Caribbean Immigrants Changing the Political Landscape of New York City

• Author: Carol Dean Archer
• Pages: 64-76

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FREEDOM AND CONSTRAINT IN CARIBBEAN MIGRATION AND DIASPORA

CARIBBEAN IMMIGRANTS CHANGING THE

POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF NEW YORK CITY

CAROL DEAN ARCHER

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This study examines how various forms of identity are being negotiated

by the Caribbean immigrant community in New York City. It also

examines the relative roles of the political elites representing the Caribbean

community, the mass constituencies in this process and the impact of this

on the political landscape of New York City. It asks how this process of

identity formation relates to political participation and tries to determine

how the various forms of identity are used to access power and resources

for the larger community. In addition, it examines the role of community-

based organizations as vehicles for facilitating group identity formation

and interaction within the group, with outsiders, or both.

This research highlights the disjuncture between the identity being forged

by the leaders and that of the Caribbean community members. The two have

quite different approaches to forming a group identity. In the context of New

York City’s political milieu, the leaders see developing a Caribbean identity as

the most effective way to create political gains for the community as a

whole, as well as for advancing their own interests in New York City and

in their home country. For most residents, race seems to be more important

in their identity formation. The research addresses the following questions: