of the country (Guyana Chronicle).
Even though there are many instances of mistrust and intolerance among the races in the Caribbean, there are many strides made to reduce mistrust and intolerance. One example of this is the consensual hybridization of races forming mixed races such as dougla or mulatto. Another example is the recognition as well as celebration of the Chinese race though the renaming of the one of the busiest streets in Trinidad, Charlotte Street, to Chinatown (Khan). This shows that though mistrust and intolerance exists among groups in the Caribbean, there a moves being made to lower the level in which they exist.
Introduction
The Caribbean is an area or region where all territories are washed by the Caribbean Sea. These territories experience similar tectonic, seismic and volcanic processes as well as physical features. Historically, these territories are very similar due to having experienced and continuing to experience the impact of the four procession European colonization, slavery, indentureship as well as plantation society. Caribbean society also tends to comprise of a combination of people who have migrated to and settled in the Caribbean as well as Caribbean nationals who have migrated and settled abroad. These territories are also at differing stages of decolonization and independence. This involves territories being republic, some merely independent while some are still controlled by colonizers, for example Guadeloupe, Saba, Bermuda as well as Puerto Rico.
Due to the Caribbean being a vast combination of people with different morals and values, there exists tensions among different groups in the Caribbean. Differences in history tend to play a large role in the tension displayed. This opens argument about varying trust as well as tolerance among the people of the Caribbean. Identity is described as the distinguishing character of an individual or a group of individuals (Merriam-Webster).
This piece seeks to discuss the differing degrees of mistrust as well as intolerance towards religion, race and ethnicity as well as sexuality among people of the Caribbean. This piece also seeks to highlight the changes and movement away from mistrust and intolerance between the people of the Caribbean.
Caribbean Civilization Critical Thinking Project 