Building a Nation: Caribbean Federation in the Black Diaspora

385 Pages·2015·13.726 MB·English

by  Eric D. Duke

Building a Nation
New World Diasporas
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola

Building a Nation
Caribbean Federation in the Black Diaspora
Eric D. Duke
Kevin A. Yelvington, Series Editor
University Press of Florida
Gainesville · Tallahassee · Tampa · Boca Raton
Pensacola · Orlando · Miami · Jacksonville · Ft. Myers · Sarasota
Copyright 2016 by Eric D. Duke
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
This book may be available in an electronic edition.
21 20 19 18 17 16 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Duke, Eric D., author.
Building a nation : Caribbean federation in the black diaspora / Eric D. Duke.
pages cm — (New world diasporas)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8130-6023-1
1. Blacks—Caribbean Area—History. 2. Blacks—Latin America—History. 3. African
diaspora. I. Title. II. Series: New World diasporas series.
F2191.B55D84 2016
304.8096—dc23
2015030169
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State University
System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University,
Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida State University,
New College of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University
of North Florida, University of South Florida, and University of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
http://www.upf.com
For my daughter, Mya Gabrielle Duke, and my son, Xavier Zion Duke—
this is your history. May you come to appreciate and understand it,
no matter where life takes you!

Contents
List of Tables ix
Acknowledgments xi
Note on Terminology xv
List of Abbreviations xix
Introduction 1
1. A Common Answer to Disparate Questions: Envisioning Caribbean
Federation in the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries 29
2. Moving Toward the Crossroads of Our Destiny: Black Diaspora
Politics and the Pursuit of West Indian Nationhood, 1930–1945 80
3. From Long-Standing Dream to Impending Reality: Caribbean
Federation and the Mobilization of Black Diaspora Politics,
1945–1950 137
4. Finalizing, Defining, and Welcoming the New Nation,
1950–1958 183
Epilogue 227
Notes 265
Bibliography 323
Index 343

Tables
1.1. British Caribbean population by race (early twentieth century) 45
1.2. British Caribbean population: percentage by race (early twentieth
century) 46
1.3. Black immigrants to the United States from the Caribbean and
Central America (1900–1925) 65
2.1. Labor rebellions in the British Caribbean (1934–1939) 101