Let us first define Caribbean culture. Caribbean culture is how we (throughout the islands) share our experiences, our behaviors, our actions and our perceptions. This culture is collectively expressed when we identify anything as “Caribbean”. Caribbean food, Caribbean music, Caribbean education, Caribbean lives, Caribbean politics and Caribbean experiences.

Here’s the main definition we at Better Caribbean use as we discuss cultural relevance – "Culture has been defined in a number of ways, but most simply, as the learned and shared behavior of a community of interacting human beings" Useem, J., & Useem, R. (1963). Human Organizations, 22(3)p.169.

For more academic and complicated definitions of culture, check out this website.

In the Caribbean, I’m sure that we can all agree that although each island has its’ differences we have more commonly shared experiences rather than differences. It is by these shared experiences that we define what is culturally-relevant for the region. As our shared experiences change and as how we share/collectively acknowledge culture, our definitions of cultural relevance will change. Therefore this is why we are developing the Better Caribbean program – to define the collective Caribbean consumer experience by continuously receiving and using feedback on sustainable, healthy, non-hazardous and resilient products. We will also welcome consumer feedback on products which may not align with any of the definitions on our website because everything we use in the Caribbean can influence how a vision for a Better Caribbean unfolds. We are aiming to develop a useful and culturally-relevant learning platform which pushes us to make choices which are better for our health, environment, economies and societies.

 

In defining and sharing our experiences, of course we should consider that each island differs based on our histories.

In acknowledging our differences in cultural-relevance we should consider -  

Which indigenous peoples gravitated towards our islands?

Were we colonialized by the French, the British, the Spanish or all three (e.g. St. Lucia)?

How did becoming a territory affect our livelihoods (e.g. USVI)?

How did becoming independent affect our livelihoods (e.g. Barbados)?

How did remaining a colony affect our livelihoods (e.g. Bermuda)?

How did our politics and governance evolve after independence (e.g. Trinidad)? What practices did we retain from indigenous peoples, from Africa, from India, from Ireland, from Syria or from those countries which colonized our islands? What practices do we adopt from those who visit our islands?

What practices do we adopt from our main markets – UK/U.S?

What practices do we adopt from emerging markets – China/Brazil?

How did our geographies influence the development of our main industries? How did the availability of fresh water (rivers) shape our livelihoods? How did our terrain (flat/mountainous) influence our livelihoods and our national identities?

How have we defined Caribbean food?

How have we defined Caribbean music?

How is all of the above changing?

How do we share information?

How do we learn?

How do we work?

What do we value?

How and why do we make personal choices?

How do we spend our money?

How and why do we do what we do?

How we livin’?

All of this defines cultural-relevance.