African American Identity Analysis

Firstly, we began by talking about her perceived identity based on her appearance. For many Caribbean immigrants, their appearance and ethnicities will correlate to how they are treated in society, as well as the American school system. Based on her appearance in the Guyanese community and growing up in Guyana, Ramona was and is perceived to be Indian. In the United States, she remarked that people thinks that she is Dominican, for her “dark skin and those features and I live in the Bronx, so automatically I’m Dominican.” In Florida, where she currently resides with her husband and three sons, she stated that “They are confused about me until I open up my mouth to speak. And they are like, “Oh, wait a minute. She’s from somewhere else. You’re not Spanish. Like …show more content…
On one end, due to the racial elements of the American society, Caribbean immigrants, particularly those who come from Afro-Caribbean descent, will be labeled as black or African American. For those who come from predominantly Indo-Caribbean countries like Trinidad and Tobago or Guyana, Americans will typically label them as “Indian.” This leaves no room for the Caribbean immigrant to identify themselves to their national identity. Ramona discusses this confusion when people try to label her. Based on her appearance, Ramona in the Guyanese community is perceived to be Indian. However, in the United States, she remarked that people thinks that she is Dominican. Upon arriving to the States, she declares, "...when I'm in New York and living here in the States, people think that I'm Dominican because I'm dark skin, I have those features, and I live[d] in the Bronx so