Message Board Archives

Do you have a sense of sorrow that your culture will disappear with the coming generations?

My kids are first generation Americans but they still have an appreciation for Guyanese culture but with the 2nd generation (grand kids) that culture will be all but gone.

How do you feel about it?

When West Indians move to foreign lands they should accept the reality that their kids and grand kids will not be the typical west indian living in the Caribbean. Their kids and grandkids would be growing up in their adopted country's communities, being taught in schools that are not pro-West Indian, and have friends who will most likely have lived all their lives in this new country. Most likely their mindset will be more American/Canadian than the country of their parents. Yes there a few exceptions of 1st and 2nd generation kids who are culturally more West Indian but these are rare circumstances where these kids immense themselves in their parents culture and willingly neglect their home country culture. So West Indians who decide to live abroad have to accept that this is part of the package when they decide to live abroad.

^^ edited*

In reply to black

I have seen small pockets of residents that want to preserve such heritages. Some assimilate in the general population and adopt new cultures.

One can see temples and churches with historical names that related back to their land of birth and flags outside such, noting the lands they came from and they haven't forgotten.

I am not a soothsayer so predicting the future will be impossible.

In reply to problemjay

Spanish speaking people tend to hold on their cultural identity. I guess it's the language that holds that bond together.

In reply to black

And how is that a bad thing? When last you had a good look at the goings on in Guyana? And what is so great about Guyanese culture that you don't want your grandkids to loose it?

Think carefully.......

In reply to Kay

Maybe it's relatively simple but intriguing things like appreciation of certain foods.

People in the Caribbean talk about yams and breadfruit and the like, and you hear about people living to their 90s and beyond.

But 'up' in North America, most descendants of West Indian immigrants want no part of it. Bring on the pasta and rice.

Quinoa is becoming a 'thing' in North America. Why isn't breadfruit?

In reply to Tryangle

Exactly.

I want them to hold on to the good things.

In reply to black

I come to places like CC.Com because I am comfortable around West Indians. Other than that I have nothing that is common.

In reply to black

Not entirely,plenty WI family businesses and organizations have kept it going through generations,depends where the families are,how about West-Indian culture in NY,London Toronto etc? They all have major celebrations,available music, cuisine and familiar goods..

In reply to XFactingWestIndian

My 3 year old son favorite song is ravi b - bread, favorite sport is cricket but at the same thing is hooked on all the america tv shows, food, etc. So some things can be preserved and it all depending on the how the kids are being raised. I never forced him to listen or watch or eat anything caribbean specific.

In reply to navindesigns

It's a start nut how much feedback can you get from a 3 year old?

In reply to bravos

LOL - KYS - (Learned that one from Chrissy)

If my parents are of West Indian heritage then I am "West Indian" as they come. I can walk, talk and drink rum with the best of 'em. The whining not so much.

In reply to black

In reply to Emir

Yea. I know what you mean.

You ever get the feeling that black is like verbal from the usual suspects?

In reply to nick2020

Say what you mean, why are you always using vague language?

Thinking of this makes me sad

In reply to black
Didn't our own ancestors adopt a different culture when they went to the West Indies?

There is nothing uniquely precious about any given culture. The culture our offspring find themselves in will have its own set of "good" and "bad" characteristics. It is up to our offspring to integrate into, and enrich, that culture.

In reply to Norm

We were not exactly free to assimilate.



Some might say that we are very unique because we were forced (slaves) into a situation were we had to adapt quickly. Afro-Caribbean culture are a mix of other cultures but there are some things that remain uniquely African about it.

Interesting. Cultures do not disappear. They evolve. It may not look and feel like it is today, however it will retain its identity. Why fear the inevitable?

The only constant is change. Embrace it!!!

In reply to nick2020

True.

This guy/girl is damn foolish it is pitiful at times, including the time in his high class stupidity, he unwittingly gave away his address- well within a few blocks from where he lives and when a poster clued him in, he cussed the poster

In reply to Emir

Old man, go take a nap.

In reply to black

With a little skill, first generation Caribbean Americans offspring’s will move back and forth dexterously within their dual cultures. When I have a little function at home, my American born kids and their friends are as comfortable with the music of Marley, Tarrus Riley or Edwin Yearwood --- as they are with Michael Jackson and R. Kelly ----or Vybz Kartel --- they are as comfortable with curry goat as they are a cheese burger, maybe more so with curry goat --- ----- in a word – it’s about brought-upsy ---- you reap what you sow, generally.

In reply to Emir

When did that happen?

In reply to nick2020

I wonder why the Mulla is so interested in where I live?

Maybe he has a device for me?

In reply to nick2020

A few years ago, he was touting the opening of a new store, one that I will not name to protect his abode, but he gave the city, street, number and directions, then mentioned exactly where he live relative to the store.

In reply to nick2020

Jala to Gayle?

In reply to black



Ah only try-in- 2 protect- u

In reply to Emir

Nonsense, I did not.

I mentioned the name of a store that was opening close to where I live, those stores are all over the state of Texas. If you want to draw inference from that then go ahead.