Caribbean New York: Black Immigrants and the Politics of Race

by Philip Kasinitz

Since 1965, West Indians have been emigrating to the United States in record numbers, and to New York City in particular. Caribbean New York shows how the new immigration is reshaping American race relations and sheds much-needed light on factors that underlie some of the city's explosive racial confrontations. Philip Kasinitz examines how two forces―racial solidarity and ethnic distinctiveness―have helped to shape the identity of New York's West Indian community. He compares "new" (post-1965) immigrants with West Indians who arrived earlier in the century, and looks in detail at the economic, political, and cultural rules that Afro-Caribbean immigrants have played in the city during each period.

Genres: History

296 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1991

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super dry and academic in the first section, and the second section gets really weighed down by granular political groups specific to 1980s NYC, but overall a wealth of interesting information about the Caribbean community in NYC, immigration policy of the 60s, and the history of the West Indian Parade

[Greta Gilbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good book about race and immigration in NYC. I used this book alot in my first ten years teaching at Fordham.