Caribbean Intellectual Traditions Caribbean Studies
Pan Africanism: Objectives African unity Black consciousness Black self esteem Black empowerment Social justice Economic liberation Liberation of Africa
Impact of Pan Africanism Political consciousness – Political ideologies; ills of capitalism; embracing socialism and communism. Back to Africa movement Civil Rights movement in American and African Diaspora: Impact of Martin Luther King; Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey. Quest for social mobility through education
Impact of Pan Africanism cont’ Movement towards independence – anti-colonialist fervor Movement towards African unity – Marcus Garvey’s UNIA Black expressions: Religion (Rastafarianism); music (Reggae and calypso).
Negritude: objectives Recover black pride Recover black dignity from white intellectual assaults – white philosophers, theologians had stigmatised Africana and blacks: Belief that Africans were uneducated, barbaric, violent, uncivilized and ‘good for nothing’.
Impact of Negritude Restoration of black pride and dignity through poetry, literature and entertainment, e.g. movies Black consciousness
Marxist theory: Objectives Social Justice Egalitarianism Anti-capitalist/ imperialist Nationalism Centralized authority Revolution to overthrow the ruling class by the masses Ultimate objective was worker paradise
Impact of Marxist theory on the Caribbean Move to create welfare states: Cuba, Jamaica, Guyana, and Grenada Focus on provision of free social services such as health and education Class struggle Political and ideological consciousness Impact of the cold war and resistance to neo-colonialism of USA, IMF and WB Political tribalism
Caribbean personalities and Marxism Manley – Jamaica CLR James – T & T Fidel Castro – Cuba Forbes Burnham – Guyana Maurice Bishop – Grenada Trevor Monroe – Jamaica Sir Walter Rodney ( How Europe Underdeveloped Africa) - Guyana
Feminism: Objectives Advocate the recognition of the rights of women Treat women with dignity and respect Gender equality
Feminism : Impact Awareness of rights Women empowerment through education Gender equity Legislation to protect women: Rape laws, property rights