r/AskTheCaribbean • u/CompetitiveTart505S Caribbean American • Apr 28 '25

Culture Does racism between Caribbean people disappear in the diaspora

For example growing up I was never under the impression there were conflicts between Indo and Afro Caribbean people, because the Indo Caribbean people I met were all very nice and emphasized that we're all Caribbean.

I also have a Dutch friend who explained that Surinamese people seem pretty united in the Netherlands regardless of race, but this is an outsider looking in of course.

What do you guys think? Does this imply that ethnic tensions are more superficial, or is it really not that significant? Do you all have any contradictory or complementary experiences?

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u/Mizzjewelzinthahouse Apr 28 '25 edited Apr 29 '25

Plenty of racism. I'm multiracial (white, black and Asian) and have experienced it on more than one occasion because apparently all Caribbean are supposed to be black. Well I'm sorry that I'm multiracial and not black enough for your liking 😒 I got harassed so many times by other Caribbeans for being multiracial

P.S. to those that down voted this comment, you COMPLETELY misunderstood what I said and if you didn't misunderstand and chose to downvote, then I'm sorry but you proved my point 🤷🏽‍♀️ I was giving an opinion on the general racism in the diaspora and my own experience so thanks again to those that down voted me for proving my point

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u/[deleted] Apr 29 '25

my ex friend many years ago was half Barbadian and half Iranian but was raised by her black mother and white step father. She was from a Adventist Christian but the west Indian community in Canada where I'm from harassed her, bully her etc. Jamaicans are the worst out of the Caribbean you should she what they do in the Toronto, Canada. Jamaicans, Trinidad's all of them just suck I avoid them like the plague

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u/Mizzjewelzinthahouse Apr 29 '25 edited Apr 29 '25

I know cuz I'm from Toronto and I also know how Trinis are cuz I'm half. Also, I don't know why my comment got down voted. By down voting my comment, it proved my point on the racism in the diaspora

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u/[deleted] Apr 29 '25

Your stating facts these people have been oppressed for a very long time. Colorism is still rampant and the after math of colonialism they have a very bad mindset. Jamaicans are angry cause the people at the top are not black they are White skinned people who came to Jamaica almost 150 years ago opened up business and now are in the 1 percent. Jamaicans have behavioral issues coming from there childhood they are fatherless, battered abused people. I can not go back to my country and be a success cause of Classism my country is divided not united in anything.

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u/Mizzjewelzinthahouse Apr 29 '25 edited Apr 29 '25

Your friend is like me: got harassed by our own community (Caribbean) for being mixed, correct? I understand why it is happening but it still doesn't make it okay. I'm sorry for your experience as well. This isn't right at all and needs to stop! These people are acting as if your friend and I, for example, chose to be mixed and be born into our families. My little sister is a lot more fair-skinned than I am and got harassed at 9 years old, by OTHER 9 YEAR OLD, for being not only multiracial, but fair-skinned. Mind you, these were Caribbean kids harassing her and calling her all kinds of names and the same ones did it to her friend who's half black/half white at my sister's party and were calling her "dirty" and said that she's adopted (she's not)

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u/[deleted] Apr 29 '25

She had issues she was trying to find her identity got mixed with the wrong crowd etc. Tons of mixed race kids go through hell its really sad but there are podcasts and counsellors in Toronto and the GTA everywhere the kids in SCRA bough, Toronto Markham are really naive to the culture everything is dancehall and screaming Caribbean culture is a lot more than that. Its silly cause Trini men screw everything white black indian etc tons of outside children in GTA its retarded

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u/Mizzjewelzinthahouse Apr 29 '25

It was the same for me. Me and my 2 sisters had issues cuz we didn't fit in anywhere so we hung out with everyone. Luckily, my older sister and I found unproblematic Caribbean friends when we were older. My little sister is still young and hasn't really found that except for her friend who's also mixed and my BIL's younger siblings, but I have no doubt that she will find them like we did

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u/[deleted] Apr 29 '25

Good luck