Immigrant West Indian Families and Their Struggles with Racism in America

SUMMARY Many questions arise in the struggle of West Indians to establish themselves in America, including the role that racism plays in their struggle to develop a community. Some West Indians object to being seen as Black Americans. Unlike White immigrants who may aspire to acculturate and become part of the dominant group, West Indian immigrants are forced to make decisions about their identification, and internalized racism plays a significant role in their ambivalence about fully assimilating into American culture. This article explores the role of internalized racism as it impacts their decisions regarding child rearing. Information from personal interviews of clients in the private psychotherapy practice of the author is included as part of the source material for the article.