Explaining Caribbean Identity and Identity In General.
Caribbean people, like the rest of humanity, can be very introspective.
Without even trying, it’s like we are always monitoring, considering, investigating, gate-keeping, definining and redefining, what it means to be Caribbean.
Again, this is a very human thing. Human beings all over the globe, in every country, also play this game too.
However, what is the point of playing a game, if it has no end or finish line? Well, for what it’s worth, there is a finish line and a means for testing whether someone is truly Caribbean. The (surprisingly simple and straightforward) answer to the question of what makes someone Caribbean, is love. If you love someone, or something, you nourish it, protect it. You do things to make them or it better.
The Signicance Of Love.
Put in a different and more forthcoming way. To a certain extent, you put the Caribbean first. Admittedly, there does need to be some balance because the Caribbean obviously shares the planet with other regions and countries. However, for the most part a Caribbean person is some one that loves the Caribbean, as proven by their actions. Their very existence, consciously benefits the Caribbean. (Key word being consciously).
Life however, can really be tough and what’s more, many Caribbean people are still struggling to overcome Caribbean trauma (past and present). The truth is, even in 2025 going on 2026, the pain that Caribbean people feel from the past is still present. Why, well, because the root causes of that pain have both survived and thrived. Some people therefore are unfortunately very much still in chains because the world never ever stopped taking advantage of the Caribbean.
All that happened was, the name of the game changed. As did the outward image of that game. However, there have been no reparations. No apology that was tied to any significant action. In 2025 going on 2026 Caribbean people are still discriminated against at home and abroad by both foreigners and locals.
The Struggle Is Real.
With all that being said, there is definitely a significant proportion of the Caribbean population, that are still (mentally) in chains (of pain). The significance of this is that such people are yet to discover self love, let alone patriotism or island (regional Caribbean) love. All that to say this, whilst love is the means to test patriotism or regional love. It would be insensitive to ignore the historical and current conditions that explain the lack of love that some Caribbean people have for themselves, their compatriots and other citizens of the region.
However, for everybody else, love is the true litmus test of of their identity. Having to leave the islands for whatever reason, has long been a part of the reality of island living. However, do you consider the islands to be your home. If every time you leave you already know, life permitting you’ll be back because you consider the Caribbean home. Chances are, you are Caribbean.
As always, love is what life comes down to. Your identity is defined by where you consider home to be. Like YG’s song featuring Drake, when it comes to your identity, the million dollar question might be, who do you love? One thing about the reality of island life is that you will fall out of love quick, if your love for the Caribbean has weak roots. Yes, we have sun, sea and sand but we also have potholes, blackouts and mosquitoes.
Moreover, as alluded to above. The “system” that caused past pain is still alive and well. Or put a different way, the profits illicitly gained via the transatlantic slave trade silently affirm the money before humanity stance of that time.
Despite the lip service that is publicly paid to equality. The fact there have been no reparations or even any significant gestures aimed at making things right. Is action speaking louder than the empty words proclaiming equality and fairness to be principles held dear, in our modern world.
On the contrary, as things now stand, the silent message being conveyed by the world is racial inequality, to a certain extent is embedded in human relations world wide.This means that living in the Caribbean includes living with a particular type of injustice (as injustice is low/high key, everywhere). The type where Caribbean people, support the interests of the wealthy instead of local interests.
The Caribbean was and basically still is colonized in the name of profit. The colonizers prioritized profit over (their shared) humanity with Caribbean people. In 2025, going into 2026, Caribbean people either consciously or out of necessity, do the same thing and prioritize profit and/or the agenda of the developed world, over their own long term Caribbean interests.
In this sense, the Caribbean can be a place that would want to be the exact opposite of sun, sea and sand. Instead, actually, the Caribbean might actually call itself, wanting to be hell on earth. Except for the existence of one small factor: love.
That small, four letter word is the one thing that makes it possible to both survive and thrive in the Caribbean despite the local version of injustice that is served. Love, particularly unconditional (national, island, regional, Caribbean) love is the reason we live in the islands indefinitely, faults notwithstanding.
The truth is, as mentioned above, injustice is embedded, systemic and present the world over. As always, it is less about the conditions we face (injustice, inequality, etc, etc). Instead, it is all about us and our love. To the true Caribbean or West Indian person, they have no choice in the matter. It is as though they never chose the islands or the Caribbean but instead as if, the islands chose them.
The unconditional, island love in our hearts is so strong that it, is our primary reality. The injustice we see here is a side note that we will do our best to put right. However, our ties to the islands predates even our birth and those ties will last forever.
Everyone that will always love their island and/or the islands, embodies what it means to be a true Caribbean or West Indian.
Whilst where we were born, how we dance, our accents, hair styles, habits, fashion, food, music, relationships, friends, families all may further reinforce our sense of being from the Caribbean. Ultimately, at its core, Caribbean or West Indian identity, is defined by our love.
As the famous saying goes, home, is where the heart is.
