West Indies
By Fatihaa Carroll
When and why they came ?
Afro- Caribbeans came to the United States long ago. They were marked as slaves, taken by the British and then sold to South Carolina in the seventeenth century. The Caribbean peoples didn't really have a choice. They were slaves so the trip was involuntary, most men, women and children in the earliest time came from the Caribbeans {Inmotionaame}.
How they came?
"Since the seventeenth century Bridgetown, Barbados, had served as the first port of call for British ships crossing the Atlantic." After that shipping networks from Bridgetown had spread across the globe {Inmotionaame}.
Laws & Polices
For a long time, Slaves had no rights. Most if not all Slaves were separated from their families and sold, then later forced to work in plantations for long hours in all sorts of weather condition. In 1798 the Amelioration Act was passed stating that, planters needed to improve working conditions for Slaves. Many didn't care and just imported more Slaves in from West Africa {Liverpool).
Population
Black population in the Caribbeans had rose in the 17th century. Then sugar started to become the main cash crop rather than tobacco, at the time, Blacks only made up 20% of the population. By 1678, the Black population had risen by 3849 against the white population of 3521 {Everyculture}
How the US treated them?
In 1650, Black slaves could have been bought for as little as 7.80 cents {Liverpool}. Slaves had no rights, they worked in harsh weather conditions for little pay. On top of that, Americans were very rude to the immigrants, referring to them in racial slurs and some even go as far as to attack and kill.
Where they settled?
West Indians Blacks mostly lived in the cities East Coast. From New York to southern Florida, today there's also a growing Jamaican population in Los Angeles {Everyculture}.
Jobs
Typically, most Blacks in the sixteenth century were made into Slaves. The jobs were rough and very dangerous, women even children had these jobs and many died while working, they worked mostly in plantations.
Culture
"Americans from the Caribbean bring with them the heritage of Catholicism as well as Afro-Caribbean traditions associated with Haiti, Cuba or Jamaica."{Pluralism.org} Afro-Caribbeans and African Americans had great influences on each other. Religions such as, Rastafarian-ism and Jamaican Revivalism were brought to America by the Afro- Caribbeans.