West Indian Americans

• 1. Colonial Roots And Slavery

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  In 1613, Juan Rodriguez from Santo Domingo became the first non-indigenous person to settle in what was then known as New Amsterdam. This event marked an early chapter in Caribbean presence on American soil before the era of mass slavery took hold. The West Indian migration to the modern United States began in the colonial period when many West Indians were imported as slaves to the British colonies of North America. First people from West Indies who arrived in the United States were slaves brought to South Carolina in the 17th century. These slaves, many of whom were born in Africa, number among the first people of African origin imported to the British colonies of North America. Over time, Barbadian slaves would make up a significant part of the Black population in Virginia, mainly in the Virginia tidewater region of the Chesapeake Bay. The number of enslaved Africans bought from the Caribbean increased in the 18th century as the British colonies of Southeastern North America broadened its commercial ties with other Caribbean islands. Enslaved Africans in the Caribbean were more numerous than those in places such as New York which was the main slave enclave in the northeastern part of the modern-day United States. The number of enslaved Africans imported from the Caribbean decreased after the New York Slave Revolt of 1712 as many white colonists blamed the incident on slaves recently arrived from the Caribbean. Between 1715 and 1741 most of the slaves of the colony remained from the West Antilles hailing from Jamaica, Barbados and Antigua. After the New York slave revolt of 1741, slaves imported from the Caribbean were severely curtailed and most enslaved Africans were brought directly from Africa.

• 2. Post Civil War Migration Waves

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  Although migration from the West Indies to the United States was not very important in the first years of 19th century it grew considerably after the end of the American Civil War in 1865 which brought about the abolition of slavery. Most of them were fleeing from poverty and certain natural phenomena like hurricanes droughts and floods. So the West Indians that lived in the United States increased from only 4,000 people in 1850 to more than 20,000 in 1900 while in 1930 there were already almost 100,000 people from the region living in the United States. In the 19th century the U.S. attracted many Caribbean craftsmen scholars teachers preachers doctors inventors clergy comedians politicians poets songwriters and activists. The Barbadian Joseph Sandiford Atwell was the first black man after the Civil War to be ordained in the Episcopal Church. Comedians included the Bahamian Bert Williams who gained fame on stage. Politicians such as Robert Brown Elliott served as U.S. Congressman and Attorney General of South Carolina. Activists included the brothers James Weldon and John Rosamond Johnson who contributed significantly to civil rights and music. From the end of the 19th century up to 1905 most West Indian people emigrated to South Florida New York and Massachusetts. However shortly after New York would become the main destination for the West Indian immigrants. About half of the population of the New Orleans area have at least distant partial Haitian ancestry originating from a migration wave before and after the Haitian Revolution from the late 1700s up until 1850. Many mixed people black African slaves and their white French slave masters later free black people had an impact on the Louisiana Voodoo religion and the Louisiana Creole language. Before 1900 Haitians had the biggest impact of any Caribbean group on the United States.

• 3. Labor History And W2 Workers

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  The Caribbean migration grew during the first thirty years of the 20th century and by 1930 there were almost 100,000 West Indian people living in the United States. At this time they were the majority of black people migrating to the United States. The migration from the West Indies became noticeable from the 1940s with the arrival of 50,000 people from the region both black and white. When World War II came to an end American companies hired thousands of Caribbean people which were known as W2 workers. The companies that hired them were distributed across 1,500 municipalities and 36 US states. Most of the W2 workers worked in rural areas especially in Florida where they were dedicated to the cultivation of sugar cane. However many of these companies offered depressing working and economic conditions for their new workers. Because of that many Caribbean workers promoted revolts even though labor strikes were prohibited in some of these companies or fled their respective companies in search of jobs with better conditions elsewhere. Post 1965 numerous Caribbean farmers migrated to the United States due to loss of employment in the Caribbean when the Caribbean replaced agriculture as its main source of income with tourism and urban sector. Proximity to the U.S. fluency in English and Civil Rights legislation were reasons for the disproportionate numbers of Caribbean outflows.

• 4. Demographic Distribution Patterns

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  As of 2016 549,722 West Indians excluding Hispanic origin groups were foreign born in Florida. Florida had the largest number of resident West Indian immigrants in 2016 followed by New York with 490,826 according to the US census. As of 2016 9.8 percent of the total foreign born residence in the United States was born in the Caribbean. Parts of Florida and New York as well as numerous areas throughout the entire New England region are the only areas where black people of recent Caribbean origin outnumber black people of multi-generational American origin. Miami New York City Boston and Orlando have the highest percentages of non-Hispanic West Indian Americans and are also the only major cities where black people of Caribbean origin outnumber those of multigenerational American origin. Areas in New Jersey Pennsylvania Maryland and Georgia do have significant and growing West Indian communities but are heavily overshadowed by much larger populations of native-born American Blacks. Of the two groups who make up majority of West Indian Americans of non-Hispanic origin Haitians are more likely to move to an area with a large overall Caribbean populations while Jamaicans are more spread out and more likely to be found in cities with smaller Caribbean communities. Caribbean populations in Florida and New England are diverse but more Haitian-dominated while Caribbean populations in the NYC-Philly-DC area are also diverse but more Jamaican-dominated.

• 5. Socioeconomic Status And Education

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  According to the US census for 2016 West Indian Americans of the civilian employed population 16 years and over were 1,549,890. Thirty-two point six percent were employed in Management business science and arts occupations. Twenty-eight point five percent worked in Service occupations. Twenty-two point two percent held Sales and office occupations. Six point one percent worked in Natural resources construction and maintenance occupations. Ten point five percent worked in Production transportation and material moving occupations. As of 2017 West Indian Americans are estimated to have a median household income of $54,033. West Indians also have a median family income of $62,867. Married-couple families earned $80,626 on average. Male householder no spouse present families earned $53,101. Female householder no husband present families earned $43,929. Their Individual per capita income was $26,033. As of 2017 27.1 percent of West Indian Americans 25 years and over have a bachelor's degree or higher. Male bachelor's degree or higher was 23.1 percent. Female bachelor's degree or higher was 30.3 percent.

• 6. Cultural Contributions And Music

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  There are close to 50 Caribbean carnivals throughout North America that attest to the permanence of the Caribbean immigration experience. The Caribbean people brought music such as bachata cadence rampa calypso chutney compas cumbia dancehall filmi Latin trap merengue parang ragga rapso reggae reggaeton salsa ska soca and zouk which has a profound impact on U.S. popular culture. Caribbean Americans also strongly influenced Hip Hop music and culture in New York City. Cultural expressions and the prominence of first-and second-generation Caribbean figures in U.S. labor and grassroots politics for many decades also testify to the long tradition and established presence. More than half of Caribbean immigrants either spoke only English or spoke English very well. In 2009 33.0 percent of Caribbean immigrants reported speaking only English and 23.9 percent reported speaking English very well. In contrast 42.8 percent of Caribbean immigrants were limited English proficient meaning they reported speaking English less than very well. Within this group 9.7 percent reported that they did not speak English at all 16.5 percent reported speaking English well and 16.7 percent reported speaking English but not well.

• 7. Heritage Recognition And Politics

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  National Caribbean American Heritage Month is celebrated in June. The heritage month was first officially observed in 2006 after being unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives on the 27th of June 2005 in H. Con. Res. 71 sponsored by Congresswoman Barbara Lee recognizing the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the United States. The Senate adopted the resolution on the 14th of February 2006 which was introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York. On the 5th of June 2006 George W. Bush issued a presidential proclamation declaring that June be annually recognized as National Caribbean American Heritage Month to celebrate the contributions of Caribbean Americans both naturalized and US citizens by birth in the United States. Since the declaration the White House has issued an annual proclamation recognizing June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. The Institute of Caribbean Studies ICS based in Washington DC is the lead organization behind the campaign that led to the establishment of Caribbean American Heritage Month. The ICS was founded by Dr. Claire Nelson in 1993.