One of the unspoken rules in Caribbean societies is "If you're white, you're all right; if you're brown, stick around; if you're black, stay back." Yet, ironically, in many of these societies, the notion that "a rich black is a mulatto and a poor mulatto is black" is also prevalent. This course critically examines the prominence of color as a symbol of race in the social hierarchy of Caribbean societies. It explores the complex manifestations of color, particularly as it intersects with class. Students consider how color operates as a marker of status, especially in the making and remaking of gendered identities. Themes covered include, but are not limited to, family, love, and marriage patterns; beauty ideals and nationalism; and political leadership and representation. |