Assimilation and Black Immigrants: Comparing the Racial Identity and Racial Consciousness of Caribbeans and African Americans

Authors

Maruice mangum, Alabama A & M University on the Editorial Advisory BoardFollow
Michael A. Rodriguez Ph.D., Texas Southern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2018

Abstract

We evaluate the extent to which Caribbeans and African Americans share racial
identity and racial consciousness. Our argument states Caribbeans will assimilate with African Americans depending on whether they were bam in the U.S. and if they mostly lived in the United States while growing up. We also contend that society treats Caribbeans as if they are African Americans, and therefore, Caribbeans align themselves with African Americans. Using the 2004 National Politics Study, we find that self-reported U.S.-bom Caribbeans are more like African Americans in terms of racial identity and racial consciousness than Caribbeans not
bom in the United States. Self-identified Caribbeans who lived in the United States during their developmental years are more like African Americans than Caribbeans who resided elsewhere. Caribbeans reporting they were both born in the U.S. and lived in the U.S. during their formative years are more like African Americans than any other Caribbean group.

Recommended Citation

mangum, Maruice and Rodriguez, Michael A. Ph.D., "Assimilation and Black Immigrants: Comparing the Racial Identity and Racial Consciousness of Caribbeans and African Americans" (2018). Faculty Scholarship. 1.
https://digitalscholarship.tsu.edu/polisci_facpubs/1