The Caribbean Connection to Asian Heritage
When one thinks of the Caribbean, people of Chinese or Indian descent may not immediately come to mind, yet the Caribbean is home to these cultural groups and so many others. Chinese Jamaicans, Indo-Caribbean, Indo-Trinidadians, Caribbean-Chinese are some of the terms that are used to refer to Caribbean nationals of east or south Asian ancestry. These cultural groups have had a presence in the Caribbean since the mid-1800s. Their influence can be seen in the food, language, music and literature of these bonnie islands. If you have ever eaten a roti, doubles or pepper shrimp or listened to chutney music, then you will know exactly what I am talking about! This Asian Heritage Month, why not check out some Indo-Caribbean classics by V.S. Naipaul or Neil Bissondath? Or, perhaps you would like to enjoy one of these interesting Asian-Caribbean films.
People of Chinese descent have made a significant contribution to the cultural and economic life of Trinidad and Tobago (TNT). Yet the voices of women are notably absent from the story of the Chinese in TNT. In this film, 12 women from all walks of life tell an interwoven tale, creating a compelling contemporary portrait of the Caribbean-Chinese woman.
Half: the story of a Chinese-Jamaican son
Caught between two cultures and races — Vincent Lee was born to a Chinese father and a Jamaican mother. After his father's pre-mature death, five-year-old Vincent sailed across the ocean to southern China where he endured a life of hardship and servitude. In this compelling documentary Half reflects the complex, yet common practice of sending mixed race sons to China for acculturation in the 1930s. It reveals one man's universal search for family, identity, and belonging.
Set in Trinidad during Christmas, this dramatic film is a coming of age story centred around, Dhani, a young street food vendor, who must decide if he will help save his estranged father from dying.
Better yet, come meet filmmaker, Jeanette Kong as she gives an overview of the Hakka Chinese migration from China to Jamaica and then to Canada.
Thursday, May 14, 2015, 7-8 p.m. at the Bloor/Gladstone Branch.
4 thoughts on “The Caribbean Connection to Asian Heritage”
Thank you for shedding the light on these other ethinic groups who are a very huge part of the caribbean! It becomes frustrating when you are part of these lesser known ethnicies from the caribbean and are often not represented or overlooked.
Bravo.
Hello Lei,
Thank you for your wonderful comment! I really appreciate your feedback.
Merci
I am glad people are showing this, my grandmas father is a chinese Jamaican and her mother is a black and german Jewish jamaican.
Hello Alex,
I appreciate your comment. The Caribbean has so much diversity. Thanks for sharing!