West Indian in the West

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As new immigrant communities thrive in U.S. cities, they encounter challenges in assimilating and organizing their ethnic identities. West Indians exemplify this dynamic. Drawing on extensive ethnographic research in the San Francisco Bay area, the author explores how social context influences ethnic identity formation among West Indians. Their memories, symbols, and images for distinguishing themselves from the surrounding culture vary based on their U.S. location. In the Bay area, West Indians navigate their identity within a racial landscape shaped by the social and political influence of African Americans. By asserting their racial identity as black, they claim resources designated for African Americans while simultaneously distancing themselves from the complexities of the black/white dichotomy in the U.S. The author investigates how West Indians publicly assert their identity, utilizing existing stereotypes to carve out spaces for themselves within the larger cultural context. This examination reveals the intricate ways ethnic communities negotiate their identities and assert their place in a diverse society.