I want to take a moment to share something that has been really top of mind lately.
Coming from the small island of Curaçao 🇨🇼 means that when I meet new people, the question “where are you from?” takes a little while to answer.
My answer is usually two or three parts. “Curaçao”... “it’s in the Caribbean,”... “it’s Dutch.” Google maps is almost always necessary, and we usually end up looking at images.
I tell them more about our island and we discuss language, culture and geography. People are curious. And most of the time, our conversations are sweet.
But often, too often, I am asked questions that reflect how one dimensional the global depiction of the Caribbean really is. I am presented with generalizations and asked to confirm them.
Yes, we go to the beach regularly. Yes, we do also have jobs. No, we do not play calypso music on my island. No, my island does not have monkeys or jungles. No, I cannot “do” the accent.
A little louder for the people in the back.
Our👏🏾islands👏🏾are👏🏾different.
Our👏🏾countries👏🏾are👏🏾different.
Our👏🏾cultures👏🏾are👏🏾different.
And that is a wonderful, beautiful thing. It means we can learn things from each other.
So here’s a simple guideline. Next time, ask me what kind of music you can find on my island. Ask about its geography. Ask about our language.
Let’s do away with sweeping generalizations. About the Caribbean, about everywhere, really. Let’s respectfully ask questions instead. Let’s go to these places and actually meet the people. Let’s immerse ourselves in their cultures instead of whiling away our days within the confines of all inclusive resorts.
I will continue to tell the stories of my islands 🇦🇼 🇧🇶 🇨🇼. I will tell them because I’m proud, but also because I feel it is my responsibility.
These are our narratives, they are our cultures. We are so much more than a series of generalizations, so much more than splashing-in-the-sea Instagram posts taken between piña coladas. And who better to tell those stories than us?
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📸 Photo by my Guadeloupean friend friend @keysatea. That’s right, Caribbean girls in Cairns. ☀️💛
