For most Americans the Caribbean evokes an image of sunny, fine sand beaches lapped by crystalline waters. For many, it is a synonym for tropical music and fun, rest and relaxation, vacations and tourism. This stereotype, however, is a commercially motivated image that distorts the rich diversity of Caribbean cultures. The region encompasses a wealth of cultures that have evolved over centuries of complex, turbulent, and profound interactions—within a limited geographical area—among the indigenous peoples of the area, Europeans from several countries, peoples from West Africa, and in some cases, indentured servants from India and East Asia.
Read Full Article