Garifuna Americans

Garifuna Americans
Total population
c. 200,000 (2011)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Languages
American English, Garifuna, Spanish language
Religion
Predominantly Roman Catholic
Minority Protestantism
Related ethnic groups
Garifuna
Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Honduran, Afro-Guatemalans, Afro-Nicaraguans, Caribbean American, West Indian

Garifuna Americans or Black Carib Americans are Americans of Garifuna ancestry, who are descendants of Arawak, Kalinago (Island Carib), and Afro-Caribbean people living in Saint Vincent.[2][3] Many Garifuna were exiled from St. Vincent to the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and Nicaragua before moving to the United States.

Cultural events

As of 2012, Abrazo Garifuna in New York, an event celebrating the contributions of Garifuna Americans to New York City is in its second year.[4] Abrazo Garifuna in New York continues to be held annually as of 2014.[5]

Cultural events

As of 2024, the Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival is held annually in the United States, celebrating Garifuna and indigenous cultures through cinema.[6] Garifuna Settlement Day is celebrated in various U.S. cities, including New York City, to honor the arrival of the Garifuna people to Belize.[7]

As of 2025, the Pre-Garifuna Settlement Day Concert is held in Los Angeles, featuring Garifuna music and cultural performances.[8]

As of 2025, the Punta & Paranda Festival is held in Brooklyn, New York, celebrating Garifuna music and dance.[9] The Central American Independence Parade and Festival in the Bronx, New York, includes Garifuna cultural elements.[10]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ Agudelo, Carlos (2011). "Los garifunas, identidades y reivindicaciones de un pueblo afrodescendiente de América Central". Afrodescendencia: Aproximaciones contemporáneas desde América Latina y el Caribe (PDF) (in Spanish). pp. 59–66. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  2. ^ Turin, Mark (16 December 2012). "New York, a graveyard for languages". BBC News. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  3. ^ Crawford, MH; Gonzalez, NL; Schanfield, MS; Dykes, DD; Skradski, K; Polesky, HF (February 1981). "The Black Caribs (Garifuna) of Livingston, Guatemala: Genetic Markers and Admixture Estimates". Human Biology. 53 (1): 87–103. JSTOR 414645961. PMID 7239494.
  4. ^ "Senator Ruben Diaz to celebrate the 2nd "Abrazo Garifuna in New York"". New York State Senate. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  5. ^ "Senator Ruben Diaz to celebrate the 3rd "Abrazo Garifuna in New York"". New York State Senate. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  6. ^ "Garifuna International Indigenous Film Festival". Garifuna Film Festival. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Bronx Borough Prez to Host Garifuna Heritage Celebration". Caribbean Life. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  8. ^ "3rd Annual Pre-Garifuna Settlement Day Concert". Eventbrite. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  9. ^ "NY Punta & Paranda Festival 2024". DoNYC. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Annual Central American Parade". Garifuna Experience. Retrieved 21 August 2025.

Further reading

  • Chaney, James. "Malleable Identities: Placing The Garínagu in New Orleans." Journal of Latin American Geography 11.2 (2012): 121–144. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 June 2015.
  • England, Sarah. "Transnational Movements, Racialized Space", Afro Central Americans in New York City: Garifuna Tales of Transnational Movements in Racialized Space. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2006: 29
  • Matthei, Linda M., and David A. Smith. "Flexible Ethnic Identity, Adaptation, Survival, Resistance: The Garifuna in the World-System." Social Identities 14.2 (2008): 215–232. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 June 2015.
  • Swain, Liz. "Garifuna Americans." Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America. Ed. Jeffrey Lehman. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2000. 686–697. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 20 June 2015.