THEME 9: CARIBBEAN SOCIETY 1900-1985

OBJECTIVE 1: DESCRIBE THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS EXISTING

IN THE CARIBBEAN BETWEEN 1900 AND 1985
Social and economic conditions: (i) housing, (ii) cost of living (iii) working conditions (iv)
unemployment (v) health
HOUSING
The earliest Caribbean houses were called wattle huts which, demonstrating a West African
building technique, had walls of braided twigs. By the 18th century, wood- shingled houses had
become common. The walls of these houses were made with spider- like two- by four planks
pressed against a triangular roof. In the 19th century, cast iron was used to make the first kind of
pre fabricated houses, but these generated too much heat for the Caribbean climate. At the start
of the 20th century, more and more people began moving from the rural areas to the urban
centres. Until this time houses were rarely painted, but this became a more widespread feature
between the two world wars. The urban movement started right after emancipation, mostly
because there were jobs in the towns and cities that paid better, including work on the
agricultural estates there. This movement created slums, as the newly arrived people constructed
wattle huts (with woven tree branches and leaves), clay houses, or wooden shacks to live in. By
1960, 40% of people in the Caribbean were living in urban centres.
COST OF LIVING
As you read in Theme 8, the rising cost of living was a key factor behind the protests and
demonstrations in the 1930s in the British Caribbean A useful indicator of the cost of living is
the inflation rate, which is the percentage by which prices rise from one year to the next. During
the 1970s this rate soared as high as 15- 20%in many countries, because of a rise in world oil
prices.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Refer to your notes in Theme 8 on the Moyne Commission. In the 1930s the working
conditions were very poor. People worked for low wages. There were no laws against the use of
unsafe machinery, exploitation of women and children. There were no laws to insist on sick
leave, annual holidays and time off, and the rights of trade unions. Most Caribbean countries
now have a legally enforced minimum wage, people work an 8 hour day and 40hour week, and
have weekends and public holidays off. Vacation laws are now written into law or company
regulations. Since the 1980s many governments have also passed laws which prevent child
labour. Maternity leave has also become law. Trade unions are now able to get regular pay
increases for workers every three years or so except in times of economic downturn.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Up until the 1980s, unemployment was a major problem in all the English speaking Caribbean
countries and, despite some improvements, it remains so today.
HEALTH
The ultimate indicator of an improvement in health is whether people are living longer or not. In
the Caribbean, life expectancy has risen significantly since 1900. At the start of the 20th century,
average life expectancy was as low as 50years in the Caribbean. Infectious diseases such as
yellow fever, malaria, dysentery, and tuberculosis shortened life expectancy. By the 1960s, with
improved medical science and availability of health care, average life expectancy had increased
to 60 years. Now the average Caribbean male can expect to live 68 years of age and the average
female is expected to live to 73 years.

OBJECTIVE 2: OUTLINE EFFORTS MADE TO IMPROVE SOCIAL CONDITIONS BY

DIFFERENT AGENTS
Organizations involved in improving living conditions: trade unions, government policies,
womens organization, United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA)
TRADE UNIONS
Trade unions emerged from 1937 onwards which fought for better working conditions of
labourers, higher wages and job security. The following is a list of trade unions which were
established from 1937 onwards.
COUNTRY

TRADE UNION

Barbados

Progressive League

St Vincent

Workingmens Association

Jamaica

Peoples National Party

Jamaica Workers and Tradesmens Union
Jamaica United Clerks Association

Trinidad

All Trinidad Sugar Estates and Factory Workers Union

Seamen and Waterfront Workers Union
Oilworkers Trade Union

GOVERNEMNT POLICIES
Labour laws were developed to protect the rights of the workers. Laws pertaining to
shorter working hours, workers compensation, better working conditions, restrictions on
child labour and social insurance were debated and put into effect.

 Universal adult suffrage was introduced so individuals over the age of 18 had the right to
vote.
In some territories primary school education was introduced while in others, secondary
schools were built and more students had an opportunity to complete studies at the
secondary level.
The lager territories such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados started to build hospitals,
highways, roads, housing developments and sport facilities. Welfare schemes such as
free meals in Barbados were also part of improving the socio economic conditions of
Caribbean people.
WOMENS ORGANIZATIONS
Lucy Stroder
Lucy Stroder in Grenada was a driving force behind founding the Commercial and Industrial
Workers Union. It was one of the first unions where women were recognized as equal partners
and eligible for equal pay and benefits. Some unions were formed specifically to address
womens concern like the Women Workers trade Union and the Domestic Workers Trade union
in Trinidad and Tobago.
Elma Francois
Elma Francois was one of the most active trade union supporters. She was born in St Vincent
and migrated to Trinidad in 1919 after she was fired from the Mount Bentinck plantation for
trying to organize a demonstration against low wages and harsh working days. In Trinidad she
joined Ciprians Trinidad Working Mens Association but she soon outgrew what she considered
to be Ciprianis slow paced agenda for political and social change. Along with Jim Headly, she
formed the Negro Welfare Cultural and Social Association (NWSCO). Elma Francois, put the

strength of her organization behind the sugar and oil riots and strikes in 1934 and 1937. By the
time of her death in 1944, she had helped establish three major trade unions in Trinidad: the
Seaman and the Waterfront Workers Union, the National Union of Government and the
Federated Workers Trade Union.
UNITED NEGRO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (UNIA)
In 1914 Marcus Garvey founded the UNIA which became an important lobby group. Garvey
pressured the British government over issues such as wages, civil liberties such as the right to
strike, universal adult suffrage and land ownership for people of African descent in the
Caribbean. The UNIA was also committed to the growth of black consciousness; that is, a sense
of racial pride and the establishment of an independent black nation in Africa.
*Research on Marcus Garvey (1887-1940). Use the following headings to guide your
research: Personal life
a.
b.
c.
d.

Education
Political and social/cultural activities
Accomplishments
Impact on Caribbean society

OBJECTIVE 3: DESCRIBE THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF SOCIAL LIFE

The various aspects of social life: (i) ethnic/race relations (ii) festivals and celebration (iii)
recreation (iv) transport and communication (v) art forms (architecture, visual and performing
arts)

(i) ETHNIC/RACE RELATIONS

 T he Caribbean region is exceptional in having had few or no incidents of racial violence

in the 20th century. The closest any country came to this was in Guyana under the Forbes
Burnham regime, which from the 1960s to the early 1980s disenfranchised the IndoGuyanese through rigged elections.
There is racial prejudice in Puerto Rico for example; Dominicans are often resented,
while in Haiti the mixed group is regarded as privileged.
Racial tensions have been expressed mostly in Guyana and Trinidad. In Trinidad, there
are relatively similar percentages of African and Indian origin and the rest of the society
belongs to mixed groups. The two main ethnic groups had to compete for economic and
political power and this led to some amount of tension between the groups. In Guyana,
the two ethnic groups have remained more separate from each other than in the case of
Trinidad and Tobago. In both countries, race relations has had an impact on politics.
Throughout the Caribbean, other minorities, especially those who are seen as
economically successful, are often targets of resentment from the majority. These
minority groups include Chinese in Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana and Martinique; Syrian in
Trinidad and Tobago, and Jews in Curacao and Jamaica.
In present day societies, there are still communities where light- skin complexion is given
higher status. This has seeped to some areas of employment, for eg, where customer
service representatives are chosen because of their complexion.

(ii) FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS

CARNIVAL

The main festival which defines the Caribbean is carnival. The best known one takes place
in Trinidad and February or March depending on when Ash Wednesday falls. Other carnivals
takes place in other islands such as July sin St Lucia, May in St Vincent and Cropover in July
to August in Barbados. Carnivals are rooted in the salve experience and each festival is an
indigenous celebration created out of each islands historical experience and French, British
and African cultures.
DIVALI
In Trinidad and Guyana in particular, the Indians have also brought their own cultural events.
The main Hindu festival is Divali, or the Festival of Lights, which involves lighting wicks in
small clay pots called deeyas and serving Indian food.
EID-UL-FITR
The main Muslim festival is Eid-ul-Fitr which marks the ending of the fast held during the
month of Ramadan. On this day, Muslims give alms to the poor and make special meals such
as sawine.

(iii) RECREATION
Some of the most popular forms of recreation in the Caribbean include:
Sailing regattas (Antigua, Grenada, St Lucia, St Martin)
Music festivals for eg Jamaicas Reggae Sunfest in July
Sports such as cricket and football
(iv) TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

Means of transportation in the Caribbean

In the early years, travel was by:

Animal transportation- carts, horseback

Vehicles- lorries, trucks, cars
Bicycles, scooters and motorcycles
Airplanes
Ferries, boats

Present day transportation includes:

Vehicles- cars and trucks

Scooters and motor cycles
Ships
Airplanes- Caribbean Airlines, LIAT, Winair, Air Caraibes

Most of the territories now have good road networks, and land line telephone as well as
mobile cell networks. In the continental countries such as Guyana and Suriname, vast spaces
of territories remain unreachable except by small aircraft of river boats.

OBJECTIVE 4: EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR THE EMERGENCE OF VARIOUS

RELIGIOUS GROUPS IN THE CARIBBEAN
Religious groups: (i) Christian churches- Established and Evangelical; (ii) Hindu; (iii) Muslim;
(iv) African- Christian syncretic religions for example, Orisha, Shango; Kumina, Revivalism,
Spiritual Baptists (v) indigenous religions for example, Rastafarianism

In the Caribbean most of the worlds major religions are represented such as Christianity,
Hinduism and Islam. Christianity in the Caribbean can be divided into its different groups such
as Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and Pentecostal.
There are some religions which have strongly been influenced by African cultural traits for
example Vodun, Santeria, Orisha and Shango.
Apart from the Africanist religions there are revivalist religions. These ae churches absed on
charismatic Protesant movement mostly brought in from the USA. These churches are found
throughout the English speaking Caribbean for example, Pentecostal, Baptist Seventh Day
Adventist.
There are religions which emphasize the magical aspects of religion such as foretelling the
future, healing through herbs and rituals, and divine revelations. Examples of these magical
religions include: myalaism, Native Baptists, Spiritual Baptists.
Redemptionist religions emphasize regaining the African heritage and throwing off colonial
influences for example, Rastafarianism.
The table below lists these religions and their associated groups as well as the countries where
they are practiced.

Type of religion
Christianity

Group
Roman Catholic, Anglican,

Countries
Throughout the Caribbean

Africanist

Methodist, Pentecostal
Vodun, Santeria, Orisha,

Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican

Shango

Republic, Puerto Rico,

Revivalist

Pentecostal, Baptist, Seventh-

Trinidad
Throughout the English

Day Adventist, Shouters, Tie-

Caribbean especially Trinidad

Heads, Jordanites, Spirit

Magical

Baptists, Cohorters
Myalism, Native Baptists,

Jamaica, Puerto Rico , Cuba

Spiritual Baptists,
Redemptionist

Espertismo, Karedecismo
Rastafarianism, Nation of

Jamaica

Eastern

Islam
Hinduism, Islam

Trinidad, Guyana

While all the religions draw on roots from other parts of the world, three can be categorized as
native to the Caribbean in that their rituals and beliefs were developed in the region among the
African population. These are Vodun, Santeria, and Orisha. Their development was possibly
mainly through the Maroon who, when they ran away and formed thir own communities, were
able to practice freely the rituals they had brought with them from Africa.

RASTAFARIANISM
The belief in redemption is an integral part of the Rastafarianism movement which emerged
in Jamaica shortly after 1930, when Haile Selassie claimed to be the 225th descendant of the
line of King David and the Queen of Sheba from the Bible. Rastafarianism in the Caribbean
is characterized by:

The colours red, green and gold. Red stands for the blood of the martyrs in the black
struggle for liberation; green symbolizes Ethiopias beauty and lush vegetation; and

gold represents the wealth of their African homeland

Consuming natural foods
Vegetarianism
Wearing dreadlocks
A belief in peace and community based economic activity

ISLAM
The first Muslims to enter the Caribbean came as enslaved Africans. The basic tenets of Islam
are:

Shahadath- the belief that Allah (God) is the only god, and Muhamad is his messenger
Salat- Muslims must pray five times a day
Zakat -Muslims must give to those less fortunate than themselves
Sawm- Muslims must fast during the month of Ramadan. Pregnant women, sick

Muslims and children are exempted from this,\.

Hajj- A Muslim, who can do so, must make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during
his of her life.

HINDUISM
The first Hindus started arriving in the Caribbean region as soon as emancipation was
declared in 1838. Some of the concepts which are common to all Hindus include:

Truth, duty, righteousness, law and justice

Liberation from the cycle of birth and death (reincarnation)

SPIRITUAL BAPTISTS

This religion is a syncretism of Christianity and African doctrines, rites and rituals. Spiritual
Baptists are found in large numbers in Trinidad, Barbados, St Vincent and Grenada. It is
characterized as follows:

Baptism
Mourning
Prayer sessions
Pilgrimage

REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READINGS

Bereton,B. Social Life in the Caribbean, 1838- 1938, London: Heinemann Educational Books,
1985
Gates, B: Afro Caribbean Religions, London: Ward Lock Educational, 1980
Hall, D: The Caribbean Experience, London: Heinemann Educational Books, 1982