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 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