Las islas del Caribe Identidad y diversidad

The Islands of the Caribbean Identity and Diversity

When you compare a set of things, like “third grade classes at P.S. 116,” is it possible to say things like “All third graders at P.S. 116…” No; each classroom is different from the rest. Yes; all of the classrooms have some things in common.

learners, Between 7 and 9 Live in NY Read and write Use numbers Study Spanish Third grade class #1 Third grade class #3 Third grade class #2

No; each of the islands is different from the rest. Yes; all of the islands have some things in common. When you compare a set of things, like “las islas del Caribe”, is it possible to say things like “All Caribbean islands…”

Island nations In Caribbean Similar climates Inhabited by taínos Colonized by Spaniards Spanish speakers Important African presence Close to the United States Cuba Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Shares island with Haiti Ruled by Fidel Castro U.S. citizens

Sets of people and sets of cultures can be both diverse and similar. Your point of view can determine whether you want to emphasize differences or similarities.

From a certain point of view, the islands of the Caribbean are all very different… Let’s talk about the differences…

Diversity Diversidad

Las islas del Caribe son diversas. Más de treinta países

The islands of the Caribbean are diverse. More than thirty countries.

Algunos de los países del Caribe Cuba Puerto Rico República Dominicana Haití Jamaica Trinidad y Tobago Aruba, Bonaire y Curazao Martinica Guadalupe Barbados

Some of the countries of the Caribbean Cuba Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Haití Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago Aruba, Bonaire y Curazao Martinica Guadalupe Barbados

Las islas del Caribe son diversas. Más de treinta países Más de treinta y tres millones de habitantes.

The islands of the Caribbean are diverse. More than thirty countries More than thirty-three million inhabitants

Las islas del Caribe son diversas. Más de treinta países Más de treinta y tres millones de habitantes Se hablan varios idiomas, entre ellos el español, el francés, el inglés, y el holandés.

The islands of the Caribbean are diverse. More than thirty countries More than thirty-three million inhabitants Several languages are spoken, including Spanish, French, English, and Dutch.

EspañolFrancésInglésHolandés Algunas de las lenguas del Caribe.

Las islas del Caribe son diversas. Más de treinta países Más de treinta y tres millones de habitantes Se hablan varios idiomas, entre ellos el español, el francés, el inglés, y el holandés Docenas de islas, algunas divididas en países distintos, a veces con lenguas distintas.

The islands of the Caribbean are diverse More than thirty countries More than thirty three million inhabitants Various languages are spoken, including Spanish, French, English and Dutch. Dozens of islands, some divided into different countries, at times with different languages

La Española es una isla que contiene dos países, Haití y la República Dominicana. El francés se habla en Haiti. El español se habla en la República Dominicana. Por ejemplo…

La Hispaniola is an island that contains two countries, Haití and the Dominican Republic. French is spoken in Haiti. Spanish is spoken in the Dominican Republic. For example…

La pequeña isla de San Martín es la mitad del tamaño de Brooklyn. Por ejemplo…

The tiny island of St. Martin is half the size of Brooklyn. For example…

La isla de San Martín es la mitad del tamaño de Brooklyn. Pero está dividida en dos partes, con dos lenguas distintas. Saint Martin (francés) St. Maarten (holandés)

The island of St Martin is half the size of Brooklyn. But it is divided into two countries, each with a different language. Saint Martin (French) St. Maarten (Dutch)

Las islas del Caribe son diversas. Más de treinta países Más de treinta y tres millones de habitantes Se hablan varios idiomas, entre ellos el español, el francés, el inglés, y el holandés Docenas de islas, algunas divididas en países distintos, a veces con lenguas distintas. Cada país en sí puede ser muy variado.

The islands of the Caribbean are diverse. More than thirty countries More than thirty-three million inhabitants Various languages are spoken, including Spanish, French, English and Dutch Dozens of islands, some divided into different countries, at times with different languages. Each country can itself be very diverse.

La isla de Puerto Rico es relativamente pequeña. Por ejemplo…

The island of Puerto Rico is relatively small. For example…

Pero presenta una notable diversidad cultural y natural, y está dividida en muchas provincias.

But it is remarkably diverse, in terms of culture and nature, and is divided up into many provinces..

So people from Aguadilla may feel quite different from people from Humacao, though they are all from Puerto Rico.

En cada una de las islas, uno puede encontrar ciudades… On each of the islands, one can find cities… …y campo. … and countryside.

From another point of view, the islands of the Caribbean have many things in common. Over the next few weeks, we’ll discuss the similarities, such as…

Similarities: The islands of the Caribbean are all islands in the Caribbean. DUH!!!

Similarities: The islands of the Caribbean are all islands in the Caribbean When the Spaniards arrived in 1492, the islands were inhabited by a group of native Americans known as the taínos

Similarities: The islands of the Caribbean are all islands in the Caribbean When the Spaniards arrived in 1492, the islands were inhabited by a group of native Americans known as the taínos The Europeans that arrived after 1492 established colonies in the Caribbean. Most of the native taínos died from disease or mistreatment, but their culture influenced the cultures that came after them.

Similarities: The islands of the Caribbean are all islands in the Caribbean When the Spaniards arrived in 1492, the islands were inhabited by a group of native Americans known as the taínos The Europeans that arrived after 1492 established colonies in the Caribbean. Most of the native taínos died from disease or mistreatment, but their culture influenced the cultures that came after them. The Europeans introduced slaves from Africa in the Caribbean. People of African descent have made very important contributions to the life and the cultures of the Caribbean.

Similarities: The islands of the Caribbean are all islands in the Caribbean When the Spaniards arrived in 1492, the islands were inhabited by a group of native Americans known as the taínos The Europeans that arrived after 1492 established colonies in the Caribbean. Most of the native taínos died from disease or mistreatment, but their culture influenced the cultures that came after them. The Europeans introduced slaves from Africa in the Caribbean. People of African descent have made very important contributions to the life and the cultures of the Caribbean. The islands of the Caribbean are all very close to the large and powerful country, the United States of America. This closeness has greatly affected the culture of the islands in complicated ways. USA Did you know that… one out of three Puerto Ricans lives in the United States?

similarities Island nations Taíno culture European culture African culture Contact with USA

Conclusions: diversity  Each of the islands of the Caribbean is different from the rest in important ways.  Some of the islands are divided into different countries, like Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  Each of the Caribbean countries is itself diverse; on each island you can find contrasts: between city and country, between rich and poor, between coastline and interior, etc.

Conclusions: identity  The islands of the Caribbean share some important characteristics.  Geography, climate  At the time of the arrival of the Europeans the islands were all inhabited by native Americans.  After 1492, people from Spain, England, Holland, France and other European countries began to settle in the Caribbean.  The Europeans introduced slavery into the Caribbean, and since then people of African descent have played a vital role in the region.  The closeness of the United States has affected in complex ways all of the islands of the Caribbean.

Developed with the support of the Coca-Cola Foundation and an anonymous foundation. James D. Fernández King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center New York University 2002